Quote Originally Posted by Jeterpool View Post
I'm being cautious. Having a read of some of the demands the Ledman Group made of the Portuguese 2nd Division when negotiating the naming rights, which were rejected, are concerning.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...-division.html

Now these demands were rejected because the clubs all stuck together. We are one entity, owned by a governing body who have never been flushed with cash and have no long term interest in owning us. We as a club entity don't have the same power to negotiate on our own as the league did over there. Our negotiating position is weak because the FFA want us sold (though this could be in question with their actions at times).

If it's true, I wonder - are we going to see the Youth team full of young Chinese players? Are promising Chinese coaches going to be sent out here to try their luck in our league? Will we field Chinese players, regardless of their ability in an attempt to develop them, at the expense of our own local youth?

This may be seen as sky-is-falling type scenarios but everyone is on board with this guy without knowing ANYTHING about the deal. We see $$$ signs and lift our skirts.

Call me paranoid, but we've been bitten before and we might not get what we wish for. To convince me, I'm going to have to see more.
I don't think it's that big a concern. He wanted to take across 10 Chinese players for 10 clubs. That's not a large %. It was rejected and he went through with the sponsorship anyway so it's not like he spat the dummy and ran. It's also a sign that he cares about footballers from his own country - that's not a bad thing. At least he cares about football.

He can't do the same thing here because he has no hold over the league. If he wants to use our 5 foreign spots for 5 Chinese players, who cares as long as they're good enough. For all the Brazilians, Serbs, Croats, Poms, Dutch, Argentinians, Koreans, Fins(?), Norwegians etc. that we've had, how many have been any good? I'm not interested in the Jets representing the U.N. I also can't see them bringing over sub-standard players when they're probably better off staying home anyway - unlike Portugal for their better players which would have been a helpful shop window to the rest of Europe.

Are there any restrictions on foreigners in the Youth league? I haven't heard of one but it probably hasn't been a thing before. If there is a restriction, there isn't much to worry about there either. At the end of day, I'd rather an owner that's keeping our club afloat and offering 50% opportunity to local kids, then no club.