Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Franchises

Former Liverpool Player John Barnes Warns Club About Potential Chinese Investors

Former Liverpool player John Barnes warned the club "risks losing some of its unique character and heritage by courting investors who may be more interested in their commercial value rather than maintaining tradition," according to James Porteous of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. Reports in February said that Liverpool was "close to sealing major investment from Asia," with the naming rights for Anfield’s new main stand "up for grabs" for around £90M ($128.5M). Offers from Chinese investors to "buy a minority stake in one of world football’s most storied clubs were also reportedly being considered." Barnes understands the "necessity for the club to maximise earnings wherever they can but admitted he wasn't a fan." Barnes said, "From a financial point of view I can understand why clubs look for investments to help them. [But] from the point of view of integrity of football and from Bill Shankly’s philosophy, who was fairly socialist -- I’m talking about the relationship with the fans, having local players -- that’s for me where Germany have got it right. They try to create something rather than just buy players every six months." Barnes admitted it is a "difficult balance in trying to keep the team competitive without alienating supporters and while staying true to its traditions." Barnes: "That is English football. I think Liverpool are probably the last bastions of that in terms of trying to retain a semblance of an identity but it's not just Liverpool, it's English football" (SCMP, 4/18).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2016/04/19/Franchises/Liverpool-John-Barnes.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2016/04/19/Franchises/Liverpool-John-Barnes.aspx

CLOSE