fivepoundfootballclub.com

Frequently asked questions

Who will own the club?

For an investment of just five pounds, you will become a football club owner. We think that football club ownership shouldn't be restricted to millionaires and billionaires. Some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Barcelona and Hamburg, are owned by thousands of members. The shares purchased in the club will be owned by our association, of which you would be a member.

Why a club in the smaller national leagues?

The aim is for our Five Pound Football Club to help develop a successful, sustainable club. It's more likely that this would be possible in the smaller national leagues. For instance, fifty thousand pounds could pay the annual wages of a star player in Northern Ireland, whereas it might struggle to cover the weekly wage of a star player in a bigger league (e.g. England). The money that we raise will make a real difference in a smaller league.

What kind of club could we afford?

Raising at least twenty-five thousand pounds would give the group enough credibility to be taken seriously and to begin negotiations with clubs. We believe that some clubs would be open to investment at this level. It could be possible that a deal could be structured over a longer period of time, possibly negotiating the option to buy additional shares at a set price. Alternatively, members could potentially vote to top-up the investment fund if a more desirable club has a higher asking price. There are many options to consider.

I read that a "well run" organisation would be preferred?

We'd be looking to target a well-run club. For the model to remain sustainable it would be essential that the current club could 'balance its books'. It's important to acknowledge that the existing owners may possess priceless experience and know-how. Ideally we'd want to keep football people on board. The owners can help support the club and engage the local community. Consultation with existing fans of the club would be vital as we'd plan on upholding their club traditions and values. Of course, they could become owners too.

What could be money be invested in?

Members will vote to decide how much of the funds should be allocated for playing budget contributions, facilities improvement and community development. The football club will be run sustainably and our community will provide additional investment. There could be the possibility of creating 'player packages'. For instance, raising an additional twenty-five thousand pounds could pay a star players salary for a couple of years in a lower league. Alternatively, maybe you'd prefer to invest more in developing existing facilities or a community program.

Do you have to live in the UK?

Certainly not. fivepoundfootballclub.com can be a worldwide community of football club owners. All the information that you will need will be provided on fivepoundfootballclub.com. So as long as you've got access to the website you'll be fine. Will I have to pay more than five pounds?

We want the project to be accessible to everyone but not restrict how much people can invest. There is a minimum commitment of five pounds per season, although you are under no obligation to re-new. We will probably be trying to raise additional funds but it'll be up to the individual if they want to contribute more. Members will receive authority points for each investment contribution. Members with a higher authority rating will have more sway in some of the public votes.

Can members join after a club has been invested in?

It will be possible to join the community after a club has been purchased. Looking to the future, it'd be great for the fanbase of the 'chosen club' to join and own their club. The whole idea is to have the club owned by the community that it serves. In this case, it would be both the local and online community.