New City owners plan to be 'the Virgin of Asia'

[llamafarmer]

More silly buggers from the new Chelski.

From the Grauniad:



Manchester City's billionaire new owners are planning an extraordinary vision for the future that will see the club branch into financial services, the fashion industry, telecommunications and even bring out a range of Citycars. The aim is to become "the Virgin of Asia and the world" with a major re-branding that will involve, among other things, City 24-7 energy drinks, branded Mini Coopers, official club scooters, telephone cards and a chain of City Eating fast-food stores.


The proposals demonstrate the ambition of the Abu Dhabi United Group and their unshakeable belief that they have the financial clout to see City catch, then overhaul, Manchester United as the world's most popular club, first on the pitch and then in terms of commercial income.


How City plan to do this is revealed in an 83-page blueprint, A New Model for Partnership in Football, which was influential in convincing the Abu Dhabi royal family to buy the club from the previous owner Thaksin Shinawatra. It is understood the document was put together by the ultra-ambitious Garry Cook, a former Nike executive who was recruited by Thaksin earlier in the summer and whose vision of football involves a Premier League structure with 10to 14 clubs and, most controversially, no promotion or relegation.


Cook's determination to "think global" can be gauged by his recent statement that City's behind-the-scenes operation had been "a shock" to him when he joined the club as executive chairman, explaining: "You look at our brand and it's Thomas Cook. But there's something not quite right about watching us in a bar in Beijing or Bangkok or Tokyo and seeing 'Fred Smith's Plumbing, call 0161...'" He also stated that the Premier League was "10 years behind" the US in merchandising terms. Manchester United, he said, had "not even scratched the surface".


His plans for City include a partnership with Red Bull to bring out drinks called City Powered, City Energy and City 24/7. There are plans to open designer clothing stores and tap into the Indian market, via the Tata Motors Group, by bringing out a range of cars and other vehicles, as well as branded motorcycle helmets. A deal is being discussed with China Mobile to sell City-branded phone cards and Ricky Hatton has been identified to help City Training fitness schemes.


At the same time, City genuinely believe enough money will be ploughed into the club to win the Premier League within two or three seasons and, thereafter, be in contention for the Champions League. However, the men in power at Eastlands are also finding out that the rest of the football world is still viewing the new, super-wealthy City through sceptical eyes.
One confirmed target, Cesc Fabregas, has described the idea of joining City as being "suicidal" for his career, while another, Klaas Jan Huntelaar, has talked of a "second-rate club" wanting to make him "very rich" on transfer deadline day.


Dr Sulaiman Al-Fahim, the billionaire businessman behind the takeover, said last week that City would bid £135m for Cristiano Ronaldo but the reaction at Old Trafford has been more of bemusement than concern. David Gill, United's chief executive, said: "I think we will treat it with a pinch of salt."

I'll have a Robinho burger please. Some more bellends trying to have their slice of the football pie "(Cook's) vision of football involves a Premier League structure with 10 to 14 clubs and, most controversially, no promotion or relegation". Tosser.