EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Chelsea striker Vialli reaches into cricket

HUW TURBERVILL: Gianluca Vialli, who made his name at Sampdoria and Juventus, before going on to manage Chelsea and Watford, is co-founder of a sports investment platform called Tifosy which will look to give fans a chance to invest in counties

^{Gianluca Vialli's company could help fans invest in counties}

An unlikely figure has positioned himself as a saviour of county cricket clubs – former Italy striker Gianluca Vialli.

Vialli, who made his name at Sampdoria and Juventus, before going on to manage Chelsea and Watford, is co-founder of a sports investment platform called Tifosy.

He is working alongside chief executive Fausto Zanetton, who advised some of the largest companies in the media, technology and sports during his investment banking career.

Tifosy offers fans the chance to invest in their clubs, with Portsmouth and Norwich City FCs among the beneficiaries. Now the company wants to move into other sports, with cricket on its radar.

Tifosy helps leading sports clubs raise capital online by issuing debt or equity and connecting through their fanbase and individual investors. This is different from crowdfunding. They say their “mission is to enable everyone to invest in sports, fairly and transparently, and it is the only such platform licensed by the UK financial regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority.”

Tifosy helped Portsmouth install two grass pitches at their academy in 2014, attracting funding from 5,500 fans.

^{Vialli was a fans' favourite at Chelsea}

Their biggest campaign to date was for Norwich City in March 2018, raising £5m through a mini-bond (an unsecured investment which offers investors a specified financial return) to build a new academy.

They launched the first mini-bond in English football for Stevenage FC in 2017 to build a new all-seater stand and also helped Shrewsbury Town build the first safe standing area in the English game.

They say they have had discussions with several counties about launching the first such scheme in English cricket, although they are unable to reveal them because of confidentiality agreements.

“This is a win-win for fans,” Zanetton told The Cricketer. “They would get little interest in savings funds, but this way they can help their clubs raise money for projects while getting a return on their investment. Fans need visibility and this scheme offers that. Clubs need to build infrastructure. We appreciate cricket, the culture surrounding the game, and its links to the Commonwealth.”

Zanetton says he would be keen to speak to MCC about funding for the new Compton and Edrich Stands, due to be redeveloped between 2019 and 2021.

Vialli has attended a Test match at The Oval and even had a go at cricket in South Africa, while visiting with his wife. He has an interest in sports other than football, having apparently developed an enjoyment of Gaelic football.