Club purchasers determining individuals' livelihoods and professions through voting process, centered around selecting who should perform

In 2008, Ebbsfleet United made headlines as the first professional sports club to be owned and run by an online community, thanks to the arrival of MyFootballClub. Led by founder Will Brooks, the subscription-based investment group completed a £625,000 deal to buy a 75% stake in the Conference outfit, which was previously known as Gravesend & Northfleet and had never been beyond the fifth tier of English football.

The club's name was changed to align with the opening of Ebbsfleet International, a Eurostar station in Kent. The new ownership boosted the club's support to more than 25,000 for the Wembley final, and Liam Daish, a former defender for Birmingham and Coventry, was at the helm as manager. Despite the challenges, the owners and the membership were happy for Daish to make the selection decisions for the team.

However, the 'own the club, pick the team' slogan of MyFootballClub was not all it was cracked up to be. It was soon realized that it was not feasible for fans to pick the team or stream training sessions live. The 'ownership' model, while revolutionary, was complex and not without its issues.

Despite this, the club enjoyed success, reaching the FA Trophy semi-final and Wembley final for the first time after the takeover, winning against Torquay. However, by the end of the 2009-10 season, there were only 1,300 members left. The remaining members voted to sell their shares to Kuwaiti investors to prevent the club from going to the wall.

The deal for Scunthorpe United, another club that was to be taken over by MyFootballClub, was eventually called off due to a backlash from the Iron's supporters. Alan Balzan-Mitchell, an Ebbsfleet fan, believes that Scunthorpe was correct to be wary of similar investment models, stating that many members of MyFootballClub didn't care enough about the club.

Ebbsfleet United have since bounced around between both the National League and National League South. Daish continued to manage the club, but was relegated to the regional divisions with a budget of only £4,500 a week. The current owner of Ebbsfleet United is not directly mentioned in the provided search results. However, as of recent knowledge outside these results, Ebbsfleet United has been owned by members of the Veskovic family through the My Football Club initiative and subsequent changes. For the latest accurate ownership, a direct club statement or updated source should be consulted.

Regardless of the ownership changes, the story of Ebbsfleet United and MyFootballClub remains a fascinating chapter in the history of English football, showcasing the potential and pitfalls of fan-led investment models.

Club purchasers determining individuals' livelihoods and professions through voting process, centered around selecting who should perform