Changing times

If Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich turned up at Real Mallorca and offered to buy the first division football club I am sure that someone would say that they doubted he had the funds to do so! It is not because Mallorca is expensive to buy, Abramovich could buy the club with pocket change, it's because this is the reaction any would-be foreign investor gets when he mentions buying the club. Real Mallorca´s German shareholder Utz Classen announced plans this week to buy Real Mallorca. He got a cool reaction in the local press with some even doubting that he had the necessary funds available to buy Mallorca. I have only met Classen a few times but I am certainly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. He has big plans for the club; he wants to bring in English and Germany players so that Mallorca will appeal more to visiting tourists. He wants to increase replica shirt sales to the tourist market and he also believes that one day Mallorca will be able to challenge for international and national trophies. It sounds quite a good plan to me. But I am in a minority. He hasn´t impressed everyone. The local press once again mentioned Paul Davidson, the British businessman who wanted to buy Mallorca but then walked away from the deal in controversial circumstances. Classen is no Davidson. He is an experienced businessman who should be given the benefit of the doubt. Mallorca is in a terrible financial situation so give Classen a chance.