The term ‘selling club’ has become the words of choice by the press of late as journalists look to drive wedges among football clubs and their faithful followers. It is a cheap put down in my opinion; especially given there is no bearing of truth in it.
It is a ridiculous comment on so many levels, especially as they choose to ignore the real reasons behind sales. Let’s take the Samir Nasri saga as a case point, as here is a football club that faces the dilemma of taking advantage of a £20m transfer fee this summer, or allowing the player to leave next June for nothing on a Bosman free. For any other company it is a no brainer what the option is to take; however in football you are seemingly chastised for taking a business decision, ahead of one that could help your football team on the pitch. It is a double edge sword for any club chairman to face and one that has become common given the current power that players now have over their football clubs. The Bosman and Webster rulings have changed the very fabric of the game and subsequently killed any hope of clubs being in a position to call the shots.
Football clubs are really in a no win situation here. We all saw how Wayne Rooney seemingly dragged Manchester United over the coals over a new deal at the start of last season. Threatening to quit Old Trafford, with the knowledge his contract was coming into the last 18 months, the player was able to hold a club of United’s size to ransom in order to get what he wanted as the financial implications hit home. United had to safeguard his valuation, therefore were prepared to make a new financial commitment in order to do so.
Unfortunately there aren’t many clubs in a position to be able to do that therefore are left with little option but to cash in. You can dub them ‘selling clubs’, but in the current financial climate can they afford to take that risk? Player power rules the roost now and they have the backing of EU law to help assist them in their quest. Clubs face a huge balancing act financially and find themselves in a position where they are damned if they do, and damned if they don’t.
