So I was reading john steinbeck's grapes of wrath on the train on my way home. I would like to mention that this was earlier than normal as my wisdom teeth seem to feel the need to assault my nervous system, making staring at a computer screen unbearable. I am surrounded by scousers who won't shut up and seem to have a borderline fetish for perculiar smelling perfume, I would be worried about them reading this over my shoulder, but I think that their efforts are spent 100% on annoying the whole train.
Anyway, their in-carriage antics and a line in john steinbeck got me thinking about ownership. Like who owns this carriage? I know that if it is damaged it is the train company who pay for it or if it is sold it is them who get the money for it. But do they own it? In terms of financial investment yes. In terms of emotional investment no. I sit on this carriage on my way home from work every day, it has far more relevance to me than the guy who sells it.
The same can be said of football clubs, with the news of an imminent liverpool takeover and the headlines screaming 'liverpool to have new owners!' I wonder, does the paying off of those debts really mean that you OWN the club? No, it gives you the chance to be loved by those who really own the club, the fans.
After all ownership is infinite, it does not negate a profit, a stakeholding, a place on the board, it simply means that you control the club. Fans stop going to watch then there is no club, there is a team, an empty stadium and a warehouse full of replica shirts, there are no owners, simply stewards.
