
While This Season isn’t Quite the Fairytale of Last Season, Fredrikstad FK is Looking to the Future with Big Investments from FFI
Last season was pretty eventful for the Norwegian club Fredrikstad FK. After gaining promotion from the third tier in 2020, the club nearly secured back-to-back promotions if not for a devastating loss in the second round of the promotion playoffs.
At the halfway point of the 2022 season (Norway’s domestic leagues run across a single calendar year), the club isn’t currently set to make the playoffs again. Of course, anything can happen in football and Fredrikstad FK needs to string some good results together and find some consistent form to be in with a shout.
Finding Form by Strengthening the Squad
Since the league is still in full swing during the summer transfer window, any club wanting to buy players in Norway will be looking at players under contract and will, therefore, need to bring money for both contracts and transfer fees.
Fredrikstad FK is in the fortunate position of having a financial partner in FFI (Fredrikstad Fotball Invest), a limited company that raises funds through the sale of shares in the company and then invests these funds into their beloved local football club.
FFI has investments from local business people like Tor Anders Petterøe, who has invested in shares through Golden Touch Media, the video production company where he’s chairman of the board.
Investments like these have allowed FFI to strike up a deal with Fredrikstad FK to provide funds for 30% of player fees while also receiving 30% of the funds from the sale of players in return. It also provides funds for professional contracts for youth players and this year, really means business with the provision of 1 million NOK.
The million will be available to the club immediately and only for spending on players. The club has also increased its budget by five million kroner this year and the general manager of the club is unsurprisingly very happy that these funds are being made available as it allows the club to invest in players without risking their finances.
For the Future
In the summer transfer window that opens in August, the club expects to make some good acquisitions and is considering buying between one and four players to strengthen the squad.
Admittedly, there aren’t any promises that these new signings will make the difference this year and it’s more likely that 2023 is when the new signings will have settled in and can start making a difference.
It should be added that while this money is certainly very nice and welcomed by the club, Fredrikstad FK is still quite a way behind some of the other clubs that it competes against. Brann and Stabæk both have budgets double that of Fredrikstad and clubs like Start and Sogndal are still operating with more funds, too.
FFI Looking for More
Fortunately for the club, FFI is also looking to sell more shares and have more money to work with and offer to the club.
For any investors that love Fredrikstad FK, FFI welcomes new participants.
Photo by Eivind Hauger on Flickr