Would you like your club to change the name of your stadium? Well, certainly not if Mike Ashley is involved in the process but, now that Chelsea have got involved too, everyone is suddenly thinking about cashing in. The Times‘ Matt Hughes has his views and thinks that the financial reality of football is driving the decision of the Blues.
”Imagining a world in which Chelsea are no longer brash and flash takes a considerable leap, like picturing estate agents without shiny suits or MPs deprived of their expense accounts. Yet that is the vision of Ron Gourlay.
”The new chief executive is determined to make his mark by smoothing the club’s rough edges and re-engaging with supporters, although many of them will not be too enamoured with the first decision taken on his watch, to sell the naming rights to Stamford Bridge.
”Many fans will be up in arms, particularly given the wealth of Roman Abramovich, the owner, but they cannot have it both ways. Chelsea can aspire to develop into a mature, self-sufficient club or remain as a wealthy Russian’s plaything, and if it is to be the former, tough decisions will have to be made.”
The Independent, meanwhile, have a brief comment on the naming rights situation. David Fleming reckons it makes sense, despite some opposition:
”Ron Gourlay’s idea of selling the name of their Stamford Bridge ground to the highest bidder is a brave plan. It risks alienating supporters who fear it will provide ammunition to rival fans, who say Chelsea have no history. However, it is a proposal that does make commercial sense.
”Given that the club have given up plans either to redevelop the Bridge or move to another site, it is pretty much the only option open to Gourlay to raise the revenues generated by the stadium. If he can attract £15m a year for naming rights, Chelsea will take a substantial step towards their ultimate goal of breaking even.”
It’s been a while since we discussed the idea of a two-tier Premier League, but you’ll be glad to know that the subject is back on the agenda this week and the Guardian’s David Conn has had his say on the matter.
”The proposal by Bolton Wanderers’ chairman, Phil Gartside, for an expanded two-division Premier League which would include Celtic and Rangers has been revived,” he begins. ”His idea is prompted by what Gartside has described as a “fear factor” among the smaller clubs, who are desperately worried about the financial cost of relegation to the Championship and are overspending to avoid it.
”The idea was dismissed by many last time because Gartside appeared to be proposing a self-interested “closed circle”, with no relegation out of the Premier League’s second division. This time, Gartside is understood to be more flexible, arguing that relegation could be retained but that clubs should meet standards of size and finance, similar to Uefa’s licensing system, if they are to be promoted into the Premier League.
”Both Celtic and Rangers, who have long looked to escape from the Scottish Premier League in which they are by far the biggest clubs, would welcome an invitation from the elite English league. However, any Premier League rule change requires 14 clubs to vote in favour. Gartside has a great deal of lobbying to do before his plan has any chance of succeeding.”
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