Rating the Red Bull deal
- Published
Leeds United announced a new multi-year agreement with Red Bull last week, in a sponsorship deal that will also see the energy drink manufacturer take a minority stake in the club.
BBC Radio Leeds' Adam Pope has been discussing the move on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast: "You have this huge soft drinks company, which has got a history in sport, now buying their first slice of English football and they have gone for Leeds United.
"What we know about Red Bull is that they are brilliant at branding themselves - that is when the alarm bells started ringing and questions started to be asked.
"It isn't going to be 'Red Bull Leeds United'? As far as we know, the legacy logo isn't going to be touched at this stage."
Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix added: "The shirt sponsor helps with Financial Fair Play because that is proper money, whereas buying shares doesn't help. I don't know if the club are trying to be clever and maybe Red Bull are getting more shares than we think.
"Are the club trying to tread the line, or get as close to the line as possible, with how much money they can get in and spend on players?
"It has been a weird time. I think all football fans react badly to everything, such as badges or team names getting changed. I think people can react badly instantly to things that are OK.
"I don't think anyone can say this Red Bull deal is a brilliant thing, because you look at all of the history and all of the clubs they have taken over or started. It is definitely 'business' and they are definitely trying to make Red Bull look as good as humanly possible.
"But I don't think you can say that it is 100% bad at this stage - especially if it gives us money and gets us into the Premier League or something.
"We haven't done well out of their scouting system, but it is well regarded. Jurgen Klopp was only saying the other day that he found the Red Bull model interesting, so I don't think you can say it is 100% bad."