Cost of English clubs will not deter fresh Gulf bids

By Jason Benham

DUBAI (Reuters) - The cost of buying an English football team will not deter Gulf Arab investors, experts said as media speculation over a fresh bid for a club heats up.

Championship (second division) club Burnley are the latest to be linked to investment from the Gulf Arab states after majority owner Brendan Flood said he wanted to bring Middle Eastern funding and players to the team.

"It's a club with super-sized ambition and we need an investor with a super-sized cheque book," Flood told Dubai-based magazine, Arabian Business. "It could help fulfil a lot for us."

His comments come after this month's takeover of Manchester City by Abu Dhabi investors amid media reports of interest by United Arab Emirates businessmen in other Premier League clubs.

Dubai Investment Group (DIG), owned by the emirate's ruler, said on Wednesday it was not involved in any negotiations to buy Newcastle United and does not plan to do so in the future.

On Sunday, Newcastle owner Mike Ashley said he had put the club up for sale after coming under pressure from the fans following popular coach Kevin Keegan's resignation.

"I don't think it's a question of cost," said Mustafa Alani, senior adviser at Dubai-based think tank Gulf Research Centre (GRC).

"I don't think they (investors) will jump to another deal until the first one becomes clear in terms of image and investment," he said referring to the Manchester City takeover.