Fans cry: ‘Russell Leeds us to the top’

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RUSSELL Crowe has played Noah and heard the voice of God. Now Leeds United fans want him to be their Moses and lead them to the Promised Land.

Or at least to the English Premier League.

The sports pages over here in the UK are full of Russell's plans to take over the struggling Championship club which, so far, consist of the Oscar winner asking his Twitter followers, "does anyone think this is a good idea?"

Well, it is if you are trying to promote a movie in England, which Russell is right now, but not so much if you want to hold onto your money.

Russell Crowe is not short of a buck – or a quid as they call readies over here – but he's not in the league of club owners in the EPL.

According to celebritynetworth.com Russell has a fortune of around $75 million, or a tad under £50 million. That sort of cash can buy you a very nice lifestyle in Australia, but it won't get you a seat at the owners' table in the top tier of European football. There are players who earn that kind of money.

Actor and co-owner of South Sydney Rabbitohs Russell Crowe looks on at the World Club Challenge. Source: Getty Images

Sure, there are millionaire owners of clubs in the lower divisions. Usually they are local businessmen who have followed the clubs all their lives and don't mind dipping their hands in their pockets to give the stadium a new lick of paint every year or pay for the players and wives to have a night out at the end of the season.

But the big hitters talk in billions, not millions.

Shahid Khan, who owns Championship side Fulham FC, is said to be worth $4 billion, as is the Glazer family who own Manchester United – and they are at the bottom end of the scale. Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich reportedly has over $9 billion and Arsenal's major shareholders Stan Kroenke and Alisher Usmanov could scrape together $25 billion between them.

Of course Russell wouldn't be putting up all his own money. In his association with the Rabbitohs he has always had partners with deep pockets – Peter Holmes a Court and James Packer. Whether Packer would want to become involved in a rescue operation of a club and code in which he has never shown any interest in the past is debatable. He might be a gambler, but he likes the odds to be very much in his favour.

One thing for certain though is that Russell Crowe would be great for Leeds United, just as he has been great for South Sydney. The clubs have a lot in common. Once were both the biggest in their games, and both fell on hard times.

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One only had to be in St Helens last Sunday night to see how Crowe has helped turn the Rabbitohs around. They were nothing short of magnificent in annihilating the Super League champions 39-0. As shell-shocked St Helens coach Shaun Wane said, "We were schooled by the best team in the world".

And you only had to be in the UK in the week leading up to the match to see the impact that Russell can have on promoting a club. Not one mention of the World Club Challenge failed to note that Russell Crowe was missing the Oscars to attend. I even saw it discussed on one of the major EPL TV panel shows. Rugby league being talked about on a national British football program? Unbelievable.

And you only had to be at any of the three NRL versus Super League games to see the trailer for Russell's movie The Water Diviner shown on the big screen at the grounds.

So, much as I think the supporters of Leeds are right in wanting Russell to be their leader, and much as I think he would do a wonderful job, I can't help thinking his interest in keeping this story alive will wane somewhat after April 3. The day The Water Diviner opens in the UK.

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