2008: a footballing democracy

High on the seas of the interactive bunfight that we call the Internet, you’ll find a project called A Swarm of Angels. In as small a nutshell as I can fit it, it’s an attempt to wrest control of the film-making process from the traditional fiefdoms of studio and marketing man.

You’ve heard of open-source software, perhaps, where a programmer writes their code then opens it up to the world to modify, play with, and use as their own. This is open-source film-making. Scripts, marketing materials… the whole caboodle: it’s all voted on. Admirable stuff.

Then there are the fans trying to run their own club. MyFootballClub.co.uk is a fan-funded project which is trying to buy, run and manage Ebbsfleet United FC as a democratic entity. The website is a little cagey as to exactly how the club will be run day-to-day: it talks about a manager implementing the wishes of the owners, but how things are put to a vote is not really mentioned. Still, in principle, a clever idea that plays on the belief in the heart of every football fan. Management? I could do that.

The reason I lust after these models of intelligent, good-natured democracy? I want to be in a position to ask Didier Drogba one simple question: what the **** is your problem?   

You see, the giant from the Côte d’Ivoire has bared his soul again, and thusly has he spake: “I am not in conflict with Chelsea, which everyone thinks.” He goes on to pledge his support to Chelsea’s challenge for the title and Champions League, etc etc, blah blah. Contrary to the Mirror’s headline, there’s nothing in there specifically about staying for another season, but the paper takes these words as a profession of fidelity.

Just imagine. Imagine a world in which democratically-run clubs ordered their players to talk to the fans. Imagine if the players were forced to understand the fans’ emotional investment. Imagine if – horror of horrors – the players had to keep daily blogs. I don’t doubt that a man like Drogba – or, for that matter, a Desailly or di Canio – would welcome the chance to share their erudition with the world, although the political sentiments of the latter might require a little massaging from the fan-staffed press office. But the thought of a Rooney or a Carragher wrestling with the twin conundrums of keyboard and English language… well, we’d have to make a call on whether the entertainment value outweighed the leaden tedium of reading the thing through afterwards.

Comments

[Samuel Gosney]

I do hope that your comments towards the end which seem targeted at Wayne Rooney and Jamie Carragher are not a reference to them being from Liverpool; this would technically constitue racism as you are pledging a direct insult to a separate group/culture from a particular place. From an editor of the Times, this is not entirely expected.

[c adams]

Get rid of the Diver

[Chris Bridges]

Carragher isnt thick at all, you've shown your own lack of intelligence with those comments

[Howard Greene]

Well James, by saying that Rooney isn't that thick you are insinuating/admitting that he is thick but not that thick. so I beg the question. How thick is thick? Bring on the Rooney blg!

[Adam Brown]

The manager putting into action the owner's plans eh?

Rikki - you are right we have had that up at Tynecastle for the past couple of seasons. The 'fax machine' at Tynecastle now has a notoriety usually reserved for the worst managers the club has had. Team selections from the owner, via the above mentioned office equipment, have swayed from unbelievable to mad to simply unfathomable.

The best thing any the democratic ownership of any club can do is this: Hire a qualified manager to use his expertise to pick the team!

Here's hoping Hearts get one of these 'football management gurus' in the not too distant future!!

[KB]

Just have to say: There are several different types of IQ... You posess the writtten one...?? (does he?) Don't make yourself god. What IQ got us where we are today? A good writer? Don't thing so...

[Tom]

Someone who bases an article around the phrase "what the **** is your problem" should not make too many comments about the ability of others to wrestle with the English Language. Working class scousers obviously grate with this master of the english language. You might just be surprised just how sharp these two characters actually are despite a next to nothing education.

[jo]

This Chelsea fan obviously thinks because they're working-
class and northern they're thick. Unlike the fantastically expensively educated Londoner Lampard, who's so articulate.

On Drogba, he should show the Chelsea fans some respect and STFU, the egotistical tart.

[Phil]

What a pathetic attack on two Scouse lads at the end of your tedious article.

All you have proven is that both Carragher and Rooney would be able to write a better and more knowledgable piece about football than you could ever hope to muster.

Grow up son

[Carl Christensen]

Declaring an interest here - I work for ThePeoplesClub.com which is a fans ownership website similar to my footballclub.co.uk

Let's just imagine that you are a contestant on Who Wants to be a Millionaire and you get a tricky big money question.

Now, who would you would most like to help you? A friend down the phone line or the studio audience - people you have never met before?

Yep - you would trust people you have not met before to make the right decision, and the numbers are that 94% of the time the studio audience will get the right answer.

Of course, time will tell whether fan ownership of football clubs will work, but there is clearly value in collective (majority) decision making.

[Rikki Ferguson]

It would be interesting to read a daily blog from Heart of Midlothian FC players, as I think this would shed a different light on the issue of ownership, management and team selection.

[James Clarke]

Poor article. I am a Chelsea fan who has no problem with Dider Drogba wishing to move on at the age of 30 years old. He's said he wants to move, but he will give his best for Chelsea until then. I don't mind providing he's playing well and hitting the back of the nete. It's up to the management to persuade him to stay.

Also, Rooney isn't that thick.