Dagenham & Redbridge fans are cautiously optimistic after YouTube star KSI became a minority owner of the National League South club. The 32-year-old, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, attended a recent home win against league leaders Dorking alongside former England striker Andy Carroll, who also invested in the club.
The club has had a turbulent recent history, with a string of underwhelming investors. Last year, Egyptian social media star Marwan Serry invested but withdrew within five days after controversial posts by a fellow director emerged. A proposed takeover by a Qatari consortium also fell through.
Supporters hope KSI's involvement will bring global recognition and financial stability. "It can only be good for the club, right? Worldwide recognition and a bit of money hopefully to improve the squad," said fan Andrew Denson, 54. However, some remain sceptical after past promises. "You're promised the world and you're just given a ham sandwich," said Liam Roberts before a recent match.
KSI has already engaged with the club, visiting the training ground and playing table tennis with players. A documentary series titled Race to the Top will follow the club's journey on his YouTube channel, which has 17 million subscribers. The model mirrors that of Wrexham, whose celebrity owners have driven success.
Dagenham dropped out of the Football League in 2016 and were relegated to the sixth tier last season. They are currently nine points off the playoffs. Anwar Uddin, who captained the side to promotion in 2010, has returned as nonexecutive chair, adding to the optimism. "That's the biggest positive," said long-time fan Suzanne Collier.
