'What Happens When Crypto Meets Ted Lasso' diff viewer (0/1)

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~~British Soccer, Brought to You by American Crypto Optimism~~	What Happens When Crypto Meets Ted Lasso
2022-11-07 17:24:18 UTC	2022-11-07 22:40:31 UTC (about 5 hours later)
Preston Johnson, a soft-spoken cryptocurrency millionaire with a long, bushy, brown beard, leaned forward in his seat, fists clenched, surveying his empire. He wasn’t perched on a mega yacht or enjoying any of the other ostentatious perks of crypto wealth. The setting was humbler: a small soccer stadium in a town about 30 miles south of London, where the lowest-ranked team in England’s professional leagues was battling for survival.	Preston Johnson, a soft-spoken cryptocurrency millionaire with a long, bushy, brown beard, leaned forward in his seat, fists clenched, surveying his empire. He wasn’t perched on a mega yacht or enjoying any of the other ostentatious perks of crypto wealth. The setting was humbler: a small soccer stadium in a town about 30 miles south of London, where the lowest-ranked team in England’s professional leagues was battling for survival.
On a sunny Saturday in mid-October, Mr. Johnson, 35, sat in a box above the center circle, watching Crawley Town face off against visiting Newport County, a club from south Wales. Straining to make himself heard over shouts of “Shoot the bloody ball,” Mr. Johnson explained that the rainbow-colored squiggle splashed across Crawley’s new Adidas jerseys was artwork from a “historically significant NFT.” Someday, he said, an immersive recording of this type of run-of-the-mill soccer match might attract viewers in the metaverse.	On a sunny Saturday in mid-October, Mr. Johnson, 35, sat in a box above the center circle, watching Crawley Town face off against visiting Newport County, a club from south Wales. Straining to make himself heard over shouts of “Shoot the bloody ball,” Mr. Johnson explained that the rainbow-colored squiggle splashed across Crawley’s new Adidas jerseys was artwork from a “historically significant NFT.” Someday, he said, an immersive recording of this type of run-of-the-mill soccer match might attract viewers in the metaverse.
In the physical world, Crawley had more immediate problems: The scoreboard was broken. And with one win in its first 12 games, the team sat in last place in League Two, the lowest fully professional division of English soccer, facing possible relegation.	In the physical world, Crawley had more immediate problems: The scoreboard was broken. And with one win in its first 12 games, the team sat in last place in League Two, the lowest fully professional division of English soccer, facing possible relegation.
This was not the vision of blockchain-inspired sporting ecstasy that Mr. Johnson had sketched out six months earlier, when he and a group of fellow American crypto entrepreneurs raised $18 million to buy Crawley, a soccer club competing three divisions below the flagship Premier League. With a flourish of tech industry bravado, the owners had pledged to turn lowly Crawley into the “internet’s team.” They aimed to build a global following of crypto enthusiasts and propel the club to greatness — or at least help it move up from the fourth division to the third. Mr. Johnson pitched the soccer takeover to business partners as a real-life version of the feel-good TV show “Ted Lasso” — but one injected with “crypto cocaine.”	This was not the vision of blockchain-inspired sporting ecstasy that Mr. Johnson had sketched out six months earlier, when he and a group of fellow American crypto entrepreneurs raised $18 million to buy Crawley, a soccer club competing three divisions below the flagship Premier League. With a flourish of tech industry bravado, the owners had pledged to turn lowly Crawley into the “internet’s team.” They aimed to build a global following of crypto enthusiasts and propel the club to greatness — or at least help it move up from the fourth division to the third. Mr. Johnson pitched the soccer takeover to business partners as a real-life version of the feel-good TV show “Ted Lasso” — but one injected with “crypto cocaine.”
Crawley fans were instinctively suspicious of the Americans. But Mr. Johnson and his fellow investors soon earned some good will: Over the summer, they raised $4.8 million from the sale of a line of soccer-themed NFTs, the unique digital collectibles that exploded in popularity last year. The owners used the proceeds — which amounted to about seven times the club’s revenue last season — to invest aggressively in the team, hiring data and video analysts and recruiting a star striker. They also reduced season-ticket prices and pledged to involve fans in the club’s decision-making with a transparent, egalitarian management style that they portrayed as a reflection of crypto’s utopian principles.	Crawley fans were instinctively suspicious of the Americans. But Mr. Johnson and his fellow investors soon earned some good will: Over the summer, they raised $4.8 million from the sale of a line of soccer-themed NFTs, the unique digital collectibles that exploded in popularity last year. The owners used the proceeds — which amounted to about seven times the club’s revenue last season — to invest aggressively in the team, hiring data and video analysts and recruiting a star striker. They also reduced season-ticket prices and pledged to involve fans in the club’s decision-making with a transparent, egalitarian management style that they portrayed as a reflection of crypto’s utopian principles.
But results on the field have been disastrous: The week before the Newport match, Crawley lost, 3-0, to Grimsby Town, prompting Mr. Johnson to fire the coach he had appointed over the summer. “We’ve professionalized the club greatly,” Mr. Johnson explained to an acquaintance who had joined him in the stands for the Newport match. “We just haven’t been able to win.”	But results on the field have been disastrous: The week before the Newport match, Crawley lost, 3-0, to Grimsby Town, prompting Mr. Johnson to fire the coach he had appointed over the summer. “We’ve professionalized the club greatly,” Mr. Johnson explained to an acquaintance who had joined him in the stands for the Newport match. “We just haven’t been able to win.”
As digital currencies gained widespread popularity last year, crypto advertisements became ubiquitous in the world of sports. A Coinbase commercial aired during the Super Bowl. The crypto exchange FTX, run by the billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried, bought the naming rights to the Miami Heat’s arena. In Europe, a company called Socios markets soccer-centric “fan tokens,” special digital currencies associated with teams like Barcelona and Manchester City. To critics, the crypto industry’s flood of sports marketing looked like an opportunistic strategy to lure young men into speculative investments; when the crypto market cratered this spring, wiping away $2 trillion in value, many of those amateur traders lost everything.	As digital currencies gained widespread popularity last year, crypto advertisements became ubiquitous in the world of sports. A Coinbase commercial aired during the Super Bowl. The crypto exchange FTX, run by the billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried, bought the naming rights to the Miami Heat’s arena. In Europe, a company called Socios markets soccer-centric “fan tokens,” special digital currencies associated with teams like Barcelona and Manchester City. To critics, the crypto industry’s flood of sports marketing looked like an opportunistic strategy to lure young men into speculative investments; when the crypto market cratered this spring, wiping away $2 trillion in value, many of those amateur traders lost everything.
Mr. Johnson insists that his soccer project is different. Rather than selling crypto to Crawley fans, he said, the ownership group is trying to sell Crawley to crypto fans and thus create new sources of revenue for the club. With skepticism about the industry spiking in the wake of the crash, the project is a quixotic effort to prove that crypto technology has real-world utility, as a vehicle for raising money and engaging fans in a communal project.	Mr. Johnson insists that his soccer project is different. Rather than selling crypto to Crawley fans, he said, the ownership group is trying to sell Crawley to crypto fans and thus create new sources of revenue for the club. With skepticism about the industry spiking in the wake of the crash, the project is a quixotic effort to prove that crypto technology has real-world utility, as a vehicle for raising money and engaging fans in a communal project.
The Crawley investment is also an act of reputational cleansing. The great crypto crash of 2022 was partly a failure of ambition, as companies that had overextended themselves, convinced that the good times would keep rolling, suddenly lost it all. Crawley’s new owners crave respectability. They want to show that the nouveau-riche blockchain elite can be good stewards of a community institution. But like the rest of the industry, they’ve seen their extravagant ambitions collide with reality.	The Crawley investment is also an act of reputational cleansing. The great crypto crash of 2022 was partly a failure of ambition, as companies that had overextended themselves, convinced that the good times would keep rolling, suddenly lost it all. Crawley’s new owners crave respectability. They want to show that the nouveau-riche blockchain elite can be good stewards of a community institution. But like the rest of the industry, they’ve seen their extravagant ambitions collide with reality.
At the start of Crawley’s season, American crypto enthusiasts gathered at early-morning screenings in New York and California to watch the team’s matches. The events became unlikely networking opportunities for people working in web3, the catchall term for a newfangled internet built on crypto technology. But Crawley’s losing streak dampened some of the enthusiasm. Local fans started to complain, and earnest tweets from crypto investors (“Be really nice to someone today,” one urged) were greeted with angry replies calling for the manager to be fired.	At the start of Crawley’s season, American crypto enthusiasts gathered at early-morning screenings in New York and California to watch the team’s matches. The events became unlikely networking opportunities for people working in web3, the catchall term for a newfangled internet built on crypto technology. But Crawley’s losing streak dampened some of the enthusiasm. Local fans started to complain, and earnest tweets from crypto investors (“Be really nice to someone today,” one urged) were greeted with angry replies calling for the manager to be fired.
The grand plan to turn a tiny English soccer team into a symbol of crypto’s global clout began thousands of miles from Crawley, at the Malibu, Calif., branch of Nobu. Last fall, Mr. Johnson attended a dinner at the beachside restaurant, where a group of NFT enthusiasts had gathered to bask in their newfound wealth. He was right at home: A former gambling analyst for ESPN, Mr. Johnson had made a fortune in crypto, with NFT holdings that totaled as much as $18 million when the market peaked last year.	The grand plan to turn a tiny English soccer team into a symbol of crypto’s global clout began thousands of miles from Crawley, at the Malibu, Calif., branch of Nobu. Last fall, Mr. Johnson attended a dinner at the beachside restaurant, where a group of NFT enthusiasts had gathered to bask in their newfound wealth. He was right at home: A former gambling analyst for ESPN, Mr. Johnson had made a fortune in crypto, with NFT holdings that totaled as much as $18 million when the market peaked last year.
At the dinner, he was approached by Eben Smith, a fellow crypto entrepreneur, who soon pitched him on a collaboration: a sports team for the crypto community.	At the dinner, he was approached by Eben Smith, a fellow crypto entrepreneur, who soon pitched him on a collaboration: a sports team for the crypto community.
Over the next few months, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Smith cobbled together a group of about 35 crypto proponents, including Gary Vaynerchuk, the NFT entrepreneur, and Daryl Morey, a blockchain enthusiast who is also president of basketball operations at the Philadelphia 76ers. They set up a business entity, WAGMI United. Pronounced “wag me,” the name stands for “We’re all gonna make it,” a popular rallying cry in crypto circles.	Over the next few months, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Smith cobbled together a group of about 35 crypto proponents, including Gary Vaynerchuk, the NFT entrepreneur, and Daryl Morey, a blockchain enthusiast who is also president of basketball operations at the Philadelphia 76ers. They set up a business entity, WAGMI United. Pronounced “wag me,” the name stands for “We’re all gonna make it,” a popular rallying cry in crypto circles.
The group’s first takeover target was Bradford City, a club in English soccer’s fourth division with a rich history and a large following. “If we want to get to the highest level in America, you need billions of dollars,” Mr. Johnson said. “This was the cheapest price point for us.” But the deal collapsed after Mr. Johnson and Mr. Smith gave interviews to The Washington Post announcing their intentions. Fans protested, and the club’s owner refused to sell.	The group’s first takeover target was Bradford City, a club in English soccer’s fourth division with a rich history and a large following. “If we want to get to the highest level in America, you need billions of dollars,” Mr. Johnson said. “This was the cheapest price point for us.” But the deal collapsed after Mr. Johnson and Mr. Smith gave interviews to The Washington Post announcing their intentions. Fans protested, and the club’s owner refused to sell.
So the crypto investors settled for a backup option. A large industrial town near Gatwick Airport, Crawley is not an athletic powerhouse; in an interview, one member of the WAGMI project described the area as “the kind of Newark, New Jersey, of England.” But the local club was available at a relatively affordable price of between 4 and 5 million pounds — about a third of what WAGMI had raised.	So the crypto investors settled for a backup option. A large industrial town near Gatwick Airport, Crawley is not an athletic powerhouse; in an interview, one member of the WAGMI project described the area as “the kind of Newark, New Jersey, of England.” But the local club was available at a relatively affordable price of between 4 and 5 million pounds — about a third of what WAGMI had raised.
Super-wealthy Americans have invested in English soccer before. The billionaire Glazer family has owned Manchester United since the early 2000s, and Todd Boehly, the L.A. Dodgers owner, bought Chelsea this year. Recently, American interest has extended to the lower divisions: In the second season of “Ted Lasso,” the fictional team coached by Jason Sudeikis’ character plays in the Championship, one division below the Premier League. In 2021, the actor Ryan Reynolds bought Wrexham, a real-life club in Wales that competes below Crawley in the National League, a division that features a combination of professional and semiprofessional clubs.	Super-wealthy Americans have invested in English soccer before. The billionaire Glazer family has owned Manchester United since the early 2000s, and Todd Boehly, the L.A. Dodgers owner, bought Chelsea this year. Recently, American interest has extended to the lower divisions: In the second season of “Ted Lasso,” the fictional team coached by Jason Sudeikis’ character plays in the Championship, one division below the Premier League. In 2021, the actor Ryan Reynolds bought Wrexham, a real-life club in Wales that competes below Crawley in the National League, a division that features a combination of professional and semiprofessional clubs.
The crypto takeover has brought an unusual level of attention to Crawley, leaving players and staff somewhat baffled. Early in the season, a documentary film crew embedded with the squad to collect behind-the-scenes footage. But the cameras disappeared after a few days, and the crew hasn’t been back. “We weren’t sure if they’d reviewed the footage and thought: This is rubbish,” said Tom Nichols, one of Crawley’s strikers.	The crypto takeover has brought an unusual level of attention to Crawley, leaving players and staff somewhat baffled. Early in the season, a documentary film crew embedded with the squad to collect behind-the-scenes footage. But the cameras disappeared after a few days, and the crew hasn’t been back. “We weren’t sure if they’d reviewed the footage and thought: This is rubbish,” said Tom Nichols, one of Crawley’s strikers.
The club’s Broadfield Stadium is nothing like the sprawling arenas in the Premier League: Trees are visible behind the stands, which are rarely full, and many of the club’s sponsors are local, including a waste-management firm whose logo is splashed beneath the box where the owners sit. Before matches, fans gather at a sports bar next to the stadium to drink beer and reminisce about the club’s fleeting moments of glory, like a recent upset win over the Premier League’s Fulham and a valiant 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in 2011. “That’s what you want,” said Scott Anscomb, a 49-year-old Crawley fan, as he stood outside the bar on a recent weekend. “It’s about dreams and memories.”	The club’s Broadfield Stadium is nothing like the sprawling arenas in the Premier League: Trees are visible behind the stands, which are rarely full, and many of the club’s sponsors are local, including a waste-management firm whose logo is splashed beneath the box where the owners sit. Before matches, fans gather at a sports bar next to the stadium to drink beer and reminisce about the club’s fleeting moments of glory, like a recent upset win over the Premier League’s Fulham and a valiant 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in 2011. “That’s what you want,” said Scott Anscomb, a 49-year-old Crawley fan, as he stood outside the bar on a recent weekend. “It’s about dreams and memories.”
But decades of struggles have also ingrained a certain realism. On a recent morning, Sam Gadsdon, a lifelong fan who serves as Crawley’s media manager, led a tour of the stadium, where a maze of narrow hallways connects the locker rooms to a set of offices. Mr. Gadsdon stopped in a hall lined with autographed jerseys. “This is the hall of fame,” he said, “if you can call it that.”	But decades of struggles have also ingrained a certain realism. On a recent morning, Sam Gadsdon, a lifelong fan who serves as Crawley’s media manager, led a tour of the stadium, where a maze of narrow hallways connects the locker rooms to a set of offices. Mr. Gadsdon stopped in a hall lined with autographed jerseys. “This is the hall of fame,” he said, “if you can call it that.”
Longtime fans say they’ve been impressed with the transparency and accessibility of the crypto owners. Mr. Johnson lives in Southern California, but he has made six trips to Crawley in 2022; in August, days after the birth of his daughter, he flew over to help the club sign new players. “It’s nice — you go to games, and you can say hello and chat,” said Carol Bates, a fan who attends home and away matches.	Longtime fans say they’ve been impressed with the transparency and accessibility of the crypto owners. Mr. Johnson lives in Southern California, but he has made six trips to Crawley in 2022; in August, days after the birth of his daughter, he flew over to help the club sign new players. “It’s nice — you go to games, and you can say hello and chat,” said Carol Bates, a fan who attends home and away matches.
The bar was low. WAGMI bought Crawley from a Turkish steel magnate who kept the club in League Two for six seasons but spoke limited English and only occasionally interacted with fans. A previous owner, Mohammed Azwar Majeed, was imprisoned for tax fraud. Perhaps with that history in mind, some fans are concerned that the out-of-town crypto investors will disappear as fast as they arrived. “My fear is these guys will get bored with it,” said Peter Frake, who runs a local security business that used to sponsor the team’s jerseys.	The bar was low. WAGMI bought Crawley from a Turkish steel magnate who kept the club in League Two for six seasons but spoke limited English and only occasionally interacted with fans. A previous owner, Mohammed Azwar Majeed, was imprisoned for tax fraud. Perhaps with that history in mind, some fans are concerned that the out-of-town crypto investors will disappear as fast as they arrived. “My fear is these guys will get bored with it,” said Peter Frake, who runs a local security business that used to sponsor the team’s jerseys.
But most of all, fans have grown doubtful that Mr. Johnson, Mr. Smith and their collaborators have enough soccer expertise to build a successful team. The most important decision any owner makes is in hiring a coach. When the owners bought the team, Crawley was managed by John Yems, a lower-league veteran who was soon fired, after players had accused him of racism. To replace Mr. Yems, WAGMI hired Kevin Betsy, a youth coach at Arsenal who had never managed a team in the lower leagues.	But most of all, fans have grown doubtful that Mr. Johnson, Mr. Smith and their collaborators have enough soccer expertise to build a successful team. The most important decision any owner makes is in hiring a coach. When the owners bought the team, Crawley was managed by John Yems, a lower-league veteran who was soon fired, after players had accused him of racism. To replace Mr. Yems, WAGMI hired Kevin Betsy, a youth coach at Arsenal who had never managed a team in the lower leagues.
The hire was catastrophic. Mr. Betsy tried to play a skillful and precise brand of soccer that proved unsuitable for the lower leagues. He was fired in early October after a run of five consecutive defeats.	The hire was catastrophic. Mr. Betsy tried to play a skillful and precise brand of soccer that proved unsuitable for the lower leagues. He was fired in early October after a run of five consecutive defeats.
On a recent evening at Broadfield, Crawley’s captain, George Francomb, sat in the stands with Hunter Orrell, one of the club’s new owners. An American crypto trader, Mr. Orrell, 28, has a TikTok page dedicated to Crawley, which has turned him into something of a celebrity among 14-year-old fans, who line up to request selfies. But Mr. Francomb was not interested in hearing about TikTok or even in discussing Mr. Orrell’s preferred cologne, an object of fascination among a segment of the local youth. He wanted to talk about NFTs.	On a recent evening at Broadfield, Crawley’s captain, George Francomb, sat in the stands with Hunter Orrell, one of the club’s new owners. An American crypto trader, Mr. Orrell, 28, has a TikTok page dedicated to Crawley, which has turned him into something of a celebrity among 14-year-old fans, who line up to request selfies. But Mr. Francomb was not interested in hearing about TikTok or even in discussing Mr. Orrell’s preferred cologne, an object of fascination among a segment of the local youth. He wanted to talk about NFTs.
In the insular community of lower-league soccer, Mr. Francomb is known as an experienced and versatile professional, a good passer with the ability to play in multiple positions. On Twitter, however, he operates under the pseudonym “Blockchain Jorge,” posting crypto memes and trading tips to his 143 followers. He is probably one of only a few players in the division with an informed opinion on the complex crypto software update known as the Merge. Sometimes, he explained in an interview, he’s asked whether he fully understands the risks of crypto. “I understand the risks of keeping my money in Great British pounds,” he said. “That’s what I say.”	In the insular community of lower-league soccer, Mr. Francomb is known as an experienced and versatile professional, a good passer with the ability to play in multiple positions. On Twitter, however, he operates under the pseudonym “Blockchain Jorge,” posting crypto memes and trading tips to his 143 followers. He is probably one of only a few players in the division with an informed opinion on the complex crypto software update known as the Merge. Sometimes, he explained in an interview, he’s asked whether he fully understands the risks of crypto. “I understand the risks of keeping my money in Great British pounds,” he said. “That’s what I say.”
Mr. Francomb’s fascination with crypto long predates the WAGMI takeover. But even since Crawley became a crypto brand, his efforts to proselytize in the locker room have had mixed results. Mr. Nichols, the team’s striker, said he once spent roughly $600 on an NFT depicting a cartoon ape with a white headband. The image’s value eventually plummeted to about $20. “A recommendation from George,” he recalled with a grimace.	Mr. Francomb’s fascination with crypto long predates the WAGMI takeover. But even since Crawley became a crypto brand, his efforts to proselytize in the locker room have had mixed results. Mr. Nichols, the team’s striker, said he once spent roughly $600 on an NFT depicting a cartoon ape with a white headband. The image’s value eventually plummeted to about $20. “A recommendation from George,” he recalled with a grimace.
Mr. Francomb found a more appreciative audience in Mr. Orrell, who runs Futureproof, a crypto investment firm. As his teammates took the pitch at Broadfield for a midweek match against Aston Villa’s youth team, Mr. Francomb handed his phone to Mr. Orrell to show off a collection of NFTs, before detailing the price history of Renga, a line of crypto collectibles that had recently rocketed in value. Mr. Orrell listened politely, and then shared some insights from his own trading career.	Mr. Francomb found a more appreciative audience in Mr. Orrell, who runs Futureproof, a crypto investment firm. As his teammates took the pitch at Broadfield for a midweek match against Aston Villa’s youth team, Mr. Francomb handed his phone to Mr. Orrell to show off a collection of NFTs, before detailing the price history of Renga, a line of crypto collectibles that had recently rocketed in value. Mr. Orrell listened politely, and then shared some insights from his own trading career.
“My most profitable NFT trade — I was in my underpants when I bought it,” Mr. Orrell said. “I’ve been in the shower, and then come out and bought stuff.”	“My most profitable NFT trade — I was in my underpants when I bought it,” Mr. Orrell said. “I’ve been in the shower, and then come out and bought stuff.”
Mr. Francomb and Mr. Orrell have been heavily involved in the crypto-fication of Crawley. Over the summer, the team unveiled a new jersey featuring the “chromie squiggle,” a rainbow design that appears in a popular NFT collection. “That squiggle means so much to me,” Mr. Orrell said. Mr. Francomb personally arranged a separate crypto promotion: He connected Mr. Johnson with a friend who runs the crypto platform XCAD Network, and soon the XCAD logo appeared on the sleeve of Crawley’s jerseys.	Mr. Francomb and Mr. Orrell have been heavily involved in the crypto-fication of Crawley. Over the summer, the team unveiled a new jersey featuring the “chromie squiggle,” a rainbow design that appears in a popular NFT collection. “That squiggle means so much to me,” Mr. Orrell said. Mr. Francomb personally arranged a separate crypto promotion: He connected Mr. Johnson with a friend who runs the crypto platform XCAD Network, and soon the XCAD logo appeared on the sleeve of Crawley’s jerseys.
But the club’s most ambitious crypto initiatives revolved around the NFT sale. Anyone who has bought a Crawley NFT is entitled to a vote on certain club decisions; a recent ballot helped determine the team’s priorities in the transfer market. Mr. Johnson has also pledged to give season-ticket holders and NFT owners the chance to vote him out of Crawley’s leadership if the club isn’t promoted to a higher division by 2024. (Mr. Francomb may not be eligible to participate in that referendum; he passed on the NFT sale. “I didn’t have too much disposable ETH,” he said, using shorthand for a popular cryptocurrency. “They priced out their own captain.”)	But the club’s most ambitious crypto initiatives revolved around the NFT sale. Anyone who has bought a Crawley NFT is entitled to a vote on certain club decisions; a recent ballot helped determine the team’s priorities in the transfer market. Mr. Johnson has also pledged to give season-ticket holders and NFT owners the chance to vote him out of Crawley’s leadership if the club isn’t promoted to a higher division by 2024. (Mr. Francomb may not be eligible to participate in that referendum; he passed on the NFT sale. “I didn’t have too much disposable ETH,” he said, using shorthand for a popular cryptocurrency. “They priced out their own captain.”)
The new owners are also promoting Crawley on traditional social media platforms like Twitter and Discord, where the crypto faithful congregate to exchange charts and memes. To spearhead the marketing, they recruited Andy Haynes, a stand-up comedian whose ideas have sometimes pushed the boundaries of taste. On a podcast with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Orrell, Mr. Haynes joked about recruiting Pornhub as a sponsor.	The new owners are also promoting Crawley on traditional social media platforms like Twitter and Discord, where the crypto faithful congregate to exchange charts and memes. To spearhead the marketing, they recruited Andy Haynes, a stand-up comedian whose ideas have sometimes pushed the boundaries of taste. On a podcast with Mr. Johnson and Mr. Orrell, Mr. Haynes joked about recruiting Pornhub as a sponsor.
The kind of juvenile humor that often appeals to the largely young and male crypto community isn’t always a comfortable fit in the traditionalist world of English soccer. One of WAGMI’s videos — a riff on the English county of Cumbria that featured a semen-related punchline — caused so much outrage that Mr. Johnson publicly apologized.	The kind of juvenile humor that often appeals to the largely young and male crypto community isn’t always a comfortable fit in the traditionalist world of English soccer. One of WAGMI’s videos — a riff on the English county of Cumbria that featured a semen-related punchline — caused so much outrage that Mr. Johnson publicly apologized.
Mr. Haynes is only slightly repentant. “We kind of want to be the new kid on the block with a little too much swagger,” he said. In September, WAGMI announced plans to scout players from a group of British influencers called the Sidemen, prompting cries of indignation from fans who said the stunt was a distraction and a waste of resources. “I get that it is not OK if we lose and get relegated, but, at the same time, it’s, like, we were trending that day on Twitter,” Mr. Haynes said. “The people that are winning our league right now. …” His voice trailed off. “They have never trended.”	Mr. Haynes is only slightly repentant. “We kind of want to be the new kid on the block with a little too much swagger,” he said. In September, WAGMI announced plans to scout players from a group of British influencers called the Sidemen, prompting cries of indignation from fans who said the stunt was a distraction and a waste of resources. “I get that it is not OK if we lose and get relegated, but, at the same time, it’s, like, we were trending that day on Twitter,” Mr. Haynes said. “The people that are winning our league right now. …” His voice trailed off. “They have never trended.”
The Newport County match kicked off at the end of a tumultuous week at Broadfield. A few days earlier, Mr. Johnson had flown to England to hold one-on-one talks with the players; Mr. Betsy was promptly fired, with Lewis Young, a popular assistant coach, stepping in as a temporary replacement. The stakes were high: Another defeat would leave Crawley dangerously adrift at the bottom of the standings.	The Newport County match kicked off at the end of a tumultuous week at Broadfield. A few days earlier, Mr. Johnson had flown to England to hold one-on-one talks with the players; Mr. Betsy was promptly fired, with Lewis Young, a popular assistant coach, stepping in as a temporary replacement. The stakes were high: Another defeat would leave Crawley dangerously adrift at the bottom of the standings.
Before the match, a group of young fans stopped Mr. Johnson in the parking lot to ask about the search for a new permanent coach. Would he consider the recently fired manager of Watford? Yes, they’d talked on the phone, but the call had lasted only a few minutes, because the coach wanted to take a break from soccer. As kickoff drew near, Mr. Johnson chattered nervously. “It comes down to wins,” he said. “Otherwise, no one cares about you.”	Before the match, a group of young fans stopped Mr. Johnson in the parking lot to ask about the search for a new permanent coach. Would he consider the recently fired manager of Watford? Yes, they’d talked on the phone, but the call had lasted only a few minutes, because the coach wanted to take a break from soccer. As kickoff drew near, Mr. Johnson chattered nervously. “It comes down to wins,” he said. “Otherwise, no one cares about you.”
Soon, he was able to relax: Late in the first half, Crawley took the lead after a mistake by the Newport goalkeeper.	Soon, he was able to relax: Late in the first half, Crawley took the lead after a mistake by the Newport goalkeeper.
When a glancing header put Crawley up 2-0 shortly after halftime, Mr. Johnson leaped from his seat, hands raised in celebration. The team closed out the victory, and Mr. Johnson jogged onto the pitch, where he hugged Mr. Nichols and Mr. Francomb. Then he checked his phone and sighed in frustration: Because of other match results, Crawley was still in the relegation zone, at risk of demotion to an even lower division.	When a glancing header put Crawley up 2-0 shortly after halftime, Mr. Johnson leaped from his seat, hands raised in celebration. The team closed out the victory, and Mr. Johnson jogged onto the pitch, where he hugged Mr. Nichols and Mr. Francomb. Then he checked his phone and sighed in frustration: Because of other match results, Crawley was still in the relegation zone, at risk of demotion to an even lower division.
But the mood around the stadium had lifted. Back in the parking lot, Mr. Johnson posed for a photograph with a couple of children in Crawley shirts, as a woman looking after them framed the shot. “Go near him,” she instructed, gesturing frantically. “He don’t smell.”	But the mood around the stadium had lifted. Back in the parking lot, Mr. Johnson posed for a photograph with a couple of children in Crawley shirts, as a woman looking after them framed the shot. “Go near him,” she instructed, gesturing frantically. “He don’t smell.”