Finance guru issues ‘remarkable’ Liverpool claim after ‘FSG admit they got it wrong’
Fenway Sports Group admit they were wrong over the Super League – but their overall stewardship of Liverpool has been “remarkable”.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the current ownership model at Anfield.
FSG first bought into Liverpool in 2010 and have, in tandem with Jurgen Klopp and stellar cast of players, brought the good times back to Mersyside.
The low point in their reign was the Super League fiasco last April, after which FSG chief John Henry was forced into an embarrasing climbdown.
But per The Athletic last Monday (28 March), FSG’s ownership blueprint has won ardent admirers among the groups looking to take over at Chelsea.
Plumley assessed why FSG’s methods have generated such fanfare despite the Super League disaster.
“I think the use of data is really important in all of this,” the Sheffield Hallam university expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“While it is an American style of ownership, it’s slightly different to what we have seen elsewhere as they have gone further down the data analysis route.
“It has served them remarkably well and is part of what attracted Klopp to them as well, which is important because look at the success he has brought.
“It is also a typical American model because they have successful franchises in other sports and there is that wider brand association there.
“There is the Anfield expansion as well, so there have been a lot of positives there.
“It’s a breath of fresh air to see them bring in expertise from outside of football, but there are downsides.
“Getting caught up in the Super League, FSG admit they got it wrong. They have also sometimes missed the connection to the fans.
“There is sometimes that cultural disconnect with some of the American owners.
“So it hasn’t been perfect, but I think it has been more positive than negative.”
FSG also own baseball outfit Boston Red Sox and NHL side Pittsburgh Penguins.
Liveprool lost £4.8million in the Covid-hit 2020-21 season but turned a profit in all but one pre-pandemic year since FSG’s arrival.
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