OWNAFC app criticised by fans who bought shares in the project

OWNAFC

OWNAFC, an app that promoted itself as giving football supporters the chance to have a share and say in the running of an actual football club, has come under heavy criticism from those who bought into the idea. Fans are demanding refunds after claiming that they were misled about the project.

Blurb on the OWNAFC website reads: ‘Do you have what it takes to run a real football club? To manage a budget of up to £8.5million? To be a part of making football history? OWNAFC offers you the once-in-a-lifetime chance to be at the forefront of a whole new generation of football club owners. Become an OWNA, take charge of a real-life football club, and taste the glory of the game at first hand. This is your unique opportunity to be a part of the biggest revolution in football since the dawn of the Sky Sports era in 1992. By making payment of £49, you are securing your position as football club OWNA and unlocking all features of the OWNAFC app. You will be granted access to The Boardroom immediately upon registering your OWNA ID.’

It was claimed that OWNAFC had been in talks with three non-league clubs and were at one point close to a takeover of Northern Premier League club Hednesford Town but nothing has materialised and people are demanding refunds.

OWNAFC

Those who invested into the idea claim they thought they were getting a share on day 1 where as OWNAFC insists the £49 was to access the app and that shares would only be on offer once a club was bought.

A statement issued on behalf of OWNAFC founder and director Stuart Harvey by advisors Gunnercooke LLP said: “In no way has the business done any wrongdoing and we strongly reject any accusations of fraud.

“The concept for OWNAFC was aimed at allowing fans to take an active part in the running of a football club via a mobile application.”

In an interview with the BBC earlier this year, Harvey commented: “This is a live, real-time boardroom in their hands.

“It’s the ultimate experience of a being chairman with a big board of directors – each day dealing with monumental decisions of running a club.

“It replaces the boardroom nonsense we see at many clubs with the people that matter.”

OWNAFC’s social media pages have vanished with the firm citing threats and harassment for the reason behind that decision.