Mel buys the Rams

[Ramondo]

I wish Mel the best of luck - I hope the good feeling from some quarters continues IF this backfires.

But just because he's worth £400m to £500m doesn't mean he 'has' that amount. It's small change for modern day big boy football club owners. He is splashing out cash, however that is being financed, and is going to have to fund the clubs shortfall - at least until (or 'if') promotion is secured.

I like the idea of local ownership, mainly because it usually implies the owner has a personal interest in the long term as well as the short term - they aren't in it for asset stripping and are unlikely to sell to the first bidder that comes along should they consider pulling out.

But whether a fan is a better long term option as owner is debatable. GSE very nearly pulled it off and we'd created one of the best footballing sides I've seen since the days of Wanchope, Biano and Eranio. The trouble with having a fan is the heart can rule the head - there are plenty of examples of very

[AnagRam]

Yep...absolutely Roger and thanks for that. I actually finished my post...'where's RR when you need him?' and then realised we'd 'crossed' so edited it out. Always think of you and Rats as 'head of economics' but you're usually a little more optimistic ;-) .

[CornwallRam]

I didn't expect an answer to my 'where's the money coming from?' question quite so quickly or so convincingly. I can only find optimism in this appointment - despite disagreeing with Mel's decisions on the head coach recently. He will get things right eventually and the Clement/Evans structure may even be a master-stroke despite my misgivings anyway. I'm not sure that there is a formula for successful club ownership. We can all cite numerous examples of poor 'business' owners, poor 'fan' owners and the same with superb owners. Ultimately it comes down to making the right decisions and providing sufficient finance without messing up the sustainability of the club. To me, Mel is more likely to get BOTH those things right than the GSE group were - but time will tell.

On Mel's net worth - it seems he made about £500m from the floatation of King Digital Entertainment, but that is not likely to be his entire fortune. He was pretty flush before and he's lots more fingers and there are lots

[ellafella]

I am very pleased that MM has bought the Club. I had the pleasure of meeting W Brett Wilson and loved the guy for his charm and his backing of the Rams. I haven't yet met MM but if I had circa £500 million I would do exactly what MM has just done.

I am really looking forward to this era. I think Sam R, Mel M and John V will do the right things. I think Sam R will play the detached, critical friend which will counter any "rose tinted specs" decisions that Mel may suffer from.

Everything that has happened at the iPro over the past couple of years...signings, development of the ground/Moor Farm, remembering the Fallen soldiers, remembering Dave MacKay, the match day atmosphere, really does make me proud to be a part of such a brilliantly big football club.

Enjoy the ride and don't get cynical!

[AnagRam]

All very encouraging and even handed CornwallRam. The thing I really don't understand is why anyone, local fans e.g. Morris, Pickering, Gadsby and Doughty or egotistical half wits (allegedly) e.g. Fawaz apart, would want to invest in a football club.
There are surely much easier and safer ways of making money so how does Mel go about putting together an 'investment group' and what is the attraction?

[Anywho]

I greet the news with cautious optimism.

It does feel a little like the safety next has been removed, but we are now in the hands of someone who feels like we do about the club.

[CornwallRam]

@AnagRam
It seems pretty straightforward to me. When you move into the super rich category you really don't need any more money. Once you've secured your kids' futures, ensured that your parents will never again want for anything, sorted your dream home and added two or three nice properties in your favourite places and brought the vehicles that you've always desired...and still have half a billion in the bank - what do you do? You could buy a yacht or a formula one team or maybe work 80 hours a week trying to build up another technology company. Personally I'd ensure that I had £100m ring fenced as my untouchable personal fortune and plough the rest into making DCFC the most successful club that I could manage. OK, it would make the club an oversized train set - but I fell in love with that train set a long time ago and would chop off my own arm before I'd do any damage to it. I'd say that's why Mel is doing what he's doing.

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

Andy Appleby was never seen or heard from when he owned the club, at least we now got an owner in Mel Morris who is seen and heard from and are in the know of the day to day running of the business.

[AnagRam]

I understand all that CR, as far as MM is concerned, but how does he attract others? Even supposing he's prepared to commit £250m to Derby - a big supposition - that's not an enormous amount in football nowadays. So other rich local fans apart - Gadsby? - the question remains, how does he attract other members of the 'investment group' you spoke of?

Not doubting what you suggest, just genuinely ignorant/puzzled as to how it all works.

[The_Mighty_Derby_Sup]

Mel Morris will have plans already in place as soon as he took over the club which has been coming for some time now, this is the first in his plan on taking over the club the next will be to make sure we stay sustainable as possible and aim for the Premier League in due course.