Erik Barmack tells Motherwell fans ‘I’d be sceptical too’ as former Netflix boss opens up on Fir Park investment plan

Ex-Netflix chief Erik Barmack has moved to reassure Motherwell fans over their concerns about outside investment coming into the club.

The Los Angeles business tycoon is stepping up his efforts to invest money into the Steelmen, with Fir Park bosses in talks with a US-based family about a boost to their coffers. With Premiership side Well being fan-owned, a proposal has been put forward to members of the Well Society, who are the majority shareholders of the club.

However, some supporters are said to be uneasy about Barmack plans to invest in their team, with some still left scarred by a difficult spell under flamboyant owner John Boyle. The local businessman’s heavy spending in the transfer market saw him lose a reported £10 million of his own wealth, with Motherwell being plunged into administration in April 2002.

To cut their losses, the Steelmen then had to release 19 first team players, with Boyle putting the Fir Park club up for sale. His running of the club eventually came to an end in 2016 when the Well Society and former owner Les Hutchinson completed a £1 takeover.

Barmack insists he understands why some supporters are sceptical about the financial stability of their club when it comes to spending and investment and has promised that his motives are genuine. Speaking to BBC Scotland, he said: “One hundred percent. The road to hell has been paved with investors from outside of these communities taking outlandish bets that don’t pan out and burning clubs with debt or poor management. You have to look at totality of the club, it’s been around for almost 140 years.

“I believe any sound investment thesis needs to come with some protection that the club can continue to operate in the successful manner it’s already operating under. If I was a member of the Well Society, I would be healthfully sceptical of outside investment.”

Barmack’s wife is a major player in marketing and social media and he hopes that they can also help grow Motherwell’s worldwide appeal following the success of the video calling for Hollywood stars such as Taylor Swift to get involved with the club, which picked up millions of views around the globe.

He added: “First of all we can bring some capital. My whole career has been connecting dots between big media companies and fanbases. Personally, that’s what gets me up in the morning. It could be valuable to connect these worlds, the world of Hollywood and the world of European football

“My wife also works for technology companies. She’s had senior roles at Google, YouTube and now she works at Snapchat. That’s another world that is under utilised by European football clubs. Those relationships could be useful. European football is content and content is European football. That world is blending and you can see streamers and global media being more invested.

“There’s a possibility we could help facilitate that. We bring passion, enthusiasm and a certain level of energy that would hopefully match the ambitions of the Well Society and other stakeholders at the club.”