DoctorD
25 Oct 2004, 10:09 PM
Malcolm Glazer has hit upon a great opportunity with his attempted takeover of ManU. The economically irrational response of supporter's groups offers excellent profit possibilities.
1) Find a publicly-traded club with good "churn".
2) Quietly purchase a ~5% stake in the club.
3) Openly announce you are increasing your stake. Do not deny takeover questions.
4) Start acting the ugly American: ostentatiously call the sport "soccer"; hint that pro/rel is obsolete; call for increased scrutiny of player transfers based on investment return, not league position; etc.
5) If you have played your cards right, supporter's groups and other organizations will frantically buy shares to deny you control. The share price should edge up, you sell to a white knight, and you earn a handsome profit.
Unfortunately Glazer did not do enough of step #4, so he is stuck in limbo with 28% of the shares. Perhaps he was more interested in owning the team than simply making money.
So who's the next target?
1) Find a publicly-traded club with good "churn".
2) Quietly purchase a ~5% stake in the club.
3) Openly announce you are increasing your stake. Do not deny takeover questions.
4) Start acting the ugly American: ostentatiously call the sport "soccer"; hint that pro/rel is obsolete; call for increased scrutiny of player transfers based on investment return, not league position; etc.
5) If you have played your cards right, supporter's groups and other organizations will frantically buy shares to deny you control. The share price should edge up, you sell to a white knight, and you earn a handsome profit.
Unfortunately Glazer did not do enough of step #4, so he is stuck in limbo with 28% of the shares. Perhaps he was more interested in owning the team than simply making money.
So who's the next target?