Blues target Russia

Chris Bailey

December 16, 2003

MANCHESTER CITY are determined to follow Chelsea and find favour with Russian football fans.

Alistair Mackintosh's flying visit to Moscow this weekend has already borne fruit with the Blues managing director in talks with three separate clubs over a possible future alliance.

City chairman John Wardle has handed Mackintosh a brief to search the globe for possible new investors into the Premiership club that recently announced a debt of £50m.

And the Blues have targeted China, the United States and Russia as providing the best long-term possibilities.

Mackintosh missed the weekend derby to make a presentation to the Moscow Soccer Expo 2003 and was delighted with the reception he received.

"If we are going to be the size of club we want to be then we have to expand brand awareness around the world and Russia, China and the United States are the fastest growing soccer nations," he said.

Interest

"There is obviously a lot of interest in Chelsea in Russia at the moment and that has led fans to be more aware of other Premiership sides.

"We had very fruitful talks with three clubs - Torpedo Metallurg, Spartak Moscow and Dynamo Moscow - and we hope to form long lasting alliances.

"They will come over to see our stadium and see how we work commercially and we hope, in the nicest possible way, to exploit their brand and fan bases.

"Metallurg are known for producing some of the best junior talent in Russia so there may eventually be a technical link there, who knows?

"At the moment we are in the very early stages but it was a tremendously useful trip.

Spreading the word

"I was interviewed on the two biggest free to air television sports channels, on Moscow's equivalent of Radio Five and in the biggest selling newspaper.

"We want Russian football fans, when they think of English football, to have City in the forefront of their minds."

Mackintosh's mission has received a further boost with the results from an independent survey that reveals the Blues are one of the three English teams, along with United and Liverpool, to be in the top ten recognised clubs in the Far East.

He makes the first of two trips to America this week and hopes for a similar outcome to his Russian venture.

"It is not all about what happens now or next week, it is all about spreading the Manchester City name, making long term partnerships, and letting everyone know that we are a dynamic and growing team," he said.

Glad to see City raising brand awareness or is it just a desperate hunt for cash? have your say

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Ferrari, Stockport (16/12/2003 at 12:55)

What a ridiculous question "Is it just a desperate hunt for cash" Stick to journalism cos you'll never make it in the business world with comments like that. I know, i think i will advertise my business around the world, in a desperate hunt for cash? With some expert marketing (that's what it's called MUEN) we can sell our brand around the world and become one of the richest clubs, after all, that's exactly how the rags did it.

Cookie, Droylsden (16/12/2003 at 13:47)

Spot-on Ferrari, stupid question! It's all about marketing and brand awareness! As someone who works in marketing I can assure you that the only reason the RAGS are so prosperous is a certain incident that happened in Munich. If anyone cares to refer back to the History books, City were by far the bigger team prior to that tragedy!CTID

andy, m/cr (16/12/2003 at 13:54)

jesus !! things must be getting bad !! going to russia for investment ??
you cant get a pie or a pint at half time unless youre prepared to miss 10 mins of the match what happened to those blokes with trays of goodies who used to walk round ? we need to sort our selves out here first before people start getting annoyed and stop going.

Ken, Virginia Beach USA (16/12/2003 at 14:25)

Great move by Man City leadership. It's all about selling a "name brand". City is a big club with a marketable commodity. The City of Manchester is a global city with 19 million people using its airport yearly. Marketing and name recognition are factors to a successful business.

Russell schofield, st saviour Jersey (16/12/2003 at 14:52)

never mind the russians the new ground is not big enough at 48000 capacity for all the city fans to get in been over 2 times since the season started and could only get a ticket for the tns match

JohnT, Wilmslow (16/12/2003 at 15:29)

Of course it would be nice to find someone with more money than common sense, but it would be ideal to have players with more common sense than money.

David Banner, Michigan, USA. (16/12/2003 at 15:36)

I have a feeling that the independent survey carried out in the far east, that shows us as being in the top ten known world football clubs is a mistake. It is probably down to confusion about Manchester. In all probability when asked "Do you know Manchester city?", the answer was "Yes I love them, I love Beckham and Riggsy." I am a true blue but having come across this kind of thing myself I am sceptical.

David Banner, Michigan, USA. (16/12/2003 at 15:36)

Ferrari, Stockport (16/12/2003 at 15:37)

Andy, I don't think we are going to make it with the big boys by making sure you can get your pie and a pint at half time.

fred the red, salford 7 (16/12/2003 at 15:46)

DESPERATION ITS NOTHING ELSE,CITY? YOU ARE IN A MESS AND YOU ARE GOING DOWN,WHERE IS YOUR ARGUMENT?

fred the red, salford 7 (16/12/2003 at 15:47)

SHEER DESPERATION IM GLAD TO WRITE,CITY ARE GOING DOWN AND YOU BITTERS HAVE NO ARGUMENT!

Bob Fasoli, warrington (16/12/2003 at 16:12)

I am sorry I must have completely misunderstood the purpose of these visits. We were led to believe it was to find big money for City. Not to make contact with Russian Football clubs with about three Rubbles between them. Are there any Chinese billionaires waiting to invest in City? I doubt it.

JamCity, Stuck in bolton (16/12/2003 at 16:19)

Its sad to see how important money is in football these days. Personally, i'd rather not have glory hunting russians supporting City. A russian invester would be nice though. Bring back David Bernstein!

Nicki Jovanovic, Manchester (16/12/2003 at 16:29)

Garbage to those of you who rabbit on about United only being famous because of Munich. The reason that the Munich Air Disaster struck a chord with so many people is that United where regarded as one of the best teams in Europe, even way back then. They had pioneered the English entry to the Champions cup (against the wishes of the Football League & FA). In their first attempt they only lost to Real Madrid in the Semi Finals and in their second attempt (one year later) they had just booked their place in the Semi Finals again when their plane crashed on the return home. They had some of the best young talent in Europe and although City where probably the more successful team at the time, Busby was building a team that probably would have put paid to that situation pretty quick. In fact a quick glance at the statistics would even put paid to the myth that City where at one time better than United: Lets take the period 1928 to 1969 just for arguments sake " that's a good 41 year period. In this time City have the following statistics in terms of major honours: League Champions twice (1937, 1968), Runners Up None, FA Cup Winners three times (1934, 1956, 1969) Runners Up twice (1933, 1955) and that's yer lot. In the same period United have the following records: League Champions five times (1952 1956 1957 1965 1967) Runners Up seven times (1947 1948 1949 1951 1959 1964 1968), FA Cup Winners Twice (1948 1963) Runners Up twice (1957 1958) European Champions Cup Winners Once (1968) Semi Finalists four times (1956 1957 1966 1969) so now tell me that City where once better than United.

alf, buxton (16/12/2003 at 17:47)

Torpedo Mettalurg sounds like some kind of affliction! I'm sure the Russian football fans will have City at the front of their minds whilst they get in line for their loaves of bread. Perhaps they will dream of spending three months wages on a City shirt (with the old sponsor on!) whilst waiting to pull water up from the Well!They can only dream of earning massive wages for doing absolutely nothing like half our squad! They will look on in envy at how the club looks after the old and infirm players. Someone tell me, what is the use of building up links with a team that produces good youngsters? Surely we will have lost touch with them by the age of 35! GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

chrismiro, Chelsea (16/12/2003 at 17:57)

How about an alliance with Groclin, they beat city over 180 minutes, and surely could do with some of those players for the remainder of the season, plus you'd get them for peanuts too, whats this crap about russian teams..??? we at chelsea have no alliance with any russian club, its just Roman the owner, thats the only russain link, and we bought smertin from a french team...so alliance with Russian clubs why..????

Big Bird, Salford (16/12/2003 at 18:20)

Boys no need to go to Russia.....we`ll help you! Call round with the begging bowls anytime, I`m sure we can find something to fill them with?

Big Bird, Salford (16/12/2003 at 18:20)

Boys no need to go to Russia.....we`ll help you! Call round with the begging bowls anytime, I`m sure we can find something to fill them with?

Stamatis, Luxembourg (16/12/2003 at 18:37)

Nicki Jovanovic is spot on. If City were really the biggest club, would Colin Shindler have written a book like his? I doubt it. Anyway, comments on the story at hand: desperation; bad journalism. Keep on ranting about United s brand and you miss our team. Keep on dreaming about your brand and you will never have a team. Why dont you start with a manager? (and I mean a proper, decent one). We started there both times.

Blue Moon Rising, Wirral (16/12/2003 at 18:50)

It never ceases to amaze me how biased this site is - Who is writing these questions .... Taggart himself ? "Is it a desparate search for cash ?" If this was ManU it would be a dynamic entrepreneural incentive .... As it's City it's desparate !!! Yes we want cash like any other club because cash means success - you only have to look at ManU . Whatever Taggart says he has still broken every UK transfer record in the book . THIS IS BUSINESS AND JUST SHOWS THAT CITY ARE EXPLORING ALL OPTIONS .

mark, Stockport Red, (16/12/2003 at 19:19)

As the song goes...."Are you having a laugh, are you having a laugh?"...

"City one of the three most recognised English football clubs in the Far East?" Where was this independent survey carried out, the Wing Wong Wah in Denton?...

How times have changed, not so long ago the people of Moscow had to beg for food, now we've got City Directors running round Moscow with a begging bowl.

I doubt the people of Moscow can be exploited much more than they have been, and anyway how will this exploitation be converted into pounds sterling?

It sounds like Mackintosh has been sent on a wild goose chase. Getting an interview on Free to air radio, wow......

Daniel Powell, Shrewsbury (16/12/2003 at 21:27)

This is our one big chance look at the change in Chelsea they have gone from UEFA cup or scraping Champions League place to contenders for the champions league so lets find someone with alot of dosh who wants to spend it on super city

Lavinda Past, Surrey (16/12/2003 at 21:52)

Sad, sad, sad. I never dreamed that I would see MY club, MY beloved City, touted round like a piece of old tat at a car boot sale. The Board should hang their heads in shame. Council tenants with massive debt, a clutch of players who may raise a few quid and a manager who thinks we're not far behind the rags. Sad, sad, sad times indeed.

Adi, Prestwich (16/12/2003 at 23:15)

Oh dear, Nicki... where have you been getting your infomation from? Without even bothering to dip into the history books i can pick umpteen faults with your list of City's achievements.
eague runner-up NONE? What about 1977-78 season (second to Liverpool on goal difference). FA Cup runners up should also include 1981 vs Tottenham. I didn't even bother reading the rest of your inaccurate piffle after the mess you made of that.

kev, Oz (17/12/2003 at 01:59)

Oh dear oh dear, we are in trouble.....

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