This will be a huge test for the Americans, especially John W. Henry, who is used to holding the power over players and the contacts they are offered. It would have been a very interesting situation if the Rooney saga had happened on their watch. What would their reaction have been to it, and would Rooney have been offered the deal he got? The next big contract renewal that comes up at Liverpool will be a very interesting situation. Will John W. Henry and Tom Werner be able to accept that players have the power, or will they try to exert control and risk losing a player because of this. Of course this is completely hypothetical, but understanding the system and how the game now works in England is something they will have to learn.
This is why the appointment of the new chief executive will be crucial for John W. Henry and Tom Werner. Werner and Henry met head hunters on Friday to begin the process of drawing up a short list. The pair said they were looking to overhaul the structure of the football side of the club, beginning with the appointment of the former Tottenham Hotspur director of football Damien Comolli.
Tom Werner has dismissed rumours that potential candidates have already been approached, highlighting that the search would be extensive, and not restricted to English football. Bringing in an American, without the experience of working within European football would be a mistake. The owners have to accept that player power, because of the Bosman ruling is something we all have to accept. Other countries and other sports differ, but they are working within the guides of English football. They need to appoint somebody who has a proven track record of working within the European system.
In their first weeks as owners, NESV have been treated to a shock – and with English football there will be another one around the corner. However, though we may despise what we have become, it will not be changed overnight. If they are genuinely shocked by what they have seen so far, the owners should prepare themselves for something they have never experienced in the upcoming January transfer window.
This article was first published on our partner site Football Fancast by Tom Costello. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC. – Ed
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it’s totally different in America because of the wage cap and the way in which “transfers” are conducted – instead of “buying players”, as we do over here, clubs “trade contracts”.
The player has little control over when or where he moves, barring the odd exception, so the situation is completely opposite to what goes on in Europe, but arguably even less fair