He’ll probably be a Hell of a Player in Championship Manager

A 22-year-old defender named Adam Garner has become the first footballer in England to be owned by a commercial brand. A former Oxford United player, Garner has signed his life away a contract with Eidos, the company that produces the dangerously addictive Championship Manager computer game. The company has agreed to pay part of his wages as he plays for Bedford Town in the Conference South league.

Bedford chairman David Howell sees this type of deal as being part of the future of lower league football.

“The financial strain is eased if clubs know that part of their wage bill is being covered by a third party. The incentive for the owner — whether that is a company or a supporters’ trust — is the possibility of a pay day if their man is transferred. But there are also huge ramifications for the top of the game. Imagine if you own the next Wayne Rooney. Think of the marketing possibilities. The big clubs are already competing for the best youngsters both at home and abroad. Instead of just Manchester United and Chelsea fighting it out for signatures, it is just as conceivable that it will to be Manchester United, Chelsea and Tesco” he said.

I’m not too sure if having companies enter into the bidding war for players is really a great thing at all, but I do like the idea of players sitting down with Championship Manager and negotiating a contract that stipulates they must have a certain speed and skill level in the computer game.

Thanks to English Football League blogger Nick for the tip.

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Category: England