Standing on Fulham’s pitch next to the River Thames, Shad Khan quickly discovered that the issues Premier League owners must tackle extend far beyond football.
On his first full day running the London club, the trickiest questions Khan had to face were not about the cash available for new players, or goals for the coming season.
The pressing issue locally for the owner of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars was about Michael Jackson.
Yes, the late “King of Pop.”
A statue of Jackson sits outside Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground after being commissioned after the star’s death in 2009 by Mohamed Al Fayed in one of the most contentious decisions during his 18 years owning the club.
Now the ownership of the Cottagers has changed hands, might fans succeed in having the statue removed?
Khan hesitated.
“I’ve been an owner less than a day,” he said, while searching for a diplomatic response.
“We have to preserve and respect history but we have to move forward. I’ll reflect on it and listen to the fans, then decide.”
There’s no decision to be made, according to Al Fayed.
“Michael Jackson will stay – it’s part of the deal,” the Egyptian said, before adding with Khan in ear shot: “Are you listening to me about Michael Jackson? You promise now? Otherwise … I will take your moustache off.”
The moustache has been Khan’s trademark since 1972 as he built up his fortune in the automotive industry after moving to the US from Pakistan, bought the Jaguars in 2011 and now Fulham in a deal reported to be worth more than $200 million.
As Fayed bid farewell to the club he took from the third tier into the Premier League, the former owner of the Harrods department store donned a fake moustache to pose for pictures with Khan on a rare scorching day in London.
The takeover deal was wrapped up swiftly ahead of the new season starting next month, as the 84-year-old Al Fayed heads into retirement.
But it was the NFL that first enabled Khan to establish a sporting bond with London, with the Jaguars striking a deal to play a regular season game at Wembley Stadium for four consecutive seasons from October.
“I have watched Fulham and I know the history and I’ve been to a game here. I just thought about contacting Mr. Al Fayed about a month or so ago just to talk to him and one thing led to another.”
Khan’s takeover means that the new season will begin with six of the 20 Premier League clubs under American ownership, with four having links to NFL teams.