Former Premier League boss Richard Scudamore ‘joins Moneyball’s Billy Beane in group aiming to invest in a top European or English club’
- Ex-Premier League chief Richard Scudamore is looking to invest in a team
- The decorated former boss was responsible for huge growth of the league
- It is reported Scudamore will team up with a group containing Billy Beane
- Beane gained worldwide fame for his ‘moneyball’ approach to baseball
The former head of the Premier League Richard Scudamore is reportedly poised to link up with the world renowned ‘moneyball’ master Billy Beane to invest in an elite level football club.
Scudamore has stepped away from football since leaving his role as Premier League executive chairman, in which he was responsible for the huge global growth of the English top flight and the record-breaking broadcast deals which followed.
And now Scudamore has been appointed to the board of a US-listed company that has been set up to invest in European football, as report the Athletic.
Ex-Premier League chief Richard Scudamore is looking to invest in a top European team
The iconic Billy Beane, of ‘moneyball’ fame, is also part of the same group as Scudamore
Part of that same group is Billy Beane, who made his name around the world for his ‘moneyball’ philosophy as General Manager of Major League Baseball team Oakland Athletics – which saw him rely on in-depth statistics and figures to run the team.
It proved hugely successful as Oakland reached the play-offs in four consecutive seasons from 2000 to 2003 – leading to a number of teams using the method, with Brad Pitt playing Beane in a film of the story.
The group, RedBall Acquisition Corp, are reported to be looking to invest in a top level club, from within European football and possibly the Premier League.
Last month, RedBird FC, the firm’s ‘European football and analytics platform’, bought 85 per cent of French club Toulouse.
Beane’s approach to building a baseball side was adapted into a film, featuring Brad Pitt
The club had just recently been relegated from the French top flight, and the group installed former Tottenham and Liverpool chief Damien Comolli as club president.
Beane is an important member of the group, and has previously insisted he has become a big fan of football and takes a keen interest in the way the game is developing.
In 2017 Beane labelled himself a ‘huge fan’ of Arsenal and later down the line became a minority shareholder of Barnsley, who have since attempted to adopt a moneyball approach by promoting and acquiring youngsters with high potential but low cost.
Scudamore is on board for his vast football knowledge and contacts within the game.
Since his departure the Premier League has struggled to replace his standing at the helm, with a host of suitors for the role turning it down in the aftermath of Scudamore’s exit.
Joining both Scudamore and Beane on the board are; Gerry Cardinale, Volkert Doeksen, Deborah Farrington, Professor Richard Thaler and Lewis Wolff.