Tan and Fernandes - different paths
Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:58 am
CONTRASTING RESULTS: Tony Fernandes and Vincent Tan have taken different paths in managing their English clubs
TAN Sri Vincent Tan is on the right track to go up, but Tan Sri Tony Fernandes is in danger of going down. That is football talk, not about the fortunes of the two in the "league of rich men".
With contrasting results, Fernandes and Tan have taken different paths to the land of the world famous English Premier League, popularly known as the EPL. Fernandes, the AirAsia boss, flew the direct route to the first-class competition of English football by buying a controlling stake, for around STG35 million (RM175 million) in EPL club Queens Park Rangers in August, 2011.
Tan, the boss of Berjaya Corporation, didn't go for instant success by taking the high road. He bought the less illustrious Cardiff City, which plays in the Championship, a second-class competition, about three years ago. Tan and his partner, Datuk Chan Tien Ghee, invested STG6 million to buy Cardiff City but inherited its debts, said to be as much as STG30 million.
To date, their investment stands at STG41 million. By May, when the EPL season comes to a close, Fernandes and Tan's clubs are likely to switch places, with Cardiff City winning promotion to the EPL, and QPR relegated to the Championship League. Of course, this prediction is based only on current form, and like the pundits say, the game is not over till it is over.
But Fernandes should know the score. As it is, Cardiff now convincingly leads the 24-team Championship, while QPR is languishing at the bottom of the 20-team EPL.
In May 2010, Tan invited me to Wembley Stadium in London to see Cardiff City battle Blackpool in the playoffs final, where the winner would get promoted to EPL and look forward to earning about RM250 million from television revenue, merchandising and gate receipts. Alas, Cardiff City lost the playoff final 3-2 despite twice taking the lead against Blackpool.
It was a heartbreaking day for the Tan Sri, and I was left consoling the poor man.
Tan vowed to fight on, and continued to build Cardiff City but more disappointments were to come as his team faltered in two playoffs in 2011 and last year. Teams that finish third to sixth in the table qualify for the playoffs. These setbacks have left him more determined to see Cardiff win automatic promotion to the Premier League with a top two finish.
This year, the club is closer to its dream. Admitting he knows little about football but speaking like a good businessman, Tan calls for prudent management of his club.
And he said he would not spend like Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner, Roman Abramovich.
Nonetheless, Tan has put in enough money to buy good players and win matches, and win the hearts of Welsh fans. Well, not exactly every Welsh fan.
A veritable number of them are not amused with Tan for kicking out 111 years of tradition at Cardiff by changing the team jersey's colour from blue to red, and putting a dragon on its badge, a move many see as an attempt to bring good luck, success and strength to the club.
Believe it or not, it seems to be working. Just look at the table, and you will know. With Tan being born in the Year of the Dragon, it is understandable that he had the mythical creature adorning the Cardiff badge.
In the same breath, "Dragon Year" people are said to live by their own rules, are optimistic, self-driven, and usually successful.
Team manager Malky Mackay has no doubt that the Welsh club's Malaysian owners are working hard to make Cardiff successful again after coming in despite its debts.
"These are the two guys (Tan and Chan) who keep the club going. They could have walked away, but they didn't -- and they have not taken a penny out of the football club," said Mackay.
The ups and downs in football are more exciting than the stock market. The magic of football is such that it can turn grim men into gamesome boys.
It can cause Fernandes or Tan, so composed in their corporate boardrooms, to jump up and down in excitement when watching their teams.
It can be mind-boggling on the field, too. Last week, when Fernandes' team was down and out, it sprang up like a jack-in-the-box and landed a knockout punch on heavyweight Chelsea, which a year ago, was the king of Europe.
Fernandes has spent much more than Tan in getting supposedly good players, but this has led to QPR manager Harry Redknapp saying: "There are a lot of players at this club who earn far too much money for what they are.
"Far, far, far too much money for their ability and what they give to the club."
Yet, Fernandes is now in a tough situation where he has to spend more money, maybe up to RM50 million, to sign up players to help his team climb out of the relegation zone.
January is the month for clubs to buy or sell players. At the other end, Tan can afford not to splash the cash for more players as the present Cardiff team is doing quite well.
In the future, Malaysians may not support only clubs like Manchester United or Liverpool, as Cardiff is set to gain a foothold on their minds.
The Bluebirds have spread their wings to our shores by setting up a 1Malaysia Cardiff City Academy, and with three British coaches based here permanently to conduct training programmes for Malaysian youths in several states.
Both Tan and Fernandes have helped to raise the profile of Malaysia with their forays into English football, which has a global audience.
One day, we hope that they will give our M-League competition more kicks with their involvement as team owners.
In return, spare a cheer or two for QPR and Cardiff City during the weekends when you are at the warong or in front of your TV at home.
I wish Fernandes and Tan good luck, and may both their teams be in the Premier League next season.
TAN Sri Vincent Tan is on the right track to go up, but Tan Sri Tony Fernandes is in danger of going down. That is football talk, not about the fortunes of the two in the "league of rich men".
With contrasting results, Fernandes and Tan have taken different paths to the land of the world famous English Premier League, popularly known as the EPL. Fernandes, the AirAsia boss, flew the direct route to the first-class competition of English football by buying a controlling stake, for around STG35 million (RM175 million) in EPL club Queens Park Rangers in August, 2011.
Tan, the boss of Berjaya Corporation, didn't go for instant success by taking the high road. He bought the less illustrious Cardiff City, which plays in the Championship, a second-class competition, about three years ago. Tan and his partner, Datuk Chan Tien Ghee, invested STG6 million to buy Cardiff City but inherited its debts, said to be as much as STG30 million.
To date, their investment stands at STG41 million. By May, when the EPL season comes to a close, Fernandes and Tan's clubs are likely to switch places, with Cardiff City winning promotion to the EPL, and QPR relegated to the Championship League. Of course, this prediction is based only on current form, and like the pundits say, the game is not over till it is over.
But Fernandes should know the score. As it is, Cardiff now convincingly leads the 24-team Championship, while QPR is languishing at the bottom of the 20-team EPL.
In May 2010, Tan invited me to Wembley Stadium in London to see Cardiff City battle Blackpool in the playoffs final, where the winner would get promoted to EPL and look forward to earning about RM250 million from television revenue, merchandising and gate receipts. Alas, Cardiff City lost the playoff final 3-2 despite twice taking the lead against Blackpool.
It was a heartbreaking day for the Tan Sri, and I was left consoling the poor man.
Tan vowed to fight on, and continued to build Cardiff City but more disappointments were to come as his team faltered in two playoffs in 2011 and last year. Teams that finish third to sixth in the table qualify for the playoffs. These setbacks have left him more determined to see Cardiff win automatic promotion to the Premier League with a top two finish.
This year, the club is closer to its dream. Admitting he knows little about football but speaking like a good businessman, Tan calls for prudent management of his club.
And he said he would not spend like Chelsea's billionaire Russian owner, Roman Abramovich.
Nonetheless, Tan has put in enough money to buy good players and win matches, and win the hearts of Welsh fans. Well, not exactly every Welsh fan.
A veritable number of them are not amused with Tan for kicking out 111 years of tradition at Cardiff by changing the team jersey's colour from blue to red, and putting a dragon on its badge, a move many see as an attempt to bring good luck, success and strength to the club.
Believe it or not, it seems to be working. Just look at the table, and you will know. With Tan being born in the Year of the Dragon, it is understandable that he had the mythical creature adorning the Cardiff badge.
In the same breath, "Dragon Year" people are said to live by their own rules, are optimistic, self-driven, and usually successful.
Team manager Malky Mackay has no doubt that the Welsh club's Malaysian owners are working hard to make Cardiff successful again after coming in despite its debts.
"These are the two guys (Tan and Chan) who keep the club going. They could have walked away, but they didn't -- and they have not taken a penny out of the football club," said Mackay.
The ups and downs in football are more exciting than the stock market. The magic of football is such that it can turn grim men into gamesome boys.
It can cause Fernandes or Tan, so composed in their corporate boardrooms, to jump up and down in excitement when watching their teams.
It can be mind-boggling on the field, too. Last week, when Fernandes' team was down and out, it sprang up like a jack-in-the-box and landed a knockout punch on heavyweight Chelsea, which a year ago, was the king of Europe.
Fernandes has spent much more than Tan in getting supposedly good players, but this has led to QPR manager Harry Redknapp saying: "There are a lot of players at this club who earn far too much money for what they are.
"Far, far, far too much money for their ability and what they give to the club."
Yet, Fernandes is now in a tough situation where he has to spend more money, maybe up to RM50 million, to sign up players to help his team climb out of the relegation zone.
January is the month for clubs to buy or sell players. At the other end, Tan can afford not to splash the cash for more players as the present Cardiff team is doing quite well.
In the future, Malaysians may not support only clubs like Manchester United or Liverpool, as Cardiff is set to gain a foothold on their minds.
The Bluebirds have spread their wings to our shores by setting up a 1Malaysia Cardiff City Academy, and with three British coaches based here permanently to conduct training programmes for Malaysian youths in several states.
Both Tan and Fernandes have helped to raise the profile of Malaysia with their forays into English football, which has a global audience.
One day, we hope that they will give our M-League competition more kicks with their involvement as team owners.
In return, spare a cheer or two for QPR and Cardiff City during the weekends when you are at the warong or in front of your TV at home.
I wish Fernandes and Tan good luck, and may both their teams be in the Premier League next season.
Re: Tan and Fernandes - different paths
Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:06 am
If QPR get relegated it wouldn't surprise me if Fernandes comes down here.
Re: Tan and Fernandes - different paths
Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:12 am
Mynachdy_Bluebird wrote:If QPR get relegated it wouldn't surprise me if Fernandes comes down here.
that would be amazing for cardiff city financially
Re: Tan and Fernandes - different paths
Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:14 am
Mynachdy_Bluebird wrote:If QPR get relegated it wouldn't surprise me if Fernandes comes down here.
Good move. He always speaks well and seems genuinely interested in football.
Re: Tan and Fernandes - different paths
Tue Mar 12, 2013 10:24 am
Mynachdy_Bluebird wrote:If QPR get relegated it wouldn't surprise me if Fernandes comes down here.
we got bigger fish than him coming in mate ,the Chinese are coming in once in the premiership
