John Terry and Colchester – why now, and why are ex-pros buying clubs?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, John Terry won 17 trophies in a 19-year playing career with ChelseaByDaniel AustinBBC Sport senior journalistPublished12 minutes agoWhen Colchester United acknowledged on Monday that the club is in “detailed discussions” about a possible sale to consortium of investors, they declined to name any of the potential buyers.But BBC Sport understands that reports linking former England and Chelsea captain John Terry to the group are accurate.The U’s have been up for sale since last year, and having had two other takeover attempts fail in that time, fans are anxious for a deal to be done before the summer transfer window.So why would a potential deal appeal to both the club and Terry, and why are so many high-profile former footballers investing in teams?Why are Colchester up for sale and what makes Terry’s involvement attractive to them?Colchester haven’t suffered from the kind of financial instability which has dogged many rivals clubs in the Football League, but are enduring the longest spell without a promotion of any of its 72 teams, having spent 10 successive seasons in League Two.Owner Robbie Cowling has been in charge since 2006 but put the club up for sale last year, saying he wanted to find “the right long-term steward” to propel it forward.”I think I could grow [Colchester] incrementally, but fans aren’t interested in that, all they’re worried about is how it does in the league and whether it wins”, Cowling stated.Two potential deals – one with an American investment vehicle, the other with a consortium involving former AC Milan and Chelsea forward Alexandre Pato – have already fallen through.Terry has been involved in a series of controversies – a ban for racist abuse, being stripped of the England captaincy, an alleged affair with a team-mate’s partner, promotion of football-related cryptocurrency, and more recently a social media message in which he responded with clapping emojis to a call for a ban on Muslim women being allowed to wear the burqa in the United Kingdom.
So what would fans make of a group involving Terry taking control?
“It might work in our favour in respect to player recruitment and things like that, because of his standing in the game,” says Glen Worrell, secretary at Colchester United Supporters Association.
“Someone like him maybe could be a really good figurehead as a director of football. Having a big name like that involved might even attract other investors as well. It depends what his overall role is going to be.
“I don’t think people aren’t going to turn up because John Terry is involved with the club.
“The fans really do want to see something happen on the pitch to get them excited.”
