'World is Brentford's oyster' with new owner

THE sky is the limit with Brentford FC's new owner – but don't expect a sudden influx of cash.

That was the message this week from former owners Bees United after fans voted on Monday for financial backer Matthew Benham to take over the club's majority shareholding.

The supporters trust thus ended two years early an agreement to sell the club to Benham if they were not able to pay back the loans he has revitalised the club with for the past three years.

BU chairman David Merritt told the Chronicle: “I think the Championship should be within our reach, and the world is our oyster with a backer like Matthew Benham.

“The club board decides what the budget is going forward, and it will be up to Matthew if he funds it, but this deal only allows the budget to run at the same level it has been at, we won't suddenly be awash with cash.

“It's all about continuity. We have been splashing the cash by the club's standards since the partnership with Matthew began, and it can now continue at this level. When I first got involved with BU we were worried about the solvency of the club and whether we could finance through a season.”

Merritt insists handing over control to a sole owner does not mean the supporters trust model of running a club has failed.

He said: “As far as I'm concerned, it's business as usual for Bees United. It's a pretty big change, but we're still safeguarding the future of the club through loans, directors on the board, and the golden share, which prevents any unfair sale of the ground. We're just safeguarding a more secure club.

“Very few professional clubs in England are sustainable, the vast majority are loss-making and operating well beyond their means. In order to compete on a level playing field we have to operate by the same means. This is not a failure of the supporters trust model, you just have to generate a good partnership with somebody who will finance those losses.”

The nightmare scenario for Brentford would be if Benham suddenly died, lost interest or suffered a heavy financial loss – but Merritt assured fans that safeguards are in place.

He added: “In the event of Matthew's death, there is a life insurance policy which would release a parachute payment allowing us to re-stabilise, and giving us time to do some quick rebalancing.

“Matthew could decide to sell whenever he wants, but we don't know what the club's situation would be at that hypothetical point. I'd hope he'd consider us a buyer, but it may be beyond our reach. We would, however still have the loans, directors and golden share under a new owner.

“The reason for the budgeting process is to look for reassurances every time we budget, and we will always try to maintain a position where all his potential liabilities can be funded.”