The night before Liverpool’s former owners faced the media in February 2007 at Anfield, a meeting dictated the press conference’s running order. George Gillett, initially deemed too financially weak, joined forces with Tom Hicks after being directed by Inner Circle Sports. Hicks, despite his late interest, insisted on leading the conference, an early sign of their impending conflict. Within months, Liverpool was embroiled in a civil war, with the duo ceasing communication.
Their tumultuous reign lasted three painful years until a High Court ruling facilitated a sale to Fenway Sports Group, highlighting the challenges of co-ownership in Premier League football. This scenario is echoed at Chelsea, where co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, like Gillett and Hicks, are already showing signs of strain.
Boehly, akin to Gillett, and Eghbali needed each other for their acquisition. Boehly, similar to Hicks, has taken prominence despite Eghbali’s significant contributions. At Liverpool, the unresolved conflict of interest led to Gillett seeking an exit strategy just months into their partnership.
Co-ownerships often fail due to personality clashes and strategic misalignments, as seen at Crystal Palace and Everton—where ownership structures create stagnation and chaos. Even Newcastle United faced similar issues when Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi’s influence was overshadowed by their minor ownership stake.
Manchester United’s impending experience with INEOS and the Glazers could be another test of co-ownership feasibility. Successful joint ventures like Wrexham’s Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are rare and may face challenges if pushed into Premier League heights. As for Chelsea, it’s doubtful that Boehly and Eghbali’s partnership will endure.
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