A Fistful of Dollars

It used to be that the American dollar was a symbol of wealth and power - welcomed with open arms as they came over here and ploughed money into our 'soccer clubs'.

Since Lehmann Brothers collapsed, Manchester United lost Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the same way that Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso were "moved on" at Anfield. Aston Villa fans will point in their own way to James Milner and Gareth Barry helping to ease the need for cash.

In the blink of an eye three massive clubs have lost 'big names' who promote their commercial outlets. And still they ask where is the money?

Rafa Benitez was famous for his rants. The personal and professional realationship breakdown between himself and his bosses was often a source of fascination if not entertainment. The opera that was played out from start to finish looked like a battle of wills. Net spends and leveraged debt became the centre piece of a supposed fued that in reality revolved around the fact that the Texas well had dried up.

Still Benitez sold the family silver like an old aristicrat who had fallen on hard times without realising. Plundering his money on antiques while the grounds were left overgrown with the gardeners unemployed.

The Liverpool fans have spent a lot of time and effort getting the Yanks out and now find the Yanks are back in and guess what? "We are not going to throw money at this problem and it is going to take a long time to turn the situation around" were the first words of John W Henry. That must have been music in the ears of 'The Spirit of Shankly', Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, who will be retiring when this time scale is up.

Martin O'Neill quickly came to terms that initial funds were just that - short term. Still, O'Neill is as savvy as they come. Anybody who believed that Emile Heskey was a signing of a manager who believed the project would last for years is mistaken. O'Neill saw their end game. He ended it on his terms.

Now it is the turn of the likeable Glazers to deal with the problem. Having sold Ronaldo and kept the money to service interest payments on debt - they suddenly find that their 'jewel in the crown' now wants to leave.

Sir Alex Ferguson faces the toughest challenge of his career. It maybe one thing to carry the weight of an expectant fanbase - to carry a billion dollar industry with one hand tied behind your back is something else.

And where will Wayne Rooney look in his search for pastures new. Where the money is of course. He didn't leave his boyhood club to make do and mend while the glitterati party down the road.

American owners only come here to MAKE MONEY. Now petro-dollars ... that is a different matter.