I promised to buy striker a camel if he scored 20 goals, paraded elephants around pitch and made players eat testicles

SAM HAMMAM made a name for himself as the colourful chairman of Wimbledon during the 1990s.

He owned the club during their era as the “Crazy Gang” before later having a spell in charge at Cardiff.

As well as often being spotted pitch side at matches, Hammam was also known for some of his bizarre interactions with players.

After signing Dean Holdsworth from Brentford in 1992, Hammam promised the striker a camel or a Ferrari if he scored over 20 goals.

Despite forming a prolific partnership with John Fashanu, Holdsworth was unable to score 20 times in a single season during his five years with the club.

Hammam went even further during negotiations to sign Robbie Earle, though.

According to Earle, the businessman locked him in his dining room and refused to let him out until he signed after visiting his home.

Earle told FourFourTwo in 2019 that Hammam said: “If you sign, I’ll give you the key.

“But if you turn down the offer then they’re hidden in my underpants, so you’ll have to come and find them there…”

The former Jamaica international also revealed details of a clause Hammam had inserted into players’ contracts.

If Wimbledon lost a match by four or more goals, the squad were made to eat sheep testicles at a Lebanese restaurant.

Hammam seemingly had a thing for the delicacy as he employed a similar system after taking over at Cardiff in 2000.

Players were made to eat sheep testicles before signing for the Bluebirds during his ownership.

He also tried to change the club’s name to the Cardiff Celts before later backing down.

As for his most memorable quote from his time in the Welsh capital, he once referred to the team’s style of play as “orgy football”.

“The other team know they’re going to get it, but they don’t know from whom or where from,” explained Hammam.

Cardiff’s name change was not the only attempt he made to alter a team’s identity, though.

He had previously tried to move Wimbledon to Ireland, shortly after another infamous stunt.

Ahead of the Dons’ final home game of the 1994/95 season against Nottingham Forest, Hammam paraded elephants around the pitch at Selhurst Park.

However, he took so long to move the animals out of the way for the players to come out, he was shown a yellow card by the referee.

Hammam, 76, has been out of football ownership since stepping down as Cardiff chairman in October 2006.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk