C*nt. What a C*nt.

[Simi]

JOHN Batchelor insists he will not give up in his quest to buy the Blues – despite Stephen Vaughan’s public rejection of his bid yesterday.

The former York City owner spelled out his vision for the future of Chester City in a interview with The Chronicle on Wednesday – and openly admitted he did not care what the fans thought of his plan to change the club’s name.

The straight-talking Batchelor was happy to answer our questions.

Q. HOW did Tuesday’s meeting with Stephen Vaughan go and where are you at in terms of your proposed takeover of Chester City?

It wasn’t our first meeting and, as far as things go, there is no problem on the price. There’s no problem on the proof of our funds, we’ve shown him that. I wasn’t just with Stephen, his lawyer was present as well. The only thing is that I have some fairly contentious plans for the club. We still need to get over that.

Q. Can you expand on what those plans are? Would they involve renaming the club?

Yes, there would be a complete change of identity for the club in all respects.

Q. What would you change the name to?

We probably have three options, all of which relate to sponsorship deals.

Q. What would you say to supporters who feel you are interfering with the history and tradition of the club?

I don’t care, basically, is the answer. If I’m going to invest £2m into a business venture, it’s being done on the basis that the amount of commercial income we bring in is greater than what the fans contribute.

At the moment they don’t contribute enough to keep that club going, so if both of them want to ring me I’ll speak to both fans... It’s as brutal as that.

You’ve only got to look at the high street and look at Woolworths for example. It’s been there 99 years. It won’t be there next year because it’s had its day. Chester City is the same thing. Not enough people turn up at that club every other Saturday to maintain that particular brand.

I can create something for professional football in Chester that would maintain it if nobody turned up. So they (the fans) don’t get a vote. And they don’t get a vote because they don’t get a vote when they go to Tesco’s on how the store is run. Why should it be any different with football?

Q. So you don’t think the fans play an important part in a football club?

Not interested. If they want to come and watch successful professional football in Chester – under whatever guise – if it belongs to me they will do it on my terms. If they don’t want to come, fine.

Q. How can you make this work? How can you make Chester City successful?

If I sound frustrated about this, or if I sound abrupt, it’s because people have a mental block when you say you want to run a football club and you don’t care about the fans. There are three routes of income for this club which will generate probably three times as much as it generates now. None of those involve people coming through the turnstiles. So if people do come through the turnstile, it’s a bonus.

Q. Naming Chester after the fictional team Harchester United (from Sky TV’s Dream Team) has been mentioned. Is that something you would be interested in doing?

It’s possible that we could do that. I would use the Harchester alternative if it works for the various sponsors we have. One of those sponsors has a very extreme brand and the more extreme we can be, with positive or negative publicity, it doesn’t matter, the more we would get.

The Harchester thing is quite interesting. I investigated it about 18 months ago. I spoke to the owner of the rights and did some background on the fan base that fictional club has. It has just over 27,000 registered fans on the Harchester website. From a marketing perspective, it would be a lot easier to talk to them than the couple of thousand people who turn up at Chester.

Q. But just because people register themselves as fans on a website, it doesn’t mean they will travel to Chester to watch the team.

We don’t need them to travel. We don’t care whether they turn up or not. But we do like to sell to them.

I’ve got to be open with everybody because, if I’m not and I try to be everybody’s best friend like when I was at York City, then 12 months in it just gets nasty. I’d rather everybody knew where I’m coming from – which is to keep professional football in Chester, making a profit and having a successful team based there whatever it’s called – than pretend that I’m going to look at 120 years of heritage, which I don’t give a monkey’s about.

Q. You admitted in an interview with The Guardian earlier this year that you lied to York City fans. Have you changed since your time at York?

I’m seven years older now, seven years wiser, and I think it’s because everything I enter into now I enter into for one reason – and that’s me and my family, and for no other reason. I’ve had the ego thing, and I’m really not interested in the ego thing any more.

Q. You have described yourself as an “asset stripper” in the past. Are you looking to do that at Chester?

No.

Q. Where have the funds to buy the club come from?

I’m not sure I mentioned £2m but it’s been mentioned and that’s not too far off the number. Secondly, all of the proof of funding was produced on Tuesday for Stephen and his lawyer. Thirdly, investment will come from sponsorship deals.

Q. Would the current management team of Mark Wright and Steve Bleasdale be safe if you took over?

I might want to add to it but I have no problems with Mark or any of the management team that exists at the moment.

Q. What is the next step in your proposed takeover?

We’re ready to go as and when he (Vaughan) is. He is proving somewhat difficult in relation to some of the more radical ideas that we have for the club. Stephen is a very difficult man, as I’m sure you’re aware.

Q. So there are certain points that you still need to thrash out?

I don’t, but apparently he does.

If this man was to drop dead, it would be a complete and utter shame wouldn't it.

[Webbo]

He has a point when he says that not enough fans pay to get in to have a voice. A lot of the people who object have never been to a game, or at least not for years.

But on the whole I agree with Ched, what a ****.

[Finnegan]

Hard to like him.

Hard to disagree with him.

If Chester are in the fiscal situation that he makes out, ie, they're about to go bankrupt - then It's not like he's suggesting doing an MK Dons and effectively buying a football club for a completely different area. He's offering the people of Chester continued access to professional football but on his terms.

I don't like it, it's a sad reflection of the greed of capitalism. But I can't really argue against it, either. Better an honest cunt than a sly, deceitful ****.

[Simi]

He has a point when he says that not enough fans pay to get in to have a voice. A lot of the people who object have never been to a game, or at least not for years.

But on the whole I agree with Ched, what a ****.

The size of the fanbase should be taken into consideration though. Would they have even got off the ground without the same set of fans coming through the door every week for years upon years?

[Samilktray]

He needs to put food on the table for his family.

Fair play to him I reckon.

[Finnegan]

He needs to put food on the table for his family.

Fair play to him I reckon.

Yeah, poor bloke, I bet he's really skint. <_<

[Fosse Boy]

He needs to put food on the table for his family.

Fair play to him I reckon.

Would you have the same attitude if he had a bit more money and decided to do that to City?

He's the same twat who changed York City's name to York City Soccer Club in order to try and broaden their commercial appeal to the American market. Come on! The guy blatantly has no idea about football culture, or how to run a football club successfully and make money from it.

Him and that shithead at Mansfield Keith Haslam, who tried to change their name to Harchester United, should fcuk off out of football. Honestly, they're nearly as bad as Pete Wankleman and Franchise FC.

[Darkzzz_]

It is the Harchester bit that gets me.

[Samilktray]

Would you have the same attitude if he had a bit more money and decided to do that to City?

Nah I wouldnt.

And as its not I feel no need to be bothered by it.

[lavrentis]

It is the Harchester bit that gets me.

He's just thinking of the money he'll get from BskyB.

[Finnegan]

Would you have the same attitude if he had a bit more money and decided to do that to City?

Irrelevant. The whole point of what he's doing is that it is a tiny, nothing club.

If my options were his football or no football I'd be happy for his money. I wouldn't like his attitude, but I'd accept his prospects. It's not like he's saying fans can't come or that he's going to price out everyone from the Chester area. In fact, they should probably be cheered by the fact he puts little stock in ticket income - it probably won't be extortionate to go see them.

[ousefox]

This man is a fooking willy puller. Does not have a clue about football!! Everybody in York hates him and its his fault our finances are shite.

[Tommeh]

He needs to put food on the table for his family.

Fair play to him I reckon.

A statment like this can only come from someone who doesn't give a shite about football.

[Samilktray]

A statment like this can only come from someone who doesn't give a shite about football.

I dont give a shit about football your right.

Because I dont wanna waste half my life moaning about soemthing irrelevant to me.

Damn me.

[Darkzzz_]

He's just thinking of the money he'll get from BskyB.

In that case, I would more than likely do the same.

A real life Dragons team.

Wow.

[Fosse Boy]

Nah I wouldnt.

And as its not I feel no need to be bothered by it.

If I could refer you to this, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came...

It's that kind of attitude that allowed Wankleman to move Wimbledon. Apathy to the plight of other fans is what's killing football, who's to say in ten, twenty years that these individuals won't be coming for bigger clubs like Leicester?

[Lovejoy]

I reckon if someone took over Leicester and changed their name and image, there wouldn't be much point me supporting them anymore .

[Lillehamring]

if i were a chester fan, i would want to support chester not something based on what chester USED to be.

i would not want league football at any cost - i'd rather support a non league team than this abortion of an idea.

i mean 2 million and a bit of sponsorship is not going to make chester a premiership team.

i'm sure in chester, if this happens, one would want to support the original chester cause they are one's home team, if there is no chester what are your options: support TescoChesterFC in the lower leagues or liverpool.

[dandannieldanok]

if i were a chester fan, i would want to support chester not something based on what chester USED to be.

i would not want league football at any cost - i'd rather support a non league team than this abortion of an idea.

i mean 2 million and a bit of sponsorship is not going to make chester a premiership team.

i'm sure in chester, if this happens, one would want to support the original chester cause they are one's home team, if there is no chester what are your options: support TescoChesterFC in the lower leagues or liverpool.

Agreed, if I were a Chester fan I'd hate it if this immoral tw*t was to buy the club out, no matter what the financial predicament.

[Floating Fox]

I hope he gets aids and Alvin Jarvis makes him bleed so hard he can't walk again.

Grade A Moron.

[Finnegan]

If I could refer you to this, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came...

It's that kind of attitude that allowed Wankleman to move Wimbledon. Apathy to the plight of other fans is what's killing football, who's to say in ten, twenty years that these individuals won't be coming for bigger clubs like Leicester?

But this is my point. What plight of the Chester fans?

Yes, it's sad if their club gets renamed, yes it's sad if their club turns into a bit of an embarrasment, yes it's sad their chairman doesn't care much for them.

They'll still be getting a well funded, well cared for team. They'll have the same staff, the same players and most importantly the same location.

I do not like this - but my dislike is from that of an anti-capitalist perspective. Most of you are moaning about it from some "it's-cool-to-be-a-traditionalist-football-fan-rah-rah-rah" perspective and frankly that's just naive and childish. While football is a commercial industry (and if you've a problem with that, it isn't incidents like this you need to be moaning about but the entire infastructure of the sport from the top down) there will be a need for clubs to be fiscally viable.

This will make Chester such an institution and will guarantee the future of the sport for years to come in the city.

Fan run clubs a la AFC Wimbledon or whatever that Man Yoo one is might by good for novelty value but they won't secure the future of the sport in it's current climate. They might be nice for young lads like SUAS to sit and go "wow their fans are great I wish ours sung like that" or "now that's proper football yada yada yada" but at the end of the day you're living in Disneyland.

You're right, this man is a bellend. But he's a bellend with an idea you really can't pick too many holes in.

[Floating Fox]

But this is my point. What plight of the Chester fans?

Yes, it's sad if their club gets renamed, yes it's sad if their club turns into a bit of an embarrasment, yes it's sad their chairman doesn't care much for them.

They'll still be getting a well funded, well cared for team. They'll have the same staff, the same players and most importantly the same location.

I do not like this - but my dislike is from that of an anti-capitalist perspective. Most of you are moaning about it from some "it's-cool-to-be-a-traditionalist-football-fan-rah-rah-rah" perspective and frankly that's just naive and childish. While football is a commercial industry (and if you've a problem with that, it isn't incidents like this you need to be moaning about but the entire infastructure of the sport from the top down) there will be a need for clubs to be fiscally viable.

This will make Chester such an institution and will guarantee the future of the sport for years to come in the city.

Fan run clubs a la AFC Wimbledon or whatever that Man Yoo one is might by good for novelty value but they won't secure the future of the sport in it's current climate. They might be nice for young lads like SUAS to sit and go "wow their fans are great I wish ours sung like that" or "now that's proper football yada yada yada" but at the end of the day you're living in Disneyland.

You're right, this man is a bellend. But he's a bellend with an idea you really can't pick too many holes in.

I'd rather my club was financially on the brink thnan ran by a willy puller like this and renamed so it had sweet fa to do with my city. Couldn't care wether it promotes the league or what. I fail to see what your getting at welshy..?

[Fosse Boy]

But this is my point. What plight of the Chester fans?

Yes, it's sad if their club gets renamed, yes it's sad if their club turns into a bit of an embarrasment, yes it's sad their chairman doesn't care much for them.

They'll still be getting a well funded, well cared for team. They'll have the same staff, the same players and most importantly the same location.

I do not like this - but my dislike is from that of an anti-capitalist perspective. Most of you are moaning about it from some "it's-cool-to-be-a-traditionalist-football-fan-rah-rah-rah" perspective and frankly that's just naive and childish. While football is a commercial industry (and if you've a problem with that, it isn't incidents like this you need to be moaning about but the entire infastructure of the sport from the top down) there will be a need for clubs to be fiscally viable.

This will make Chester such an institution and will guarantee the future of the sport for years to come in the city.

Fan run clubs a la AFC Wimbledon or whatever that Man Yoo one is might by good for novelty value but they won't secure the future of the sport in it's current climate. They might be nice for young lads like SUAS to sit and go "wow their fans are great I wish ours sung like that" or "now that's proper football yada yada yada" but at the end of the day you're living in Disneyland.

You're right, this man is a bellend. But he's a bellend with an idea you really can't pick too many holes in.

The problem is that realism among football fans is fast become a synonym for defeatism. I obviously realise that due to Sky Sports, the advent of the Premier League, massive commercial investment etc. that this is what the present football climate is.

That said, I would rather be an idealist and "cool to be traditionalist" type than an apathetic realist who shrugs his shoulders and accepts the status quo. If I didn't believe that there was potential for English football to detract slightly from its commerciality and return to something which vaguely became more about clubs being sources of pride for the communities which they serve (i.e. the fans), then I would probably give up following football altogether. I certainly wouldn't describe a club such as AFC Wimbledon as a novelty, and have every sympathy for their fans who had their community's club stolen from them by Wankleman pretty much without justification. Who's to say that something similar couldn't happen to Leicester or anyone in future?

I'm certainly not so naive as to think that the rot doesn't come from the top down within the game, but to me stupid proposals like this are a consequence of that rot and therefore add to the problem.

I may be living in Disneyland but I just cannot categorise going to the football as a commercial form of entertainment in the same vein as other forms of entertainment like cinemas, theme parks and so on. I'd hate to role out a bunch of cheesy cliches about football being about the love and passion of the fans and stuff like that, but I actually feel there's some truth in that kind of guff.

As SUAS says, I'd have no interest in football if it didn't mean that I could support a team to which I felt I had an identifiable connection, and can totally empathise with the Chester fans who would most likely walk away from a club which cared only for commercial interests even to the point selling its name, should this twat gain ownership.

I guess we're going to have to agree to disagree on this one, but I'd far rather be daydreaming of some idealised fantasy footballing world than merely laying down and accepting the way the sport is at the minute.

[Finnegan]

I'd rather my club was financially on the brink thnan ran by a willy puller like this and renamed so it had sweet fa to do with my city. Couldn't care wether it promotes the league or what. I fail to see what your getting at welshy..?

No. In all seriousness I fail to see what you're getting at. What actually is your point? Other than a vaguely, deeply routed sentiment for something you've only been aware of for about the last two or three years of your life you've got nothing here to go on.

At the end of the day, what does the name of the club really contribute? There was talk, I remember, a good few years back about returning Leicester to the name of Fosse. Why would they have done that? Marketing. Would anyone on here have been in uproar, stopped following the club and left? I doubt it.

If, ultimately, football becomes increasingly Americanized in the nearish future and we're all adopting commercial names (ie, I dunno, Walkers' Leiceter City, Emirates Arsenal, etc) are we all really going to mass bocott our clubs because there's marginally different branding on the tickets or club crest?

Are we fuck. We'd get used to it like we got used to advert boards, 5.25 kick offs, £20mil signings, administration, pink boots, Beckham culture, shirt sponsorship, excessive merchandising, extortionate catering, Sky, Setanta and who knows what else.

We're all responcible for the progresive selling-out of our sport and none of us are in a position to lecture about the great and wonderful traditions of football's golden days. You reap what you sew, and anyone who's sat and marvelled at Los Galacticos, Ronaldhino, Messi, Robinho, Ronaldo and co' has to take in their stride the negative effects of football's steady decline into commerce. This is just another example of the next generation of unhealthy business impact on the sport and you're all just going to have to get used to it.

[Daggers]

Hard to like him.

Hard to disagree with him.

If Chester are in the fiscal situation that he makes out, ie, they're about to go bankrupt - then It's not like he's suggesting doing an MK Dons and effectively buying a football club for a completely different area. He's offering the people of Chester continued access to professional football but on his terms.

I don't like it, it's a sad reflection of the greed of capitalism. But I can't really argue against it, either. Better an honest cunt than a sly, deceitful ****.

You can, in the only way he understands - economic reasoning.

He may change the "brand" but does that make it more appealing? Not in the slightest unless he produces a guarantee of success.

In the short term he will alienate the only people willing to pay for a matchday ticket and if he thinks that football fans of other clubs are going to invest in his venture simply because he is planning on changing the name he's sadly mistaken.

This isn't asset striping, it is simply an ill-thought out venture.

The bottom line with football is that hardcore fans turn up because they feel a connection with the club or the fickle mass who tailgate cup and league success. The former will not be customers for his sponsors and the later will require a serious pumping of a team with no resultant support.

On top of everything else his sponsors are going to be demanding instant returns on their investment in the ever-worsening economic climate. They aren't tagging their name to this venture for altruistic reasons and (depending on the reaction by the football supporting community at large) could well jump ship early in the process for fear of tainting their names & brands.

He is just a 2008/9 version of the cunt Michael Knighton, he's not the first 'tard to try to make a name and gain from the game for himself, he won't be the last.

It will never work, it's laughable.