Bradford City have distanced themselves from claims from a cryptocurrency group that they are “close” to brokering a takeover of the League Two club – although the offer is genuine and the EFL have already been engaged by the investors.
WAGMI United, a group of investors, that includes a Tiktok influencer, a professional sports gambler and the president of the NBA franchise Philadelphia 76ers Daryl Morley, broke cover with a profile in the Washington Post in which they confirmed they were looking to buy a club in the EFL.
Bradford confirmed on Friday morning they were the target of that takeover, although the buy-out looks unlikely to proceed at this stage.
It’s understood that the bid includes a group of crypto investors who have contributed significant sums to provide working capital to finance the takeover and then provide further funds.
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Some of those involved with the group convened a Twitter spaces on Thursday night to talk about plans and invited some Bradford fans onto the chat, without ever officially confirming the Bantams are their target.
They spoke of returning the club to the Premier League and using analytics, such as Statsbomb, to support them – although the Bantams are one of many clubs in the division that already use the firm to support their recruitment decisions.
i understands that talk of completing the deal by January is further ahead of where the takeover currently stands. There has been some disquiet about going public with the deal before it has proceeded with the club itself, which is owned by German businessman Stefan Rupp.
Interestingly though, the EFL have been in talks with WAGMI United in a sign that there could be a path into football for the group.
The sport’s relationship with cryptocurrency and NFTs is an increasingly live debate. Many teams have embraced partnerships with crypto and NFTs, which are unique online files that are increasingly being traded for significant sums. But fans groups have questioned the willingness to get involved with a market which is a mystery for many and remains largely unregulated.
However, the Bradford situation is the closest that crypto has come to having a significant say in the sport and fans seemed split on the issue.
Many welcomed the idea of the owner’s ambitions but with so many unknowns City – who are mid-table in League Two – might well be better sticking with an owner who has invested money to keep the club on a sound financial footing during the pandemic.
Whatever happens from here, it feels like a new front in football’s ownership debate has been opened up.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3yyP8iu
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