If you wanted to destroy Leeds United
If you wanted to destroy Leeds United, how would you go about it?
In an ancient Chinese text, called The Book of Qi there is an essay entitled ‘Thirty-Six Stratagems’ illustrating a series of ruses for use in politics, war, as well as in civil interaction, often through unorthodox or deceptive means. In Chapter 2, ‘Enemy Dealing Stratagems’, there is one called ‘Hide a Knife behind a Smile’ in which it advises: “Charm and ingratiate yourself to your enemy. When you have gained his trust, move against him in secret”.
If I wanted to destroy Leeds, I would use this stratagem. Assuming I had the means and opportunity, I would buy the Club and its assets (although I would keep my ownership of its assets secret) because I would know that I could not destroy my enemy from the outside. I would present myself as my enemy’s saviour to win trust. Then I would strangle it, slowly cutting off its oxygen.
This is just a hypothetical question. Of course, no one in their right mind would want to destroy a great football club like Leeds United. However, simply as a subject for discussion in the close season, does anyone have a better plan for destroying Leeds?
