Bolger

In April 2005 Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz purchased Austrian football club SV Salzburg. The energy-drink billionaire has invested big time to make his dream of owning an internationally renowned club come true.

Is this investment good for the Salzburg fans and Austrian soccer in general?

Some supporters have already stated that Mateschitz has destroyed the history and identity of the club. Against the will of the majority of fans Mateschitz renamed the club Red Bull Salzburg and changed the teams colours from violet-and-white (which they had used since 1933) to the red-and-blue of the energy drinks tin cans.

The change of the teams colours was put bluntly by Mateschitz who stated: I cant play with a purple bull if the brand is called Red Bull.

Fans now claim that there is now no tradition, no history and that the club was founded in April 2005.

1,500 disgruntled fans walked out of the clubs home game against Austria Wien in protest. Some of these fans have helped found SC Austria Salzburg who now play their trade in 2. Klasse Nord (the seventh tier of Austrian football).

If you look at the other side of the coin Mateschitz has made two high profile appointments in Lothar Matthaus and Giovanni Trapattoni and raised the clubs budget to 40m Euros.

The appointment of a high profile management duo and a massive transfer budget (by Austrian standards) has attracted imports such as Niko Kovac (Hertha Berlin), Jorge Vargas (Livorno), Milan Dudic (Crevena Zvenda) and Johan Vonlanthen (PSV).

Despite heavy investment in the team, there was not one single Austrian player in the starting XI when Salzburg beat FC Zurich 2-0 in a home Champions League qualifier in August 2006. Again fans argue that this is destroying the roots of the club.

Mateschitz wants the new management duo to take the club into the European elite and have them compete in the Champions League on a seasonal basis. This dream was ended prematurely when they crashed out in the final stage of qualifying to Valencia 3-1 on aggregate.

Despite their setback in Europe, Salzburg are firing on all cylinders domestically. To date they have taken 17 points from their opening seven games and have a 100% record at their Bullen-Arena. With this form the Trapattoni/ Matthaus management team will dispose of current Champions Austria Wien with ease.

Is the Red Bull owners investment good for the Austrian game? In a nutshell the answer is no. The only club who will benefit from the billionaires investment is Salzburg. With a 40m Euro budget none of the other Austrian clubs will be able to compete financially (especially as there are numerous clubs in financial difficulties). This will lead to Salzburg dominating the Austrian league for years to come.

You can argue that the fans will also benefit as Mateschitz is likely to bring silverware to the club but as stated earlier some fans are already disgruntled. Would you be happy to trade your clubs identity for silverware?