“I am a moderate fan”-----the interview with Martin Lee, who is the chairman and CEO of Ledman Optoelectronic Co., Ltd.

6th July, Ledman announced that acquired the Newcastle Jets F.C of Australian Super League in a wholly-owned. The chairman, Martin Lee, became the first Chinese that own 100% stakes of foreign top league club. The Chinese businessman with a mysterious color is gradually realizing his dream of constructing a football empire.
The interview is as follows:
Q: Since January in the last year, China has completed the acquisition of more than 10 overseas clubs in England, Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Australia, spending a total of about 6.3 billion yuan. Ledman is also one of those, what do you think about this activity?
A: I think that it is a general trend, after the announcement of File 46. Chinese capital thinks highly of the future of Chinese football, and there is a strong will to go to overseas. It needs to have its own platform overseas. Some short-term and long-term plans of Chinese football in the future need a direction and a stage for showing. In order to let more Chinese players go out, we purchased foreign clubs
Q: How do you think of acquiring Newcastle Jets F.C in Australia?
A: Ledman got involved in the industry of football in 2011. Football has now become an established target industry and layout in Ledman. Before this, many of Ledman's investment in the field of sports are related to football. Last year, we set up RenRen F.C in Shenzhen and established an important fulcrum in the industrial chain. But for improving the football industrial chain, we need the collaboration of overseas club. We examined more than five foreign clubs and we took a fancy to Newcastle Jets F.C at the first sight. Australian Super League living between European Super League and Chinese super League is a league relatively mature, and the design of system is also good. RenRen F.C, Newcastle Jets F.C, as well as the Portuguese league, the three points form a closed loop to achieve the business purposes of the development of players and players’ economy.
Q: The football layout in Europe of Ledman, why start from the Portuguese League?
A: At first, in order to improve the popularity of our products, population of Portugal is over ten million. Long long ago it was a maritime country and owned many colonies with a strong radiation. Secondly, we hope to get some interest in football by title, such as the channel of going abroad. Portuguese League is the second class, and quite Chinese Super, the future development of Chinese football will certainly experience a process of transporting players to overseas. At the same time Portuguese League is a good channel.
Q: At present, a number of members of the Olympic team and National Youth are playing in Portuguese League, Zhang Chengdong, Li Yuanyi and Chen Zhecha, etc, who are out of there, did you think about linking up with these resources?
A: Portuguese league has minimum limit for non-EU players, therefore, it came together so many Chinese players. Only two class of Portuguese Professional League: Portuguese Super and Portuguesa A, Portugal B is amateur, but 90% of Chinese players are concentrated in Portuguesa B. There are some good quality Chinese players and familiar with the language there, but they don’t have channel to rise. Ledman has this passage that can help them realize their dreams.
Q: The layout of Ledman in Europe is still in the period of testing, do you think of participating in the top-League in the future or invest in North America?
A: We don’t exclude this possibility. Working about investment, I will be relatively rational to treat the problem. Now there are a lot of people recommend their football team to Ledman, including the Major League Teams in United States, and Ledman will be carefully investigated. Although football is not the first sports in the US, has developed rapidly during these years, we are investigating this.
Q: I heard that when you were studying in the University of Technology South China, you liked football very much?
A: Yes, I am very fond of football, but I’m not a good amateur player. At that time, it didn’t have television in the dormitories. I went out to see the World Cup, such as 1986 World Cup and 1990 World Cup. I should be regarded as a moderate fan!
Q: Did two great deals in 2011: Ledman was listed in Shenzhen and the cooperation with Chinese Super League. It appears that it is a good deal with the Chinese Super League. However at the time it was doubted. Then what was your starting point?
A: Before 2011, Ledman's LED Displays were exported to several clubs in five European Leagues. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I knew a lot of about European football. When I was sitting in the VIP box to watch game, I was thinking about setting up a team like this. When Chinese football needs LED Display, I think this is a very good opportunity to intervene. We took the mode of resources swaps with Chinese Super League, we invested 60 million, and this is a way more durable, that we can be checked five or six years.
Q: What is the future location of Ledman in the football field?
A: Making business, it is necessary to obtain economic benefits, but also consider the social benefits. Football is still in the period of investment. With the growth of Chinese football, there will certainly be a good return. Newly we acquired the Australian super team, the profit and loss are not too much, and Irequired Jets’ management to achieve profitability within two years. Of course, the social benefits are also important. This team has had a very glorious history, won the championship, but then has been declining because of the lack of property. We received over the club in order that the locals continue being proud of this team and us.
Q: Is possible that the Chinese players would participate during the 2016-17 season in Australia?
A: It is not convenient to disclose. About our plan, at least there will be a Chinese player to go to Newcastle, for which we specifically hired an assistant coach. After all, Chinese players need someone to counsel and help in Newcastle Jets.
Q: There is a statement "Ledman’s Mode", what is your next goal in the field of football?
A: It is difficult to answer. We have been thinking and summarizing in order to achieve improvement. Now we want to develop the Newcastle Jets F.C, and link up with the Chinese resources. Our RenRen F.C is a piece of white paper, and there are too many things that we need to learn from Jets.
Q: Will you consider investing to other field in the future?
A: There are too many branches and temptation in the sports’ field, but we still focus on football. There are a lot of opportunities, but they don’t all belong to you. The chain of football’s industry is a big part and that will be enough to do this well.
The interview comes to end, the chairman Martin Lee is really a great businessman. He showed great foresight during the development of Ledman and achieved great success.