Arab millions won’t guarantee a fairytale ending for City fans

Last updated 11:48, Wednesday, 03 September 2008

ATOP-FOUR finish this season, the Premiership title next season and then the Champions League the year after that – the sky’s now the limit for Manchester City thanks to their new Middle Eastern owners.

Superstar: Brazilian international Robinho moved to Manchester City from Real Madrid for £32 million on Monday

The money is already being scattered as if it was caught up in a sand storm in the desert.

City have been catapulted into world football’s elite and smashing the British transfer record with the £32million capture of Brazilian superstar Robinho from Real Madrid is a signal of their intent.

City boss Mark Hughes describes the arrival of the mega-rich Abu Dhabi United Group as being like a birthday, Christmas and a Lottery win all rolled into one.

The club’s long-suffering fans are now hanging on to more promises of untold riches and a fast track to the top of the English and European game.

You should feel sorry for them because the chances are it will all end in tears – again.

No sooner had the deposed Thai dictator Thaksin Shinawatra slipped away from Manchester City after making promises he couldn’t keep, now another owner with an unpronounceable name has stepped forward in billionaire Dr Sulaiman al-Fahim.

His company may be pledging £540million to bring the world’s top stars to the under-achieving Premiership club but the danger of clubs falling into the hands of fabulously rich owners is what happens if they decide to pull out.

Once the excitement, drama and success have died down, cracks all too often start to manifest themselves quicker than it takes the gilt to wear off the championship trophies and medals.

You only have to look at Thaksin’s circumstances to see that. He bought Manchester City for £80million, promised to pump in millions more but then had all his assets frozen in Thailand, causing major cash flow problems before he sold out.

He made a well-run, respected club look completely inept.

The problem with rich, powerful businessman who randomly select a team on which to lavish their wealth is that they have no deep roots in the community that the football club serves.

The clubs then simply become a tribute to their own personal vanity and extreme financial folly.

When they tire of bashing their opponents with their big spending or get bored of admiring all the silverware in the trophy cabinet there are no emotional ties to ensure that they stay loyal until the end.

Despite fears over what could happen, City are in a happier position than they were a week ago that’s for sure – but money won’t guarantee the club will live happily-ever-after.