FC 'til I Die – Economic and Cultural Asset Stripping

Abstract

This chapter will develop an understanding of what the logical conclusion of having English football clubs primarily existing as businesses: namely, those instances where clubs are treated not as community institutions but as any other business with set assets that can be disposed of at a profit. There is an unfortunate history of clubs being owned based on the value of the assets they possess (such as their stadium or training), a trend that has only seemed to accelerate in recent decades. The various forms asset stripping takes can be explored by examining what happened to clubs like Blackpool FC and Wimbledon FC, as well as many others. This chapter is an exploration of what happens when the entity that fans assume is something more than a business is dismantled for profit, the harshest of reality checks, and a reminder that football clubs in these contexts are little more than business assets.

Citation

McMahon, C. and Templeton, P. (2024), "FC 'til I Die – Economic and Cultural Asset Stripping", Contradictions in Fan Culture and Club Ownership in Contemporary English Football: The Game's Gone, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 45-60. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83549-023-520241003