Bend it like Geller!

NOW EXETER CITY HOPE TO “BEND IT LIKE GELLER”

10/05/2002 HAVING helped nudge Reading Fotball Club over the brink to promotion, Uri Geller, once the Royals’ best-known fan, has transferred his allegiance – and his powers – to the club his 18-year-old son Daniel supports, Third Division Exeter City.

Uri and Daniel will be co-chairmen of the club, mainly as front men for the new joint owners, former Reading director Mike Lewis, and former Scarborough chairman John Russell.
Lewis and Geller Snr became friends when the Israeli psychic first started supporting the Royals at Elm Park back in the early 90’s. They have stayed in touch since Lewis left for a somewhat chequered spell, first as cmmercial director, then as “owner” of Swansea City – or rather owner of their debts – before departing under a cloud of controversy.
Now he has re-surfaced at Exeter, where the club has been tottering along for years on the back of internal board-level bickering, financial difficulty and playing mediocrity.
Daniel Geller’s love of Exeter City began in the late 90’s with a dream in which he was, for no apparent reason, “drawn to the club.” Although he does not necessarily share his father’s adherence to the paranormal, he took the situation seriously, and has supported Exeter in person at every opportunity since.
Today he flew back to England from his studies at Strasbourg, France, specially to attend the press conference announcing the change of ownership at St James’ Park.
At that meeting, Russell said: “To take Exeter to a new level is going to need new investment, and we are going to need help, which is one of the reasons Uri Geller is on board. He can open doors for us and introduce us to a worldwide range of people.”
A club statement said Geller and his son will not play a big role in the day-to-day running of the club – but Uri told Sky News: “I will be meeting the fans, inspiring and motivating them, telling them how to support the club with their mind, body and spirit.
“I want them to buy season tickets – and I will go into the dressing room to motivate the players as well.
“I won’t be getting involved with anything on the paranormal side – no bending spoons or anything like that – but what I can do is open some financial doors for the club.”
Previous chairman Ivor Doble is to stay as honorary president. Yet again this season the club he has done so well to keep afloat, struggled to avoid the drop out of the League, and their main asset is a ground said to be worth around £4million.