Are going to be the new Watford? I’m not comfortable with the investment/hedge fund manager type ownership. We’ve been served well with the current ownership but I don’t want the club to just be some assets on a balance sheet

MonkeyBlue, Phil writes: "with no suggestion that the Blues would be part of a multi-club arrangement."

As for being just an asset on a balance sheet, I have bad news for you.

I read the article… I don’t doubt Phil’s integrity, but “no suggestion” doesn’t mean that’s not going to be the case eventually, just that they aren’t saying that’s their aim. Also the just an asset on a balance sheet comment was alluding to us not being the only focus of the ownership in terms of football clubs. The yanks have actually been pretty supportive rather than financially ruthless and grabbing every $. These guys were late to the ownership party and perhaps have a different perspective. It wouldn’t be unheard of given the current leadership in the US for Americans to say one thing but do another to line their own pockets.

Some data sharing between the clubs on the Italian player market might be useful

Monkeyblue. What the hell has the leadership of the United States got to do with it? The owners have been nothing but true, and honest with us from the time they took over the club. Comparing them to to Trump is somewhat odd.

This has come about at a time when Town are manager-less. Without doubt McKenna’s clout as a manager held good stock in the footballing world and was a good attraction for investors. I hope that whoever replaces him won’t disappoint.

Blues1 what’s your problem? I was simply stating that there seems to be a money at all costs attitude in the US from the top down. We’ve done well out of the initial takeover but these guys are newer to the party and it’s a worry. Also the fact that there may well be a financial crash because of this attitude soon which might change investors priorities. It seems to me principals can always be swayed by greed or economic need.

So Clara Vista own 15% of the club via Portman Holdings and approx. the same via Bright Path (with the other investors in BP being native American funds and Simon Sports) So they are probably the closest thing to the largest shareholder in Game changer and , therefore, the club, replacing ORG who no longer hold a controlling stake. Clara Vista probably own about 28% of the club, with 3 lions on 25% (15% via Portman Holdings and 10% via their direct investment) With ORG, Simon Sports and the other investors in Bright Path all on about 15%. With Ed owning the other 2%. Whilst ORG have only invested in Town, 3 Lions already have interests in Scandinavian & Turkish clubs, and Clara Vista now looking to invest in Italian & Spanish top flight clubs.
Lets hope if one day the new manager, or any future manager, takes Town into the top 8 or wins a cup, that we don't suffer the same fate as Palace & get excluded from the European completion that we qualify for due to one of our 2 largest shareholders having a controlling stake in a club in the same competition.
Possibly the ownership structure anticipates that, with no one shareholder having a controlling stake, and both the 2 largest shareholders having their investments made via 2 different platforms, so that Portman Holdings and Bright Path associates show as the shareholders in Game Changer 20 , rather than Clara Vista & (other than a minor stake in their own names) Three Lions.

That's an interesting point Stow, but I suspect we're a little way off worrying about whether our ownership structure might jeopardise our participation in European football. I like your optimism though!

Well I never thought a newly promoted club would ever again replicate Burley's play off winning team's European Qualification. And then Sunderland came along...

StowTractor, yes, amazing what can happen with a lot of ambition and spot on recruitment. The PL isn't a closed shop, you just need to know which key fits.