Leeds by example

A trip to the Leeds United website brings an intriguing prospect: below the banner and just above the first news story are advertising links offering "Best credit card", "poor credit loans" and, most interestingly, "Clear debts". Call me crazy but if I were seeking financial advice, I don't think the Leeds website would be my first port of call, or even my thirtieth.

It would seem something of a smack in the face to the unfortunate Leeds support that every time they log on to the site they are reminded indirectly of their club's fiscal failures. "Clear debts"? Dammit, if only Peter Ridsdale had logged on to leedsunited.com and clicked that link five years ago, maybe Leeds wouldn't be in Coca-Cola League One.

It's an example of how clubs will do anything for money, no matter how dubious the connection. Plenty of other clubs promote savings accounts or credit cards. Since when has football been a model of secure and responsible financial behaviour?

Norwich City have a travel agency business at Carrow Road. Why would I want to book a holiday with a club that only has five away wins this season? There were adverts at Upton Park a season or two ago for Hammers Casino, then the club's official online casino. Meanwhile, Matthew Etherington, the winger, was addicted to gambling.

And then you have the companies that sponsor leagues and competitions: junk food, fizzy drinks, beer. The money from those deals may be good for the health of the game. Health of the fans? Not so much.

Excuse me now, I have a lesson on how to tackle safely and responsibly with Tommy Smith and Chopper Harris.

Comments

[alan]

And we had the season when Leeds were sponsored by Strongbow while a bunch of up-start kids were showing us all how Arsenal would be playing in years to come!! People used to complain that a team so young should not have an alcoholic drink stamped on the shirt - we should have taken a leaf from shef wed and gone with Chupa Chups!!