Introducing - The Men Who Have Ruined Football

So Roman has got bored again and we all  know what that means... The man who is almost single handedly responsible for football becoming detached from reality has forked out another few million in compensation. He also seems deluded enough to think that Pep Guardiola will consider ruining his reputation by managing a club whose owner will sack you if you lose 2 games.. 3 recent managers of Chelsea have failed to last a year in charge..

Plank 

The majority of Chelsea fans will accept the decision.. The older fans, because they still remember the days of John Bumstead, Doug Rougvie and relegation, will always look on these times as a golden age. The younger fans, because they know no different, will accept whatever decision Abramovich makes, as long as a ready supply of silverware continues to flow into the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet . It leads to the question, have Chelsea lost the plot, or is it football in general?

It's fairly obvious from the first paragraph that I am not a fan of Abramovich. I dislike him for what he has done to football (as well as other things that are easy to find online if you search well enough). I don't mind footballers being well paid, as part of the entertainment business market forces will dictate their earnings. Players should be able to take what they can from the game. If a club is prepared to pay £200,000 a week we shouldn't castigate the players for accepting it. I'm fairly sure that if anyone came and offered us a well paid job we'd all take it. The problem comes when rich people with no understanding of sport or the sport industry get to make the big decisions. One fact though is undeniable - Chelsea are Roman's club and he can do what he wants with them. If he wants Chelsea to have 3 managers a season he can do it. If he wants Chelsea to wear pink and purple shirts, he can do that too. If he chooses to leave, he can, and he can ruin the club in the process.

Here is the real problem. These people who come in and buy clubs often have no understanding of the culture and history of the club. It's just a plaything. The bad news is, that these people are not unique to the Premier League.  There are plenty of examples to show how one man can ruin the proud history of a club. The sad thing is that there is nothing that the supporters can do about it. One of the clubs that is local to me, a club that has been well run and punching above its weight for years is currently having it's soul ripped out by a wealthy moron.

For most of their history Forest Green Rovers have been found rummaging amongst the dregs of  the West of England's clubs. I remember them usually in the bottom 4 of the Southern League (Midland Division). Then, in the mid 90's they found themselves a decent manager and board and rapidly rose up to the Conference, where they still sit today, and to the FA Trophy final twice. Add to that a decent new stadium and you could argue that FGR were a club that all non league clubs could look at for good practice.

The problem is that they come from a small town (Nailsworth) and so have small crowds.. (Small crowds, not bad crowds because as a % of local population attending, FGR must rate quite highly). To be able to compete against Wrexham, Newport and Luton, and ultimately to become a fully professional club,  Forest Green Rovers needed a rich benefactor. Without someone chucking money in they would never finish outside the bottom 8.

Would you trust this man?

Step forward Mr Dale Vince. A man who has made his millions through the green electricity company Ecotricity and who was prepared to become the major shareholder of the club. Sadly the vegan new age traveller turned business tycoon has inflicted the club with his own ideas. Some good (Solar panels for electricity and pitch equipment), some bad (changing the club badge), some laughable (banning players from eating red meat) and some moronic (banning the sale of meat in the stadium - no burgers and pies people).

Then he committed one of the greatest crimes a club owner can possibly commit. He messed with the kit. After years of playing in black and white stripes, Vince decided that FGR should wear green shirts. Green to show how environmentally friendly the club is. Sadly, to most people it just looks like a stupid joke based on the fact that a colour is mentioned in the clubs name.

The supporters protested, but it fell on deaf ears. At home games banners still show resentment. But, and it's a big but, the club are having their best season ever. They are challenging for promotion to the Football League, and playing some decent stuff. Their performances this season would not be possible without Mr Vince's money. Like Chelsea, FGR could not compete without a rich man's money.

What is more important? The clubs history or success? To most supporters success is irrelevant. It's nice, but it's usually for supporters of other clubs. One thing is for sure, when Mr Vince or Mr Abramovich get bored, the supporters of their clubs will still be there. Whatever league it's in, I hope the good people of Nailsworth are watching their team playing in black and white stripes, and stuffing a meat pie into their mouths.

Overpaid players aren't the problem football has to cure. It's the rich businessmen who haven't got a clue who need sorting out.