The recent success of Bundesliga clubs in Europe is particularly notable as most are fan clubs.
The costs associated with going to watch German top-flight teams are often a fraction of what fans would pay to watch their counterparts in the Premier League.
For example, Borussia Dortmund, who recently reached this season’s Champions League final, are selling match day tickets from just €18.50 or season tickets for an incredible €250 for adults.
Compare and contrast that with Chelsea’s prices of at least £50 for an unlimited viewing ticket for one game.
Fan-run clubs are moving forward says Collymore
It just lines the pockets of club owners, and Stan Collymore has had enough.
“How can one club in Europe spend a billion pounds limping into a Conference League place and one £5k seat behind the dugout, while another club gets waifs and losers, hones young talent and has affordable food and drink for fans? ” he said to CaughtOffside in his special column.
“Yes folks, that’s Chelsea from England against Dortmund from Germany, both of them have won the Champions League twice but that’s almost the same for them.
“We NEED the German model in England to avoid continuing with the greed of the Premier League. To reconnect fans and clubs and for us all to believe in the English game again.
“That can come with a model owned by the fans 50% +1% so that the club is always prioritized, rather than the business.
“An ownership model that listens, acts, and STILL competes in Europe is the only way to protect our clubs, allow them to compete, and stop this disgraceful waste of money in English football.
“The future is bright, the future is owned by many fans!”
While there could be widespread support from fans across the country fed up of paying out of the nose to watch their team, the chances of anything remotely like the German model making it to English shores are slim.
Too much money has been invested from stakeholders who won’t want their money cut – especially if it benefits the man in the street more than them.
The ‘show’ of the Premier League is about being the best of the best, on and off the pitch.
The product has value and obviously needs to be paid for, which leaves the idea that football is ‘for the fans’ ringing hollow.
If Collymore continues to drum, there could be a bottom-up movement that will change the nature of football as we know it.
After all, who would have thought that any Premier League level players would be plying their trade in Saudi Arabia as recently as five years ago.
You can’t tell where the ball touches.
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