THE PERILS OF BEING A FEEDER CLUB
THERE will be legions of Rangers and Newcastle United fans whose advice regarding Mike Ashley can be distilled into six key words: Don’t touch him with a bargepole.
A hugely controversial figure at both Ibrox and St James’ Park, it would be understandable if Morton supporters were apprehensive over the news that the Sports Direct billionaire has his sights set on Cappielow.
As Sportsmail exclusively revealed yesterday, Ashley’s associates were given a tour of the Greenock club and spoke to the manager and chief executive.
The discussions are still in their infancy. But Morton forming a working relationship with Newcastle will likely be part of any deal.
‘Their English friends believe that, with proper investment, Morton could be a feeder club for English leagues,’ said a spokesman for Sandy Easdale, who backs the club along with his brother James through various sponsorship deals.
The term ‘feeder club’ will ring alarm bells. It is still a relatively untapped market in Scotland, but it is not without precedent.
Inverness Caley Thistle thought they had struck gold in 2012 after announcing a partnership with Arsenal. They ended up with Philip Roberts. Yeah, remember him?
The striker remains the only player to have swapped London for the Highlands as part of a link-up that seems to have fizzled out.
And what about the job-lot of Newcastle players who were sent to Ibrox in 2015? Gael Bigirimana, Haris Vuckic, Kevin Mbabu, Remie Streete and Shane Ferguson?
These are the reminders to Morton of how risky such an agreement can be.
There is a widely-held view that you are playing with fire, selling your soul, in the hope that you might land the odd half-decent player. But the agreement sacrifices an element of control for the feeder club. Newcastle could punt half-a-dozen players their way, none of whom would get a game with Pollok Juniors. But Morton would have to play them.
Chelsea’s link with Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem has become one of the most controversial relationships in recent years.
Dubbed ‘Chelsea B’ by rivals fans due to the vast number of players sent from London, Vitesse have become a dumping ground for the English Premier League giants.
Earlier this year, FIFA were considering introducing new legislation that would limit the number of players a club could loan out.
But nothing concrete has been agreed. Ronald Koeman managed Vitesse in 2000-2001 and is unimpressed by the deal which has been in place since 2010. In a 2016 interview, Koeman said: ‘People have lost a connection with the club since this agreement has been in place. It’s difficult to have the spirit because it changes so much. The young players come for a year then they go back to Chelsea.’