A Torquay man is leading an Australian bid to buy an English Premier League team.
Australian Football Consortium (AFC) consultant Gerard Murphy implemented a leadership program for Geelong Football Club in its 2007 premiership year, according to his website.
Mr Murphy confirmed his involvement when the Geelong Indy contact him but he declined to comment further on the team bid.
The consortium wants to raise $55 million so it can buy an underperforming English football team for elevation to premier league.
“Of this we are resolute,” the consortium’s website reads.
“Winning is important to us.
“It is AFC’s intention to inject significant funds to ensure that this occurs.”
The consortium will most likely target a team in English football’s third-tier League One.
Socceroos legend Mark Schwarzer confirmed to English media that AFC had approached him for advice.
“In the right hands, there are a number of clubs that could turn around their fortunes very quickly,” Schwarzer told UK radio’s TalkSport.
“There are a lot of clubs at the moment who have fans who are very disgruntled about owners so there is always going to be links with any type of consortium.
“There’s a lot with a huge amount of potential for investors.
“It’s very early stages. I was asked about whether, if it were to come to fruition, I would be interested in becoming involved in some capacity.”
Melbourne’s Herald Sun has reported that Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson is advising the consortium.
The consortium had also approached Australian team coach Ange Postecoglou, the paper said, with Mr Murphy saying he provided sound advice.
Mr Murphy had not considered Postecoglou as a potential manager for the club.
“We need to appoint a manager who’s going to appeal to the fans, so that automatically disqualifies any Australian manager initially.”
Mr Murphy said appointing the right manager would be a priority.
“What we don’t want to do is what so many owners do and that’s alienating the fans early.
“English football fans are so passionate. In the initial stages, at least, we would not appoint anything but a coach or manager that had an appeal to local supporters.”
Murphy said the consortium was a “fair way down the track” in securing the money required.
Rumours about the consortium have run wild in England with the Daily Mail reporting it had been interested in purchasing beleaguered club Charlton Athletic.
The UK press has also reported Coventry City and Bolton Wanderers as possible targets for the consortium.
The potential for a bid has caused some controversy, with English fans being very protective of their clubs’ heritages.
But the consortium has acknowledged its “responsibility to honour and respect the history and tradition of the club and ensure that the fans are respected”.
