Share scheme can be crucial

SHEFKI Kuqi’s dramatic deadline-day move to Athletic three years ago would have collapsed in the final hour of the transfer window had it not been for donations from fans.

The Finn’s 16 goals that season helped his 14th professional club to a run to Anfield in the FA Cup and the club to safety in the league.

But Kuqi nearly didn’t wear an Athletic shirt at all. Having virtually shaken hands in August 2011, his agent wanted a relocation package. Athletic’s board was reluctant to pay - so up stepped the Trust-led PlayerShare scheme to save the day, smoothing out the large kink in the contract with a chunk of supporters’ cash.

Two days later Kuqi made a scoring debut against Huddersfield and famously belly-flopped in celebration.

PlayerShare has roots going back to 2005. Back then it was a struggle to convince the Athletic-supporting public that the new US-based owners needed any financial help.

But Barry Owen felt it was right to pitch in for the loan move of Luke Beckett, for which the Trust donated a third of his salary.

“This gesture shows what fans can achieve when they really pull together,” said Owen, at the time the trust’s chairman.

Five years later, and with co-owners Simon Blitz and Danny Gazal out of the picture, there was fresh impetus for a fundraising scheme, so PlayerShare was born.

Manager Paul Dickov used the fund to pay for Cedric Evina’s permanent transfer from Arsenal.

Currently running at 58 subscribers - who each pay a minimum £1 a week - the Trust-led scheme has also paid in close to five figures for contracts for James Wesolowski and Lee Croft. This season it helped to fund the capture of George Elokobi.

Elokobi is in many ways the perfect poster-boy for PlayerShare. The ex-Wolves favourite is a man whose commitment stands out and who shows his appreciation for the adulation he receives.

The Trust hopes those contributing to the scheme feel a special attachment to players like Elokobi.

“It is a way for fans to feel even more involved, to share in the success of a particular player,” said spokesperson Richard Attwood. “Third-party ownership rules mean we don’t really ‘own’ any of the players. But fans can at least imagine they hold a tangible stake in someone.”

To date around £35,000 has been donated to the club. The organisers hope to get 10 per cent of all season ticket holders — over 200 — to join in and donate.

With Athletic’s tight playing budget restricted by a salary cap, any extra money in the PlayerShare pot could play a decisive role in assisting the club’s push for a top six position.

“This club doesn’t have the benefit of multi-millionaire backers,” Attwood added. “We don’t have a hugely-rich chairman, or a board where 10 or so members regularly throw in thousands, so it’s important we try to encourage fans to put in a bit extra.

“We know how tough it is and we are not asking for cash that people don’t have. But anything helps.”



TO donate to PlayerShare, or for more details, visit www.laticsplayershare.co.uk.