Scottish Premiership club appeals to Taylor Swift for cash investment

‘Taylor Swift, gies some dosh’

A Scottish Premiership club has appealed to Taylor Swift for cash as it aims to attract investment.

Motherwell are targeting Hollywood celebrities for funds to help their progress both on and off the field and secure the long-term future of the club.

The club is fan-owned through the Well Society and, while making it clear that it isn’t up for sale, they say they are looking for fresh investment, for more members to subscribe, and to find businesses or individuals who share their values and can put money in.

The campaign has been launched with a video that plays on the trend for North American celebrities to invest in British football, following Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s purchase of Wrexham and Tom Brady’s involvement in the takeover at Birmingham City.

Beginning with first team star Stephen O’Donnell telling Hollywood’s elite that he has “a club that offers real bang for your buck”, the short film explains how financial backing would not only help the team but also support the club in the work it does for the local community.

Highlighting walking football and para-football programmes, support groups and kids clubs that Motherwell run, in addition to the focus on community initiatives that tackle issues like men’s mental health, the video aims to show that financial backing is about more than just sport.

As defender Dan Casey says: “You might not see us beating Real Madrid these days but you’ll see us beating unemployment, inequality and loneliness.”

The light-hearted film, which also features players Bevis Mugabi, Liam Kelly, Blair Spittal, Bailley Collins, Emily Mutch and assistant coach Leanne Crichton, teases investors with a promise of a star in the stadium, with mock-ups in place for ‘Well B’, ‘Well.I.Am.’ and ‘MotherWell Ferrell’.

The playful targeting of A-list money is front and centre but a disclaimer makes it plain that the club would welcome backing of any size from anywhere in the world.

It reads: “Disclaimer: Obviously a Hollywood A-lister with white teeth and big pockets would be great, but we welcome anyone who just wants to support, sponsor or invest in a proper football club that supports the local community.”

“We’re proudly a fan owned club but we are always looking for ways to do more and achieve bigger things,” chairman Jim McMahon said. “This is a slightly out of the box approach, but with it, we hope we can increase Well Society memberships or find businesses or individuals whose values align with ours.

“Most football clubs operate at a loss and are only viable through significant annual subsidies from their owners.

“There’s a lot of talk of famous investors from the US right now. So we thought it’d be fun to put our own spin on the theme, to show what we’re all about at Motherwell Football Club.

“Hopefully you can see that we’re a club that goes beyond just the 90 minutes. With things like walking football and our support for mental health, we’ve always helped the local community to make sure the positive effects of football can be felt off the pitch too.

“We welcome anyone who wants to support a proper community club. Whether that be new additions to the Well Society or new sponsors. And if anyone from Hollywood wants to get involved then we’re all ears.”

Or, as one young supporter put it at the end of the video: “Taylor Swift, gies some dosh!”