Several clubs have changed hands since the Premiership’s birth, and several clubs looks set for new owners. The year 2006 will be remembered as the year, when every rich man had to have a football club. Portsmouth, Aston Villa and West Ham changed hands last year. The trend has continued into 2007, with the sale of Liverpool to American tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Former chairman and part owner David Moores said on the deal: “This is a great step forward for its shareholders and its fans.”
The Red was the fifth club to be sold since Roman Abramovich took over at Chelsea. There will for sure be new takeovers in the coming years, with Newcastle United, Everton, Manchester City and several other clubs being linked with potential buyers. Will the new investment in football be good for the game, or will clubs without rich owners struggle?
Arsenal:
Majority owned by directors Danny Fiszman, Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, David Dein and Richard Carr. Fiszman made his fortune, estimated at £228million from diamond dealing, and owns 26 per cent of the club.
Aston Villa:
American tycoon, Randy Lerner, ended Doug Ellis’ 24 years reign at Villa Park, when he bought the club for £64million in the summer of 2006. He inherited his father’s credit card company, which he in 2006 sold for $2.5billion. Lerner is also the owner of the Cleveland Browns.
Blackburn:
The Walker family is the owners, through The Jack Walker Settlement Trust, registered in Jersey, following the death of Jack Walker in 2000.
Bolton:
Isle of Man-based millionaire Eddie Davies owns 94.52 per cent of the club. Davies has invested £14million in the club since joining the board in 1999. Made his money by making and selling thermostats for kettles.
Charlton:
Chairman Richard Murray has a 25 per cent stake in the club. Lancashire mulit-millionaire Trevor Hemmings also own a stake in Charlton. Hemmings is estimated to be worth £900million, and also owns a stake in Championship side Preston.
Chelsea:
Owned by Russian Roman Abramovich, who’s fortune is estimated at £10.8billion. Earned his money, when he sold his stake in Russian oil company Sibneft. Has spent more than £500million on Chelsea so far. Abramovich bought Chelsea in July 2003.
Everton:
Majority owned by chairman Bill Kenwright and US tycoon, Robert Earl. Earl is famous for being the owner of Planet Hollywood.
Fulham:
Owned by Mohamed Al Fayed, via a holding company in the British Virgin Islands. Al Fayed has spent more than £100million so far, to reach his goal to make Fulham the ‘Manchester United of the south’. Al Fayed is also the owner of the famous Harrods department store in London.
Liverpool:
Owned by American tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who reached an agreement to take over the club in February 2007. The pair beat off competition from Dubai International Captial. It is believed they will invest several hundred million pounds in the club in the coming years, including the building of a new stadium in Stanley Park. Hicks also own the Dallas Stars ice hockey club as well as the Texas Rangers baseball team. Gillett is also the owner of the Montreal Canadiens.
Manchester City:
Majority owned by John Wardle and David Makin of J-D Sports, the estate of Stephen Boler, Francis Lee and BSkyB. The club has been looking for new investors.
Manchester United:
Owned by American tycoon Malcolm Glazer and his family. Glazer made his fortune in property, fish oil and car safety companies. Bought Manchester United in June 2005 in a deal worth £1.4billion. Glazer is also the owner of NFL team Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Middlesborough:
Owned by Boro based businessman Steve Gibson. Built the Riverside Stadium in 1994. Gibson made his millions transporting chemicals.
Newcastle United:
Chairman Freddy Shepherd holds around 27 per cent, while son of former chairman Sir John Hall, Douglas Hall, is the largest shareholder with 40 per cent.
Portsmouth:
Owned by Russian/Israeli Alexandre Gaydamak, who took sole control of the club in the summer of 2006, when he bought Milan Mandaric’s stake in the club. Sources close to the Portsmouth owner, say he made his fortune in property.
Reading:
Owned by Britain’s 174th richest man, John Madejski. Madejski has ploughed £40million into the club, and has named the ground after himself.
Sheffield United:
Majority owned by chairman Kevin McCabe.
Tottenham:
31.5 per cent owned by Enic, a company mostly owned by Bahamas-based investor Joe Lewis. Sir Alan Sugar owns a 14 per cent stake in the club. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is the front man for investment company Enic Sports.
Watford:
37.16 per cent owned by Lord Ashcroft, who is also the chairman of the Conservative Party.
West Ham:
95 per cent owned by Iceland’s first dollar billionaire Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. Eggert Magnusson owns a 5 per cent stake in the club. Gudmundsson made his fortune with a brewing company in St Petersburg.
Wigan:
Owned by Dave Whelan, the founder of JJB Sports. Britain’s 317th richest man, has used a lot of his money to invest in The Latics.
