At the moment of time on March 29, China's soccer governing body unveiled the access list for the new season of the third tier league, in which two Chinese Super League powerhouses, Guangzhou and Kunshan, unfortunately fell short. Guangzhou, a city that carries the dreams of immigrants, also suffered a setback in access to the soccer field. Meanwhile, the state-owned group led by Guangzhou Automobile has started a new journey. In the face of this change, immigrant players in Guangzhou (formerly Shenyang Jinde) could not help but feel disheartened. And Jiangsu soccer's loss of two consecutive championship teams in just three years reflects its decisive attitude of facing up to the reality of its predicament and courageously abandoning its poorly profitable businesses.
The predecessor of Guangzhou Football Club is Shenyang Jinde, through Changsha Jinde, Shenzhen Phoenix changes, and finally in the R&F Group's intervention, settled in Guangzhou, and Evergrande to start a fierce "Guangzhou derby".
However, in the eyes of Guangdong fans, Guangzhou has always been regarded as an "outsider". Guangzhou Evergrande, on the other hand, is more like the embodiment of a local team. Its predecessor, Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals, later renamed Guangzhou, has long occupied the throne of the local team in Guangzhou.
Despite Guangzhou's failure to gain access, a coalition of state-owned enterprises led by the Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Group quietly registered the Guangzhou Shadow Leopards, with a registered capital of up to 100 million yuan, in preparation for resuming their journey. Local companies in Guangdong are more inclined to nurture their own soccer power than support foreign teams.
Jiangsu disbanded their team after winning the Chinese Super League crown in 2020, while Kunshan FC failed to make it to the Chinese Super League stage for the new season after winning the 2022 season in the Chinese League.
Although there is no lack of strong enterprises in Jiangsu region, but for professional soccer such a money-burning sport, Jiangsu enterprises seem extraordinarily realist. Whether it is over-investment, or uneven investment in Kunshan FC, decisive "stop-loss" action all maps out the consistent pragmatic style of Jiangsu enterprises.
