Can a web-based community vote on professional football transfers?
In short: In 2007, Ebbsfleet United became the subject of a radical experiment. A digital community of 28,250 members bought a 75% stake in the club, giving them the power to vote on management and player selection. It was a bold attempt to merge internet culture with traditional sports ownership.
The experiment began in November 2007 when the website MyFootballClub (MyFC) agreed to take control of the club. Members paid a £35 subscription to participate, collectively paying £625,000 for a 75% stake. This was a unique arrangement where no profits or dividends were earned by the members, who instead held equal shares in the club.
The democratic mechanism was highly active. In January 2008, a majority vote of 95.89% of MyFC members decided to proceed with the takeover. Another 95.86% voted to allow manager Liam Daish to continue his transfer window plans. Under this model, members could vote on major decisions, including player selection, effectively turning the manager into a head coach.
The digital ownership model yielded immediate on-field success. On May 10, 2008, Ebbsfleet United won the FA Trophy by defeating Torquay United 1–0 in front of 40,000 spectators at Wembley. This made them the first Kentish team to win the trophy. They followed this with a 4–0 victory over Cray Wanderers in the 2007–08 Kent Senior Cup in July 2008.
The club's history is marked by such volatility, from its 1946 formation via a merger between Gravesend United and Northfleet United to its eventual renaming to Ebbsfleet United in May 2007 for strategic regional reasons. In May 2013, the MyFC era ended when KEH Sports Ltd, a group of Kuwaiti investors, became the new owners.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ebbsfleet United F.C.
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