Keith Wyness: Wolves fans could abandon club after takeover latest

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has admitted he expects Chinese fans to abandon Wolves if there is a change in ownership.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – claimed brand loyalty is not “strong” and also conceded international fans “want to support winners”.

Wyness told Football Insider on Thursday (24 October) that he expects a US investor to launch a minority investment at Wolves “very soon”.

The Molineux club are currently owned by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International – and chairman Jeff Shi has previously claimed Wolves are the fourth-most followed club on social media in China.

Fosun have been in place since 2016 and were promoted to the Premier League two years later.

The English top flight have recently opened a new office in Beijing, a move they say will “support the continued growth of the league and its clubs”.

Chinese fans to abandon Wolves, says Wyness

However, Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “I don’t think the China links will help Wolves that much.

“The Premier League are in the region to promote themselves, rather than any club.

“The bigger clubs – Man United, Arsenal, Liverpool always feel they can take care of their own marketing and don’t need help.

“I think there is a role for the Premier League to help.

“But they’ll be in China to work on grassroots football and establish good political positions.

“Wolves have got to do that work themselves for now. They are the only Chinese-owned club in the Premier League and Championship.

“They’ve got to make it work. Fosun has a lot of reach in China, but like every international fanbase – they want to support winners.

“If Wolves changed hands, would the Chinese fans stay? I don’t think so, I don’t think the brand loyalty is that strong.”

In other news, “top club” planning to sign Wolves star.

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