The revelation that Leicester Tigers are up for sale has split its fanbase

Leicester Tigers’ decision to put itself up for sale at £60m was always going to be something that divided their loyal supporters, and so it has. 

The English giants announced the move on Tuesday following CVC’s investment in Premiership Rugby last December which gave each club £13m and cleared Leicester’s debt. 

In light of this news, many Leicester fans are welcoming this potential sale in the hope that it will help the Tigers return to the top of English rugby again. 

Leicester endured their worst season in modern times in 2018/19, finishing 11th in the Premiership and subsequently failing to qualify for the Champions Cup for the first time. This was a bitter blow for English rugby’s most successful team, and the fans clearly feel something must be done. 

However, in recent years, Leicester have struggled to compete with the likes of Saracens and Wasps in bringing in new players. The days of the Tigers being able to attract any player in the world seem to be gone, and the financial lure of the Top 14 or England’s wealthier clubs seems too strong. 

Therefore, the sale of the club – for a price of £60million, according to the BBC – may provide Leicester with more financial clout when it comes to attracting new players. This is what the fans have said: 

https://twitter.com/HarryGoward/status/1143432211036876801?s=20

I love this idia @LeicesterTigers , rugby is moving forward and so are we by doing this 🤙🏻

— Jake Gilbert (@jakegilbert77) June 25, 2019

Potentially exciting times for the club, but it depends entirely on selecting and completing due diligence on the correct suitors. Any buyer needs to also buy in to the culture of the club and the passion us as fans have for it.

— Iain M (@RedLeics) June 25, 2019

I think this potentially a positive move by the club.
Looking back at the past, through rose tinted specs, will not secure the future or legacy of the club.
The brutal truth is that to be competitive in the Prem and Europe, you need deep pockets.

— Mark murray (@Markmur29392563) June 25, 2019

Love this, beginning to show signs of moving forward with the rest of the higher ranking clubs. Good move I think.

— Jake Gilbert (@jakegilbert77) June 25, 2019

However, with Leicester’s success has come a lot of pride in the club and its culture from the fans, who feel that selling the club would lose some of its identity. 

The fear of these fans is that the Tigers would become too commercial and could even be subject to a name change as it grows closer to being like football. The culture of the Tigers is sacrosanct to the fans who feel it cannot be subject to change with this sale. 

Some fans are suggesting that the Leicester supporters take control of the team, in a similar way to Barcelona Football Club, in order to uphold everything about the club that they do not wish to lose. This is what they have said: 

I dont like this idea at all. Yes we need investment but selling Tigers will loose our whole ethos. AIt could mean a name change, ground share and even moving out of Leicester .The prices of tickets will most certainly go up pricing most people out of being season ticket holders https://t.co/WxJGnhYq33

— Rebecca Earley (@beccap2007) June 25, 2019

https://twitter.com/lostmidlander/status/1143421405062684672?s=20

This does not sit well. This is rugby trying to be football but without the following.

— Simon Hill (@E151MON) June 25, 2019

This is really sad. Selling to private equity is always a short term measure. Private equity buy to make money. It means the fans start to get clobbered, ticket prices, shirts, programmes. Everything goes up.

— Toby White (@Tobermoree) June 25, 2019

Is it too late for a proper debate with fans about the potential to turn Tigers into a fan owned cooperative like Barcelona FC?

— Kevin Ford (@KF676767) June 25, 2019

Tigers could really break new ground by adopting a mutual structure like Barcelona FC. This club is owned by the fans and run democratically. It is a huge and wealthy corporation and able to compete in the marketplace of football without the need for private equity.

— Kevin Ford (@KF676767) June 25, 2019

As a member for 40 years I have very mixed emotions. There is certainly a need for big change but I have strong reservations about the route being taken.

— John Bailey (@kibby_john) June 25, 2019

Leicester have the largest and most devoted fanbase in English rugby. As a result, it is understandable that this sale is going to divide the fans. However, what they all want is to see Leicester rise back to the top again after a terrible year. 

WATCH: Episode one of The Academy, the six-part RugbyPass documentary series looking at how Leicester Tigers develop their players