Brady's motivation for buying minority stake in EFL club questioned

Tom Brady recently took a minority ownership stake in EFL club Birmingham City, and club Chair Tom Wagner insists that Brady’s presence is “not just for promotional purposes,” but to “provide expertise in several areas, including nutrition, health, and wellness,” according to Greg McKenna of the BOSTON GLOBE. However, sportswriter Martin Calladine “doesn’t buy it,” though he does note the “potential cross-promotional opportunities for Brady’s TB12 brand.” Calladine said that many celebrity investors in sports teams “acquire a small share for below-market value, essentially a paid endorsement,” and he “suspects that’s likely the case” with Brady. He thinks it is “perfectly laudable” that Brady and other celebrities are “able to promote their products while increasing the commercial brand value of clubs like Birmingham City.” But Calladine just “doesn’t want minority investors distracting from questions about who controls these clubs -- and what these owners want” (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/16).