“CASH RULES EVERYTHING AROUND ME, C.R.E.A.M – GET THE MONEY, DOLLAR, DOLLAR BILL Y’ALL.”

It is highly unlikely that Wu-Tang legend Method Man penned those famous bars about the Premier League way back in 1993, but nearly thirty years later, they ring loud and true. Propped up by billionaires, consortiums and eye watering television deals, the Premier League has become a commercial juggernaut. Generating a collective GDP higher than some third world countries and with millions of eyeballs glued to it every week, it has become the ‘Super League’ – a measure of footballing success from which every other domestic competition is measured.

Yet for all this money pouring in and ever increasing quality of global talent, it has become an increasingly closed shop; a glass ceiling between the have and have-nots. The Champions League spots have become a virtual guarantee for the ‘Big Six’. Manchester City first entered the Champions League in 2011/12, and haven’t missed one since. In the same period, Chelsea have only missed out on the biggest European stage twice. Taking into account the remaining cluster of teams in that same group, it becomes fairly easy to predict the top 25% of the league year-on-year – a percentage which will only increase given the inevitable rise of Newcastle United. This should not really be a surprise – these teams are owned by some of the wealthiest owners in the global game – financial resources far beyond the rest. Have a player they deem a threat? Expect them to be hoovered up, often to rot on the bench. By weakening one side's hand, further cements their position above the glass ceiling.

Brighton & Hove Albion were the latest team to provide a realistic threat to the glass ceiling. Developing slowly since Chris Hughton’s departure, under the playing style envisioned by Graham Potter, Brighton were a side that appeared to be trying to do things differently. This did not feel like luck or good fortune – it was sheer intelligence. An excellent internal structure, solid and proven recruitment system and a highly-rated manager, created terrific foundations from which to build on. Brighton were becoming a threat in more ways than one. They were providing a blueprint for others to follow.

This was no doubt attractive to potential investors. Coupled with a great stadium, state of the art training facility and a catchment area ripe for growth, the only way was up. Whilst never confirmed, no doubt Tony Bloom has been approached numerous times regarding a takeover.

In light of the tumultuous last week at Brighton, there is a realistic hypothesis that the American consortium, headed by Todd Boehly, tried to enter the world of soccer prior to their acquisition of Chelsea. They no doubt shopped around the fringes of the league looking for a vessel for their project. As a result, it is safe to assume that they approached Brighton regarding a takeover. Had Bloom not slammed the door firmly in his face, Brighton would have represented a sound (and profitable) acquisition.

Opportunism stuck when Abramovichs’ Chelsea suddenly became available – a result of Russia's unlawful invasion of Ukraine. On the face of it, Chelsea do not represent good value for money. Coupled with an inflated price tag, the club was held together by Roman’s deep pockets – not conducive to pulling out profit in the medium-to-long term. Boehly might have believed he could own Brighton, and when he could not, proceeded to rip the spine out of the club in an act of spiteful revenge.

They knew they could not just take control of Chelsea and remove Champions League winner Thomas Tuchel, the fanbase would have been hysterical – riotous even – so they intentionally undermined his control to gain in the long term. As Manchester City did in the preparation of Guardiola, they signed players who fit the manager they had in mind. Cucurella, Forfana, Sterling and Aubamayang all fit the profile of players Potter would desire. Potter was already very familiar with Cucurella, but Sterling is a player in a similar mold to Trossard, with Auba like Welbeck, albeit more clinical in front of goal.

Tuchels reign imploding accelerated Boehly’s plan. There are plenty of viable ‘project’ managers that would have fit the bill. Pochettino and Amorim are either free agents, or available at far cheaper prices. You could imagine both these managers having a similar impact to Potter. They knew Potter had some sense of loyalty and had completely bought into the Brighton project. But money talks. It is difficult for anyone to object to Potter taking that role. Taking home a pay packet of around £1 million a month is a life changing amount of money for a manager who feared never getting a shot at the very top. Boehly knew what he wanted and would stop at nothing to get it.

In the long term, Potter may not be the winner, but Boehly certainly is. In what feels like a footballing Game of Thrones, he has successfully gutted the team that perhaps spurned his advances – clipping the wings of a side who appeared to have created a system to finally smash the glass ceiling the ‘Big Six’ have worked so hard to protect.

For us fans, it is the timing that hurts the most. It feels like your wife asking for a divorce that you never saw coming. At the start of September, footballing life felt so full of optimism. Following a record breaking 21/22 season, this season looked like the upward trajectory was set to continue – dreaming of Europe. For Chelsea, normality. For Brighton? Uncertainty.

Words: Iain Budgen // @iainbudgen
Illustration: @iainbudgen // @BHAgullski

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