FAMOUS OWNERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

SAM SHEPPEY LOOKS AT THE BIG NAMES WHO HAVE BEEN TEMPTED TO INVEST IN ENGLISH FOOTBALL...

WITH football being arguably the number one sport in the world for entertainment and investment, plenty of famous faces have dipped their toes into the game with their own money and seen contrasting results.

A whirlwind of worldwide attention was attracted to the League One clash between Birmingham City and Wrexham last month, showcasing the impact high-profile owners can have.

Here are some who are making waves:

TOM BRADY BIRMINGHAM CITY
Seven-time Superbowl winner Tom Brady became chairman of the advisory board at Birmingham City last summer, teaming up with club chairman Tom Wagner, with whom he has already invested in motorsport's Hertz Team JOTA and a Major League Pickleball franchise. His first season at the Blues didn't go well, with the team relegated from the Championship and finding themselves in League One for the first time in 30 years.

However, an overhaul of players at considerable expense - including a third-tier record £10m-plus swoop for striker Jay Stansfield from Fulham partnered with a change of coaching staff seems to have galvanised the Second City club.

Brady attended the blockbuster clash against Wrexham in September and saw Chris Davies' Blues win 3-1 in a dominant display at a sold-out St Andrew's.

They hope this is the start of something special. Sponsorship deals with major companies such as Nike, Delta and Undefeated partnered with bumper attendances and plans for a lavish new home have certainly seen a resurgence in optimism at one of English football's sleeping giants.