Business of Sport

Matt Richards is a double Olympic Champion and silver medallist in the pool, winning a historic back to back relay title and falling agonisingly short of individual gold in the 200m freestyle (2 hundredths of a second to be precise). And that won't be the end of it; LA28 is firmly in his sights.At the age of 23, he has achieved more than most will in their whole career. You would think as an Olympic gold medallist, the world opens up to, and in some ways it does. But as he describes, these are athletes surviving on tiny salaries, reliant on sponsorship and external funding, all competing for the same dollars. So Matt decided to do something about it. He's now not only an elite swimmer, but also a business owner looking to empower more athletes with the control over their revenue generating opportunities. I have put a link below to check out the platform. A special guy with a huge amount still to come. We loved this and I hope you do too. We're delighted to welcome Matt to the Business of Sport.Olympic Gold & The Reality Behind It:Winning gold in Tokyo at 18 and why it did not feel how he expected.The brutal 0.02 second Olympic silver in Paris and how he reset overnight.What actually changes after you become Olympic champion and how fast the buzz fades.The Money Behind Olympic Sport:£28,000 lottery funding and what swimmers really earn.Why most Team GB athletes make nothing outside sponsorship.The three month Olympic window to monetize success without harming performance.Building a Business While Chasing Gold:Launching Sponsor while competing at the highest level.Why athletes must see themselves as marketing assets.Balancing brand building, training, and the risk of distraction.Pressure, Process & The LA 2028 Target:Calling himself Olympic champion at eight years old.The Olympic Village chaos, illness, and racing through adversity.Turning silver into fuel as he targets individual gold in LA.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Gemini SportsWe empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/SlateThe complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/Seat UniqueDiscover your next premium experience  https://wgl.io/s10it7AND check out Sponza, Matt's business to revolutionise sponsorship for athletes & brands https://sponza.co.uk/

This week it's a balance of fact and hypothetical. The deep dive into Leicester's concerning situation last week received an amazing response, and with it many requests to look at what would happen if the ever shortening odds of Spurs inconceivably going down paid out. So that's what we'll do! It was Charlie's turn to suffer from the sniffles so bare with him; he's still his usual self don't worry. Add to this a look at how much money it takes to win an Olympic gold and the concerning events surrounding Vinicius Jr and alleged racist abuse he received during this week's Champions League tie against Benfica, and we have ourselves a Breakdown.

After numerous shows with players from Wales, New Zealand, South Africa, France, we have ourselves an England international. And what a way to kick off the red rose association.Anthony Watson is one of the game's biggest names over the last decade. He broke onto the scene young, played over 50 times for England, a double British & Irish Lion, and retired by 30. Injury prevented him from achieving even more, but as you will hear it also opened up other opportunities for him. From losing his way when first dealing with life in the spotlight, to university and masters degrees with a big future to look forward to, this is an incredible insight into how the world of elite sport can deliver big success both on and off the pitch. We're delighted to welcome Anthony to Business of Sport.Retirement, Injury & Identity:Why long injury spells prepared Anthony for the reality of retirement.The shock of going from England international to silence overnight.The unhealthy obsession with recovery and performance that followed.Building purpose beyond rugby through media, business and new ventures.Eddie Jones, England & Elite Standards:Why Eddie Jones was a better man manager than people realise.The detail and intensity required to succeed in the England environment.What really went wrong at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.The Business of Rugby & Innovation:Why the Premiership needs radical innovation beyond the pitch.The reality of salary caps, squad depth and financial sustainability.R360, disruption and why rugby cannot afford to stand still.Player Welfare, Superstars & Growth:Why growing the game cannot come at the expense of player health.The tension between protecting athletes and building global appeal.Whether rugby relies too heavily on its biggest names.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Gemini SportsWe empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/SlateThe complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/Seat UniqueDiscover your next premium experience  https://wgl.io/s10it7

What a show we have for you this week. Leicester's points deduction for breaching financial regulations is a big problem, but is there something far worse going on? In short, Charlie expertly takes us through how a football club goes bankrupt. Add to that the Glazer's IPL ambitions and some excellent conversation on whether NBA Europe will get off the ground (which includes some excellent statements for those of you out there who love a good comms strategy as much as we do) and we have ourselves a Breakdown. Oh, and don't worry, the most requested topic of the week featuring some questionable antics of male ski jumpers looking to gain more lift to travel further is covered in detail too. If you don't know what I'm talking about, that will soon change.

It's a return to the chair for one of our greatest guests, and what a time to do it. When Claire Williams came to see you in 2024 she delivered an account of Williams and the recent sale that few had heard. Today, we look forward. As the new season approaches, teams have had to deal with some of the biggest regulatory changes in the sport's history. Are we about to see F1 flipped on its head? Without the pressure of having to be across every detail expected when Team Principal, Claire can take a breath and look at the sport from a different lens. Today, we, and hopefully you, are the benefiters of that. From how to prepare a car from scratch to why she thinks George Russell would be great in a McLaren (incredibly juicy we know), the educated eye once again casts a view of what could be the most dramatic F1 season on record. We're delighted to welcome Claire to the Business of Sport.On today's show we discuss:Regulation Changes, Cost Caps and Competitive Balance:How sweeping technical regulation changes can reset the grid overnight.Why interpretation of rules and strength of engineering teams matter more than budget alone.How the cost cap has fundamentally changed the survival prospects of smaller teams.Drivers, Risk and the Harsh Reality of Performance:Why being a second driver at certain teams can be the hardest job in the sport.Making brutal decisions on drivers and why timing matters more than patience.How pressure, risk and scrutiny have intensified in the modern F1 era.Growth, New Teams and Protecting the Sport:Why Formula One is cautious about expansion despite having the money to support more teams.The balance between growth, dilution and protecting long term value.What adding new teams really means for competitive integrity.Stepping Away and Looking Back:Why leaving Williams was not a choice and how perspective changes with time.Missing the sport while recognising the toll it takes on life outside racing.Why Formula One will always be part of who she is, even from the outside.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Gemini SportsWe empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/SlateThe complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/Seat Unique Discover your next premium experience businessofsport.seatunique.com

We break new ground this week. A couple of English guys taking a look at what makes the NFL so powerful on Super Bowl week. Add that to a review of challenger football leagues after Baller League paused their tournament in Germany and a look ahead to the Winter Olympics, and we have ourselves a breakdown!

The Six Nations is upon us. With the tournament kicking off this Thursday in Paris, CEO Tom Harrison stopped by to give us a rare insight into how the tournament operates behind the scenes. As the former CEO of the ECB, Tom has a lot of experience when it comes to operating in top sporting organisations. The key focus here was how rugby continues to disrupt, adapt and protect its heritage while existing in the most competitive sports environment there's been. This was one of the first interviews Tom's given in the position. It doesn't disappoint. We're delighted to welcome Tom to the Business of Sport.On today's show we discuss: Running the Six Nations as a Global Business:Why the Six Nations is a rights and media business, not a governing body.How the role of CEO has evolved into year-round commercial and content responsibility.Balancing heritage with the need to modernise one of sport's most traditional properties.The Nations Championship and Calendar Reform:Why a globally aligned calendar is critical for player welfare, fans and broadcasters.How the Nations Championship brings together North and South without breaking the game.The political and structural difficulty of getting unions, clubs and players aligned.Broadcast, Private Equity and Commercial Strategy:The real impact of CVC investment and why COVID accelerated outside capital.Why free to air reach still matters more than short-term rights fees.How partnerships like Guinness are built on authenticity and long-term value.Innovation, Fans and the Future of Rugby:Using data and storytelling to make rugby easier to understand and more engaging.Why rugby must embrace players, personality and always-on content.The challenge of evolving without losing what makes the Six Nations special.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Gemini SportsWe empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/SlateThe complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/Seat UniqueDiscover your next premium experience  https://wgl.io/s10it7

There are some big stories to look at this week: politically, commercially and socially charged. Coming up? The uncompromising behavior of Indian cricket and the chaos that has surrounded Bangladesh's removal from the T20 World Cup asks some serious questions of the other major cricketing nations. Are English football clubs falling behind their biggest European rivals off the pitch? What does a head coach endorsing the use of TikTok amongst his players tell us about the shifting approach to how athletes as brands can still work for the performance of a team? We really got stuck into this, not much fence sitting as always. So let's get to it. Welcome to the Breakdown.

It had to be done. It was the greatest upset in FA Cup history when Macclesfield beat holders Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago. 117 places between the two teams in the football pyramid. But there is much more to the story than that result. A club that went out of business six years ago. An owner who was in the depths of addiction when he bought the club, now delivering one of the great football stories. Can they do it again against Brentford in a couple of weeks? You wouldn't bet against them. But in the meantime let's take a look at how this magic has been made possible. We're delighted to welcome Rob Smethurst to the Business of Sport.On today's show we discuss: The FA Cup Run That's Changed Everything:What it meant for a sixth-tier club to beat Crystal Palace, the FA Cup holders.The financial impact of a single cup run, from gate receipts to TV money and global attention.Why moments like this can fund an entire season and transform a club's trajectory overnight.Running a Sustainable Non-League Football Club:How you build a squad from scratch with part-time players earning a few hundred pounds a week.Why promotion often makes clubs poorer, not richer, at non-league level.How Macclesfield built a seven-day-a-week business around the club through gyms, bars, pitches and education.Turning football into part of the business, not the whole business, to survive and grow.Buying a Football Club on Rightmove:The unbelievable story of buying Macclesfield FC while in the depths of addiction and not remembering the purchase.Taking control of a club that had been stripped bare by receivers and rebuilding it from nothing.Why owning the club gave Rob purpose at the lowest point of his life and ultimately helped save it.Investment, Ambition & the Road Ahead:What it really costs to climb the football pyramid and why outside investment is unavoidable.How infrastructure underwrites club value as you move up the leagues.Why Macclesfield now has belief, momentum and a clear plan to go further.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Gemini SportsWe empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/SlateThe complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

It's a big show this week. So much to cover, a fight as always to keep it to the point. Managers are back on the menu as we take a look at the ongoing discussion on whether power of selection should like with the head coach or the medical department. That inevitably feeds into a quick look at the chaos unleashed by Oliver Glasner in the media last weekend. It's then the turn of tennis to celebrate the start of the Australian Open and a look at whether the Grand Slams should give a higher percentage of revenue to the players, before wrapping up with a look at F1 on the week the liveries for the 2026 season are revealed; how important is how the car looks to the brands spending tens of millions to sponsor them? Let's get straight to it. Welcome to The Breakdown!

Elite athletes who have achieved everything in their sport while building a career alongside; it's the ambition many sports stars have today. But how do you do it effectively? Petr Cech is a footballing legend, and I don't use that term lightly. Four Premier League titles, a Champions League, record for the most Premier League clean sheets, and hugely respected as one of the most dedicated and attentive professionals the game has seen. He also has an MBA, is studying for a PhD, runs multiple businesses, and I need two hands to count the number of languages he speaks. The philosophy that has driven this? Win, that's what it's all about. If not then what's the point. As you've just heard this is a theme that runs throughout. It also poses the question we wrestle most with on the show which is how to do that consistently and run a great business. I'll get the apology in early, yes this was very exciting for me (and Harry too). Sitting across the table from someone who has given you some of your greatest memories as a fan is pretty cool, not many other ways I can say it. Just breeze through it.But what I can say is we've met few people are impressive or generous with their time who leave you genuinely in awe of but their successes and the processes they've adopted to achieve it. I promise you don't just need to be a Chelsea fan to enjoy this. We're delighted to welcome Petr to the Business of Sport.On today's show we discuss: Elite Mentality, Preparation & Winning:​Why preparation beats talent under pressure and how Petr approached the biggest moments of his career.​What truly separates elite performers when everything is on the line.​Why winning is a mindset before it's a tactic.Leadership, Standards & Team Culture:​How winning environments are built and sustained over time.​The role of managers, players and dressing-room standards in elite teams.​Why culture collapses when accountability disappears.Setbacks, Injury & Perspective:​How a life-threatening head injury changed the way Petr approached football and life.​Why fear never disappeared, but how he learned to perform alongside it.​The difference between confidence and control at the highest level.From Pitch to Boardroom:​Transitioning from player to executive and seeing football from the inside.​Why football performance must always come before commercial priorities.​How decision-making, incentives and governance shape success off the pitch.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Gemini SportsWe empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/SlateThe complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/EMWA pleasure to work with leading sports & entertainment agency EMW on this showhttps://emw-global.com/

Another huge week to dissect today with a quick look back at how one of the stories in particular has developed from last week. Today it's the turn of the chaotic world of media rights after DAZN pulled out of another league deal in Belgium, the rise of darts (at your request) and how the sport has transformed to get to where it is today, and rugby; in the wake of the challenger league R360 delaying its launch, is there even demand for a non-international rugby competition? It's been amazing seeing the response to the show last week so a huge thank you to that. Keep commenting, keep suggesting topics, and we'll keep tailoring it to match what you want to hear. Let's get on with the show.

We think we know what the financial world of a footballer looks like. But the reality is very different. There is much more to understand than the salaries that media outlets publish like football scores. And if we're honest, it's never done to encourage a positive response. So what is the financial reality that faces some of sports most influential stars? Matt Smith played over 500 games in the Football League, for some big clubs: Leeds, Fulham, QPR, Millwall. But Matt had always had a different path to many players. He went to university, he's done an MBA, and now has co-founded a venture capital business specifically geared towards opening up investment opportunities to athletes, but most importantly, with their best interests at heart. The fact I even need to say that is an indicator of where some of the big problems lie.This conversation was special for a number of reasons. Firstly and personally, because a conversation we had with Matt years ago was one of the first moments that triggered this show becoming a thing. Secondly, because this is a space that us, the fan and casual commentator, need to know more about. Not to mention the value this brings to any of you who are athletes facing these same situations. It's financial reality with some quite extraordinary club stories to enjoy. On today's show we discuss: Footballers, Money & Responsibility:Why modern players outsource too much decision-making and how that leaves them financially exposed.The illusion of wealth in football, short careers, and the pressure of lifestyle inflation.Why earning more money actually increases the need for better judgment.Agents, Advice & a Broken System:How misaligned incentives in representation quietly cost players millions.Why removing regulation turned football advice into a “wild west.”What players should demand from agents, advisors, and intermediaries.Business, Investing & Thinking Long-Term:When it makes sense for athletes to invest and when it really doesn't.Why venture capital is a game of patience, not quick wins.Lessons from early investing successes and distorted perceptions of risk.Leadership, Transition & Life After Football:How ownership, leadership, and culture shape careers on the pitch.Why preparing for retirement matters as much as preparing for matchday.The role of curiosity, structure, and purpose in building a second career.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Gemini SportsWe empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Hello and welcome to our brand new show, The Breakdown. I'm Charlie Stebbings, and joining me on this ride is legendary sports executive Charlie Methven. With his boundless energy and unfiltered opinions, and my carefully constructed guiding influence, we'll bring you the rundown on the week's biggest sporting business stories. For the first show, we're extending the timeframe slightly to cover what has happened over the holiday period, including the departures of Amorim and Maresca, Brooks Koepka's abandonment of the once promising LIV Golf project, and of course, the conclusion of the most disappointing Ashes Tour in memory… well for me at least.This is Business of Sport: The Breakdown----------------------------------------------------Timestamps:00:00 Intro02:45 The Managerial Merry-Go-Round30:26 Saudi Investment In Elite Sport43:37 Saudi's Attention On Golf44:44 The European Tour01:03:09 Predictions On Test Match Cricket01:05:27 Harry Brooks01:09:09 The Physical Responsibility In Cricket

What does it cost for the biggest brands to sponsor the biggest sports? Why do they do it? How do they choose what to put their name to?The money behind sport is a primary feature of the show, but it's normally from the perspective of the sports property. How big a sponsorship can Liverpool attract and what does it do to the bottom line. So to kick off the new year, we thought we'd change that. Antoine Le Nel is the Chief Marketing Officer of Revolut, the global challenger bank now investing millions into multiple sports properties, most notably as Audi's new title sponsor for their debut F1 season. The reasoning behind this move, a look at how brands recognise value, how they justify spend; this was all part of a fascinating insight into the inflows of sport business. And it's not just F1: women's football, rugby, NFL, they're all part of the growing portfolio Revolut are leveraging to develop the business in multiple markets. Antoine's key explanation here is telling us why sport is such a powerful way for them and other top brands to do this.On today's show we discuss: Why Revolut Went Big in Sport:How the Audi Revolut F1 partnership came together and why F1 is a “go big or go home” sponsorship environment.How Revolut's growth strategy shifted five years ago from pure performance marketing to building a global brand.Why sport became a critical upper-funnel lever to build credibility, open new segments, and compete with traditional banks.The NBA partnership as the proof point that sport could deliver real ROI, not just awareness.Global vs Local Sponsorship Strategy:Why Revolut splits its sports portfolio into two layers: global IPs to differentiate at scale, and local teams to drive cultural relevance.How operating in 39 markets gives Revolut a structural advantage when sponsoring truly global sports like Formula One.Why most competitors simply cannot afford global sponsorships and how Revolut “divides the cost by 20” internally.The Future of Sports Sponsorship:Why teams must evaluate partners beyond cash, focusing on long-term IP growth and innovation.How tech brands like Revolut and Spotify are reshaping how clubs think about sponsorship.Why modern sponsorship is about partnership, product and shared growth, not logos and cheques.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Gemini SportsWe empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Over the past year, we've gone inside football's boardrooms, dressing rooms and balance sheets. This episode brings the most revealing moments together in one place.Welcome to The Business of Sport: Football Review.Across this compilation, we bring together the best moments from our recent football conversations to explore how money really shapes the game. From transfer fees and player contracts to ownership structures and decision-making power, this episode looks at the forces operating behind the pitch.Featuring club executives and leaders from across the football pyramid, we dig into why wages inflate faster than revenues, how promotion and relegation transform balance sheets overnight, and why running a football club is as much about survival as success.----------------------------------------------------Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:34 Peter Kenyon - Fmr CEO of Man Utd & Chelsea08:09 Liam Dooley - Shrewsbury Town CEO14:22 Rick Parry - EFL Chair24:25 Pablo Longoria - Marseille President30:09 Ryan Sparks - Bradford City CEO35:18 Ryan Bertrand - Fmr Premier League Player39:30 Spencer Owen - Hashtag Utd Owner

Today, we're doing something a little different. Welcome to the Business of Sport: F1 Review.Over the past year, we've sat down with some of the most influential figures in Formula One. Team principals, world champions, and senior leaders shaping the sport behind the scenes. For this episode, we've handpicked the best moments from those conversations and brought them together into one definitive F1 compilation to enjoy over the festive period.Across the episode, we dive into what actually separates winning teams from the rest of the grid. From culture and leadership, to marginal gains, long-term strategy, and the human pressures that define life at the very top of motorsport.You'll hear from voices including Nico Rosberg, Guenther Steiner, Claire Williams, James Vowles, and Zak Brown.----------------------------------------------------Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:42 James Vowles15:07 Guenther Steiner23:08 Zak Brown27:03 Claire Williams34:27 Nico Rosberg

Today, we're going headfirst back into the world of the tier one football executive. Peter Moore is the former CEO of Liverpool, the man who oversaw the clubs return to the top of English and European football. Working alongside Jurgen Klopp from 2017-2020, this was one of the most effective ‘performance x business' relationships in modern football. How do you win on the pitch and build value off it?Peter does not wrap his achievements in the on-field success experienced during his tenure; as you've just heard, it is the rediscovered affection and identity that fans found with the club that demonstrates a job well done. That's quite an extraordinary stance for a CEO to have. Commercial maximisation and fan sentiment are hard to balance, and while there is always conflict over ticket prices or pre-season tours, we get something here which seems to recognise the importance of the club/fan relationship and asset value maximisation.An interesting time to be having this chat considering Liverpool's recent struggles on the pitch and the Mo Salah situation, there is also plenty to go into around his role with Wrexham and the rise to prominence of football in the US. We're delighted to welcome Peter to the Business of Sport.Timestamps:00:00 Intro06:10 Getting the Call to be Liverpool CEO09:15 "I Probably Wasn't A Good Fit For The Role"11:47 Not Involved in Football Transfers18:17 Google x Liverpool20:04 Liverpool is Immune to Winning & Losing22:23 Magic of Jurgen Klopp34:19 Funny Story: Did Liverpool Tap Up VVD?37:19 The Power of Star Players39:45 Mo Should'nt Have Said That46:53 Socialist Roots in a Capitalist Football Club52:44 Did Peter Get On With The Owners?54:13 Wrexham: Peter's InvolvementOn today's show we discuss: How a Modern Football Club Really Works:How a Scouse kid who grew up in a pub ended up running a $7B gaming company and then Liverpool FC.Breaking down the structure: Jurgen Klopp in football, Michael Edwards on the balance-sheet, Billy Hogan on commercial, and Peter on operations.Running matchdays, hosting rival owners, managing 800 staff, and being the global face of a club with hundreds of millions of fans.Why his leadership philosophy ultimately distilled into four C's: Community, Civic, Commercial and CultureBuilding the Liverpool Business Machine: How Liverpool rebuilt its commercial spine: CRM, global fan acquisition, digital content, funnel strategy, and personalisation.How global content like Inside Anfield reshaped the club's relationship with 99% of fans who will never visit the stadium.Why the F&B and stadium expansion debate is about operational flow, not squeezing fans and how multi-generational matchday culture shapes decision-making.Jurgen Klopp, Culture & the Power of a Manager:The first moment he met Klopp and why he instantly thought: “This man is a modern Shankly.”Why the culture around Klopp, not individual players, is what the fans ultimately defend… including during moments like the current Mo Salah dispute.The unique Scouse belief that “the badge is bigger than any player”, and how that gives Liverpool a cultural advantage.Celebrity Ownership, Wrexham & the Power of Content:The story of how Rob McElhenney showed up at his house to recruit him for Wrexham.Why he advised them early on and helped legitimise the project, including getting Wrexham into FIFA.Breaking down what Reynolds and McElhenney get right and why content is the real multiplier modern clubs underestimate.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

Today we welcome a true sporting legend. Bryan Habana is a 100+ cap Springbok, a World Champion and joint highest tryscorer in Rugby World Cup history, a man who races cheetahs. As I'm sure you've noted this is our longest show yet. That is because it's also one of the best. Rugby sits at the heart of it, but the personal stories bring a side to an elite athlete we rarely see. There are moments in this where we were shocked at what happened to Bryan and inspired by how he navigated the demands of his performance while experiencing immense personal turmoil. We sat down and kept the cameras rolling. Please excuse Harry's dishevelled look if you're watching; he just about made it in time out of the pouring rain, having not originally been able to make it, so we give him a pass this time. And for a bit of fun, we have a discussion debating how many global sports icons rugby has had; people that could do what Bryan did and stand alongside Thierry Henry, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods in a Gillette advert. We're not talking legendary rugby players, we're talking global superstars. Comment who you think sits in that category below and we can move the debate of the best answers to our socials. On today's show we discuss: The Making of a World Champion:The discipline and sacrifice required to compete at the top for 15 years.Why Bryan believes greatness is built, not born, and the mindset that allowed him to sustain elite standards.His philosophy on resilience, humility and redefining success beyond tries, trophies and fame.Money, Trust & the Hidden Vulnerability of Athletes:The psychological crash that hits athletes after retirement and why so many feel lost without structure, identity or purpose.The shocking story of how Bryan's trusted advisor mismanaged and spent years of his commercial earnings.The lessons he believes every young professional must learn about protecting their finances and their future.The Springboks Blueprint for Success:Why South Africa has become the most consistently dominant rugby nation in the modern era.The culture, leadership structure, and alignment that underpin the team's identity.Rassie Erasmus's role in transforming the Springboks and why empowerment and clarity are central to their success.The Future of Rugby:Why rugby cannot survive without global calendar alignment, better storytelling and more connection to young fans.How commercial realities, travel demands and private equity influence the sport's next decade.Why Habana believes rugby must modernise fast or risk losing cultural relevance.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Stryde Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

Hello and welcome to Business of Sport: The Breakdown, a brand new show where we will be reviewing the week's biggest stories from sport business. Hosted by Charlie Stebbings & Charlie Methven, the former CEO of Sunderland and Charlton among multiple other roles in sport with organisations such as McLaren and The Jockey Club,The Breakdown will analyse the biggest commercial, financial, and strategic stories shaping global sports.To prepare for the full launch in January, this week we are releasing the pilot, aimed at getting this show ready to deliver for you! We want your feedback, comments, suggestions and ideas to make this the place you can get your weekly fill of the business of sport. So why are we doing this? Well as we continue to rattle on about on the interview show, the business of sport has never been of more importance or more relevance to fans, to executives, to investors, to athletes. And the current news needs a bit of digesting. We will be talking through various stories from the week, looking at takeovers, investments, governance decisions, athlete deals…you name it, we'll talk about it.First up: - Does England's collapse in Perth create a financial problem for cricket? - Should Ronaldo be banned for the World Cup? - Is Toto Wolff's part sale of Mercedes a worry for F1? - What are the ramifications of Anthony Joshua's fight with Jake Paul?This is Business of Sport: The Breakdown----------------------------------------------------In Today's Show We Discuss:00:00 Intro04:05 The Cost Of England's Ashes Collapse 17:04 AJ + Jake Paul: Business Before Belts29:27 When Ronaldo's Marketing Beats The Rulebook / The Ronaldo Effect 35:02 Wolff's 15% Shake-Up: Win Or Warning

Sir Andrew Strauss is the last England Captain to win the Ashes in Australia. So what better time to get him in the hotseat. Aside from the timing being perfect, this is a show I have wanted to do from day one. That is not just because he is one of England's greatest captains and batsmen, but he has also played an integral role in shaping the success of English cricket across formats in recent years. He transformed white ball cricket as Director of Professional Cricket at the ECB, culminating in that most incredible World Cup win in 2019. In doing so, you could say he laid the foundations for the style of test cricket the team is now playing today. We recorded this before the disaster (if you're an England fan) that occurred in Perth, but that makes some of the frighteningly accurate observations made in this conversation more impressive. It is of course a reveal of how to win in Australia, but it is much more than that. From dealing with maverick talent to how to sort out domestic cricket, we're delighted to welcome Andrew Strauss to the Business of Sport.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:40 Ashes Predictions07:29 Parallels Between the 2010/11 Win and Today's Team14:46 The Most Nervous Game17:29 Is Modern Sports Stardom Any Different Today?24:13 Breaking Down Central Contracts & Player Income27:08 Players Get More Exposure Than Ever31:12 Balancing Individual Brilliance with Team Structure34:18 How Bat Sponsorship Deals Actually Work41:33 Resetting English Cricket45:56 How Franchise Cricket Is Reshaping Test Player Pathways49:32 Is County Cricket Financially Sustainable?53:18 Why Distribution Isn't Enough58:20 If You Had to Choose One Sports Asset to Buy01:00:41 How Athletes Transition Into Business Roles01:03:28 How Captains Balance Leadership and Individual Output01:08:00 The Ruth Strauss Foundation01:10:16 Quick-Fire RoundOn today's show we discuss: Ashes Predictions and How To Win Down Under:The brutal realities of touring Australia. Bounce, conditions, the Kookaburra ball, and the psychological toll of playing in a “goldfish bowl.”Why England have won just one Test in Australia in 14 attempts, and why preparation is everything.The inside story of the 2010/11 Ashes triumph and what that team got right.The psychological battle of opening the batting, staying calm when the ball is flying past your ears, and facing the greatest to ever do it. Including Strauss's unforgettable encounters with Shane Warne.Running Elite Cricket & Winning a World Cup:What Strauss changed after England's 2015 World Cup disaster and how it led directly to the 2019 World Cup win.Why he pushed for white-ball specialists, a fearless scoring philosophy, and a total cultural reset.Inside the tensions between formats, franchise cricket, and player availability and the challenges of managing England cricket like a true performance organisation.The Hundred, County Cricket & the Future of the Game:The truth about county cricket's finances. £40k average salaries, 450 professionals, and no sustainability.Why Strauss believes English cricket needs fewer teams, fewer matches, and an elite first division to compete globally.The insane valuations in The Hundred, why investors bought anyway, and how private capital will reshape cricket whether counties like it or not.What Test cricket will look like in 20 years.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

Emily Frazer is the CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport. She's led the charge in transforming sports like 9-ball pool into fast-growing, commercially compelling global properties, building new formats, elevating athlete storytelling, and bringing fresh audiences into what we could call a challenger landscape. The Multi-Sport story was told to perfection in the recent Matchroom Netflix series, shining a light on the lesser known side of the organisation at the centre of the boxing world and driving the boom we've seen in the darts. The question for Emily is simple: can the success in these other sports be replicated in the multi-sport model?Ahead of the Mosconi Cup next week at Ally Pally (pool's answer to the Ryder Cup), Emily delivers a compelling reveal on life behind the Matchroom curtain and what it's going to take to deliver an emerging sport on a global stage. Timestamps:00:00 Intro05:01 What is Multi Sport?16:31 How Early Opportunities Accelerate Learning20:53 How Did Matchroom Become the “Owner” of the Sport?26:35 What's the Master Plan to Make Nine-Ball a Global Sport?31:46 Is Narrative More Important Than Quality Now?34:14 The Upcoming Mosconi Cup36:33 Do Athlete Brands Matter More Than Teams Now?40:47 Is It Truly a Viable Job for Players?44:11 Where Matchroom's Core Revenue in Pool Comes From49:42 Should Matchroom Create a Unified Fan Loyalty Program?54:41 Pressure to Match Darts' Success59:59 Why Pool Is More Accessible Than Snooker01:03:09 Quick-Fire RoundOn today's show we discuss: From ‘Special Events' to a Global Multisport Division:How a once-overlooked corner of Matchroom evolved from “the joke department” into one of the company's fastest-growing verticals.The commercial blueprint Matchroom is applying, from multi-table events to digital-first broadcasting, social virality and new formats.The weight of carrying a whole sport on your shoulders, and why Emily believes that “80% crazy” is an essential part of the job.The belief that with the right innovation, risk, and relentlessness, Pool will become a global powerhouse.Athletes, Pressure & Player Pathways:The human realities of managing athletes in a developing sport. Expectation, frustration, and the emotional weight of leading a tour they rely on to feed their families.Why Pool is one of the rare sports where amateurs can face legends, and how that creates powerful fan moments that drive new fandom.How the rise of local ranking events has unlocked hidden talent in Vietnam, the Philippines, the U.S. and beyond.Commercial Strategy, Media & Monetisation:The economics of Pool today: ticketing, sponsorship, WNT TV, and the importance of viewership for long-term sustainability.Why Pool cannot rely on tradition or federation structures, and must innovate faster and more aggressively than snooker or darts ever did.The long-term vision: a profitable global tour, star-driven marketing, and a world where Pool sits alongside darts and snooker in Matchroom's “big three.”A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: DavidGo and check out the amazing products revolutionising the protein bar at https://davidprotein.comStrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!Mosconi Cup Ticketshttps://www.alexandrapalace.com/whats-on/mosconi-cup/

IT'S ASHES WEEK. One of the biggest occasions of the sporting year is here, and with it we have a special show unlike any other we've done before. The Barmy Army is so influential it has made it into the Oxford Dictionary: to quote…it is a term for a group of passionate, noisy, and dedicated fans who support the English national cricket team, especially during overseas tours. For over 30 years, they've built incredible atmospheres by leveraging trumpets, original songs and bucket hats so fashionable they're found all over Glastonbury. But did you know behind this infamous group sits a hugely successful business, with a responsibility to bring the best experiences to the thousands of touring fans under their banner. Chris Millard is the man in charge of the Barmy Army, and in a 6 week period that will no doubt have them front and centre of sports news as 40,000 England fans descend on Australia, we thought it was the perfect time to take a look at the organisation that defines fandom and community. This is a side of the Barmy Army you will not have seen before.It's time to build the hype for as we enter the ultimate cricketing Christmas. We're delighted to welcome Chris to the Business of SportTimestamps:00:00 Intro03:22 What the Barmy Army Has Planned for the Ashes09:20 What the Barmy Army Is Today12:15 The Revenue Streams14:41 How Bazball Has Boosted Test Cricket Demand16:39 How Touring Groups Collaborate in Cricket23:39 Did Commercial Growth Threaten the Barmy Army's Values?27:07 How Barmy Army Merch & Licensing Works31:14 How Fan Culture Can Help Strengthen County Cricket34:20 Why Test Cricket Survives Only in a Few Nations37:52 How Packed Calendars Impact Player Welfare43:08 How Iconic Grounds Were Left Off the Ashes List46:03 Predicting the Ashes Outcome51:43 The Long-Term Vision for the Barmy Army BusinessOn today's show we discuss: The Business Behind the Barmy Army:How a grassroots fan group founded in 1994 has grown into a multimillion-pound sports business.Why the Barmy Army now operates with full-time staff, global partnerships, and a sophisticated travel, merchandise, and events model.The operational challenge of managing over 3,500 official tourists, and more than 40,000 fans, on a single Ashes tour.How it evolved from a group of England fans into a global movement with over two million social followers.Partnerships & Governance in Cricket:Inside the economics of a modern fan brand. From travel packages to apparel, partnerships, and social media monetisation.How collaborations with TNT Sports, retro kit lines, and bespoke tour collections have turned the Barmy Army into a fashion and lifestyle label as much as a supporters' group.The Barmy Army's evolving relationship with the ECB, from being seen as a rival to becoming an ally and trusted partner.How the group now collaborates with governing bodies across the world to influence tour schedules, ticketing, and fan logistics.Test Cricket, Tourism & the Global Game:Why the Barmy Army believes Test cricket is still the sport's heartbeat and how their tours generate up to $750 million in host-country impact.The critical link between tourism, culture, and cricket's survival, from Barbados to the Ashes.The fight to preserve the long-form game amid scheduling chaos and private league dominance.The obstacles of perception, access, and tradition when expanding into new territories.Why the future of fandom will be driven by authenticity, emotion, and the fans who live the game, not the corporations who sell it.

Rugby is facing a massive few years. A battle to demonstrate financial sustainability, the need for players to build brands that can compete with sport's biggest stars, a threat to established systems from challenger leagues; it's sink or swim time, if that's not being too dramatic.Dan Biggar is one of the game's great fly-halves (though he'd never admit it himself): over 100 caps for Wales including 3 World Cups and a 6 Nations Grand Slam, and a 2-time British & Irish Lion. While it pains me to recognise much of this success with any genuine words of congratulations, what we are seeing from him now in his work behind the scenes in the media and wider business world is much easier to support. It's a great example of the real value an athlete can bring beyond the field. As you've just heard, a quite brilliant segment of this chat is Dan opening up on life after retirement and how to adjust as an athlete to a new reality. Yes this is about the state of Welsh rugby, but it's also a look at the broader game and what needs to happen to ensure rugby can compete for the attention of fans increasingly being pulled in different directions by new and shiny entertainment offerings.Timestamps:00:00 Intro05:49 The Current State of Welsh Rugby10:13 Why Wales' Rugby Results Have Declined12:17 Inside the WRU's Unique Funding Model17:26 What Steve Tandy Brings to Wales20:14 Why Gatland Worked Then30:26 Inside the 2015 Rugby World Cup ‘Group of Death'34:31 Life After a Defining World Cup Moment46:37How Dan Biggar Views the PREM Rugby Today50:53 How Competitive Are Welsh Teams Right Now?54:54 Moving Into a New Environment After Rugby01:00:52 How Personal Brands Shape Today's Athletes01:03:37 The Scheduling Problem Facing Club & Country01:07:37 After Rugby & Media: What Comes Next?On today's show we discuss: The State of Welsh Rugby:Why Welsh rugby finds itself at a crossroads. From funding issues to failed reform and player development.The controversial “One Wales” plan, the fallout from the WRU's regional restructuring proposals, and why leadership and clarity remain missing.Inside the WRU's unique funding model.Why this structure has created dependency, stagnation, and political tension between clubs and the national setup.Why new head coach Steve Tandy represents a complete cultural reset for the national team.The Biggar Years & Playing at the Top:What went right during Wales's recent golden generation and what went wrong since.The evolution from Warren Gatland's hard-edged discipline to Tandy's empathetic, relationship-driven leadership.The psychological toll of success and expectation, and what it really takes to stay at the top for nearly two decades.How contract negotiations, club moves, and personal ambition shaped his career.The Future of Rugby & Athlete Branding:Why players like Henry Pollock are the future of rugby, as entertainers and cultural icons as much as athletes.The value of player branding in driving ticket sales, sponsorship, and engagement in a sport fighting for relevance.Why rugby must embrace individuality, storytelling, and innovation to compete with football, Formula One, and the NFL.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!SBS: Follow in Dan's footsteps & join the community powering connectivity in sport https://www.sportsbusinesssyndicate.com/

Multi-club ownership groups have had a tough year in the eyes of many, with high profile cases around Crystal Palace & Lyon as well as Forest & Olympiacos showing the competitive risk of one owner or group having too much control over multiple entities. But, and it is a big but, this model can be a hugely valuable business and performance structure to apply to football.Tim Bezbatchenko is the President of Black Knight Football, the group who owns or has minority ownership in multiple clubs including Bournemouth, Hibernian, and Lorient in France to name a few. It's an amazing time to be having this chat with Tim due the success Bournemouth are achieving this season, miraculously after another summer of selling some of their best players. This is an insight into how they have built a player trading model to offset the financial challenges of having an 11,000 seater stadium, the plans to develop infrastructure, the value of shared intelligence and analytics across multiple clubs, and most importantly how you protect the badge of each team so they do not just become feeders to the premium asset in the group.This is a proper look at the MCO model from someone who firmly believes that collective value can breed the best business in football. We're delighted to welcome Tim to the Business of Sport.Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:26 What Black Knight is really about12:07 The business edge of owning multiple clubs17:02 Inside Bournemouth's rise under Andoni Iraola25:45 Bill Foley's mantra: "Always Advance, Never Retreat"31:24 How Bournemouth sells stars yet keeps getting better44:52 Building a sustainable club: revenue, academy & player trading01:01:14 Why Bill Foley chose Bournemouth over an MLS teamOn today's show we discuss: The Rise of Black Knight Football Group:What it takes to build a multi-club ownership group across five countries and why Bill Foley's “Always Advance, Never Retreat” mantra is shaping everything from the Premier League to Portugal.How AFC Bournemouth became the flagship club for a growing global network that includes Hibernian, Lorient, and Moreirense.Why multi-club ownership is football's next frontier and how to build it sustainablyInside the Business Model:The economics behind owning multiple clubs from shared scouting, player development, and data systems to group-wide sponsorship deals.Why player trading drives profitability, and how clubs like Lorient and Moreirense fuel Bournemouth's long-term success.The art of finding value: buying clubs with strong DNA and fan culture, not just financial upsideHow Black Knight is using its network to develop talent like Junior Kroupi and accelerate their pathway to the Premier League.Why football's next phase will be defined by structure, not just spending.Building a Sustainable Premier League Club:Inside Bournemouth's transformation from League Two survival story to Premier League mainstay.How a £45m training ground and planned stadium expansion are reshaping the club's future.The economics of player trading, matchday revenue, and sponsorships and what it really costs to compete with England's eliteA huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: David:Go and check out the amazing products revolutionising the protein bar at https://davidprotein.comStryde:Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit ⁠http://www.gostryde.com⁠ to become part of the movement!

The celebrity investor coming into football as part of an ownership group is nothing new these days, but there were more than a few eyebrows raised when it was announced that Snoop Dogg, alongside footballing legend Luka Modric, had become a minority investor in Swansea. There must be something in the Welsh water. Swansea is storied club with a hugely passionate fanbase and a recent history of Premier League football and both elite player and manager development. Getting to the bottom of what facilitated this high profile involvement is one thing, but CEO Tom Gorringe is facing all the usual challenges of creating an elite playing environment delivering results on the pitch while trying to ensure the business is exceeding expectations to allow the club to spend money and challenge for promotion. There are some statistics in here that shocked us, some conditions that have to be taken into account that are unique to this club, but when reflecting on this conversation, this is a team absolutely moving in the right direction. It's maximisation of financial opportunity without losing your values alongside how we're still gunning for a Snoop Dogg, Just Eat, Rossi's collaboration to take place pre game (one for Swansea fans/if you're not go and google the iconic fish and chip establishment). Let's get on with it. We're delighted to welcome Tom to Business of Sport.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:24 On Staying Open and Connected with Fans06:53 What Tom's Job Actually Involves09:14 How Modric and Snoop Joined the Club14:54 Death Row Records Deal18:11 The Power of Celebrity in Football20:38 The Revenue Drivers23:01 Content Strategy25:13 How Communication Works with Multiple Owners29:56 Lessons from Bristol to Swansea31:05 Budgeting35:07 How Loan Deals Are Structured37:17 How Swansea Supports Players Beyond the Pitch38:22 Inside the Decision to Appoint Manager42:09 Ranking Why People Join Swansea44:41 The Role of Football Regulation Today47:10 Tom's Opinion on Parachute Payments48:24 Is Owning a Club Serious Business or Just Fun?53:07 Quick-Fire RoundOn today's show we discuss: Snoop Dogg, Luka Modric & a New Era for Swansea:How one of the most unexpected ownership stories in football came together.Why Snoop Dogg and Luka Modric invested in Swansea and how it's changing the club's global profile overnight.How the club is using celebrity partnerships to drive sponsorship, retail, and brand awareness including a Death Row Records x Swansea collaboration that broke sales recordsAuthenticity, Community & the Fans:Why Swansea's local identity remains at the heart of everything and why openness with fans is one of Tom's core principles.The balance between commercial growth and staying true to the club's roots as a working-class, one-club city.How fan engagement and local pride are helping rebuild trust and unity across the clubFinancial Discipline & Sustainability:The economics of a Championship club in 2025. £21.5m turnover, £15m losses, and the battle for sustainability.How Tom cut £3.9m in annual costs without harming performance including the famous “dirty windows” moment.What running a Championship club actually costs, from stadium leases and catering royalties to travel and academy budgets.How the incoming football regulator could transform sustainability and fairness across the EFL.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit ⁠http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

What does women's football need to do to match men's? Could it be even bigger? What is currently holding it back? Every so often, we have a chat on this show which pushes beyond the surface of sport. The potential, growth and popularity of women's football has become a feature of macro conversation for years, but finding someone with the credibility and willingness to say it how it is is not easy.Meet Bex Smith, former New Zealand Captain, treble winner with Wolfsburg, FIFA Women's World Cup executive, and now club owner. Having founded Crux Football, a MCO Group looking to build collective value across core assets in the women's game, she is on a mission to be a key part of unlocking the business and performance success she believes is inevitable in the sport if the right structures are in place to support it. With the recent purchase of their first club Montpellier, the vision is about to become reality; it is not just an ability to affect an individual club but the change that needs to happen across the league and broader ecosystem that will determine true success.If anyone is going to do it, you're about to meet her. No statements for the sake of it, no positioning without considered justification. It's the women's football show we've been waiting for. Timestamps:00:00 Intro05:38 Why Montpellier Was the Perfect Start14:04 Building the Right Financial Structure18:04 The Valuation Problem in Women's Football23:35 Why Women's Football Need To Stop Copying the Men's Game34:37 The Challenge of Managing Multiple Clubs36:47 The Path from Pitch to Boardroom41:12 Balancing Independence with System Constraints44:17 What Makes the Women's Game So Investable48:20 Would Bex Buy a Club in England Today?49:14 How Players Drive Engagement and Value55:41 Why Equal Pay Isn't the Whole Story58:22 Managing the Female Athlete's Body01:03:53 Quick-Fire Round On today's show we discuss: Rebuilding the Foundations of Women's Football:Why the European women's game “doesn't work” under its current structure Why independence from men's clubs is essential for real sustainability.How governance, league rules, and commercial structures need to evolve to match the women's game's unique audience and values.Why Bex believes women's football can and should be bigger than the men's game.Building Crux Football & Buying Montpellier:Inside the acquisition process of Montpellier and what made it the perfect first club.Why the French league is becoming one of Europe's most investable women's football markets.The operational blueprint behind Crux Football's multi-club model.The Power of Storytelling & Icons:Why visibility and narrative are key to driving fandom and revenue.How the rise of icons like Lucy Bronze, Chloe Kelly, and Megan Rapinoe has reshaped global perceptions of women's football.How Crux Football plans to use storytelling, content, and player-led media to grow audience and commercial valueAthlete Welfare, Data & Performance:How to build medical, technical, and performance systems designed for women, not men.Why data, analytics, and research are crucial to reducing ACL injuries and improving long-term player development.How Crux Football's performance infrastructure and recruitment strategy will help close the gap in player care and analyticsA huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: David Go and check out the amazing products revolutionising the protein bar at https://davidprotein.comStrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

What is the world of LIV Golf really like? Cutting through all the noise and the image portrayed of a league propped up by PIF money incapable of supporting itself, is there another side? That's what we take a look at with this week's guest James Dunkley, Team Principal of Majesticks Golf Club, one of the 13 teams that compete on the tour. There is no denying the controversy that LIV caused when it was established, disrupting the world of golf and the established tours, taking some of the biggest stars of the game on big money and changing the format. But going beyond that, and most importantly the short term financial commitments it has required, what is the long term ambition, and how does this model fit into the broader game to co-exist with the sport's other key organisations and tournaments while also tackling some of golf's biggest challenges: ageing fanbases, stale formats, financial distribution outside of the top players.James takes us through the running of a team consisting of huge personalities and profiles like Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson, the importance of creating a winning organisation, and why much of this tour is completely misunderstood by many. I won't lie this opened my eyes to a side of LIV I hadn't previously considered or appreciated, and I think it'll surprise you too. Timestamps:00:00 Intro04:24 How do the teams work07:40 Reviving a stale sport11:00 Building a community & youth programs13:20 Inside Majesticks GC operations16:15 Why team golf is so exciting21:00 Relegation & Recruitment25:00 Building audience & identity30:00 Path to profitability42:44 $1.1 Billion in losses & long-term vision49:20 LIV's unique fan experience52:00 How LIV changed the way players competeOn today's show we discuss: Inside the LIV Golf Model:How LIV's $1.1 billion investment is building a long-term global sports property.Breaking down the commercial structure: team equity, prize money, sponsorship, and central funding from the PIF.How initiatives like Little Sticks are teaching life skills and values to tens of thousands of kids through golfMedia, Broadcast & Growth:How LIV Golf secured massive broadcast reach with Fox Sports, ITV, and global partners and why timing is everything.The challenge of changing golf's viewing experience: more shots per hour, better storytelling, and making broadcasts easier to follow.Why accessibility, not exclusivity, will define the next era of golf mediaThe Future of Golf:How LIV, the PGA Tour, and the DP World Tour can coexist and why collaboration is key for the health of the sport.What the next five years of LIV's expansion will look like: more team-based events, geographic franchises, and a clearer media presence.Why Dunkley believes golf's “civil war” will give way to a stronger, more connected global gameA huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

Today, we're delighted to welcome Pablo Longoria to the show. Pablo is President of french football giant Marseille, marking a welcome venture for us into European football! Make no mistake, this is a huge club steeped in history, the most passionate fans, and a global brand. Managing all of this from a business perspective is a serious job. Then of course add into it the need to create a winning team on the pitch to drive it all, and that is the challenge that faces Pablo.From scout and technical director to club President, his route to the top is unique in itself. The approach is absolutely ‘results first'. They have compiled a squad with a strong balance of youth and experience, including former Premier League players such as Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, Pierre-Emile Hojbjurg, and of course Mason Greenwood, whose controversial transfer is covered in this chat as we look at how Marseille are approaching the transfer market. The broader challenges for the club extend into the chaotic media landscape of french football and the challenge with competing against the biggest and established leagues with less financial clout. Deep insight into top top level football is not abundant. This is a fascinating reveal of what is takes to run one European football's most iconic organisations. Timestamps:00:00 Intro05:01 Pablo Longoria's Path to Football Executive08:18 Joining Olympique de Marseille10:12 The State of Marseille When Pablo Arrived11:37 Revenues: Ticketing, Security, Food & Beverage20:19 How On-Pitch Success Drives Business Growth21:56 Pablo's Role in Player Recruitment24:52 What People Get Wrong About Football Managers28:41 Football Director vs Manager: What's the Difference?29:42 Managing Transfer Market Inflation39:33 How Fans Influence Transfer Strategy43:29 Learning from Transfer Mistakes45:45 Where Marseille Fits in the Football Pyramid49:22 Inside France's Evolving Media Rights Landscape53:53 The Competitive Imbalance in French Football55:09 How CVC's Investment Impacts French Clubs56:37 Winning vs Profitability Under U.S. Ownership01:01:26 The Concentration of Value in Top Leagues01:07:18 Underinvestment in Technology Across Sport01:10:49 Where Marseille Aims to Be in Five YearsOn today's show we discuss: The Business of Modern Football:How Pablo is leading one of Europe's biggest clubs through the most challenging media landscape in decades.Why Champions League qualification changes the balance sheet by up to 40%, and how to plan when your core revenue can fluctuate by €80 million.How Marseille balances community accessibility, with tickets as low as €12, against the commercial pressures of competing at Europe's top tableBuilding for the Long Term:Why sporting performance is the engine behind every revenue stream.The psychology of team-building and Pablo's “building-floor” theory explaining why some players succeed and others fail.How De Zerbi's arrival marked a turning point for Marseille and what true alignment between coach, sporting director and CEO looks likeThe Media Rights Revolution:What the collapse of French TV rights means for clubs across Ligue 1.What leagues can learn from the Premier League's ability to globalise its productTransfers & the Future of Football:Why Marseille's recruitment strategy focuses on age profiles others overlook and how to find value.Why he believes football must evolve from a “sports industry” to an “entertainment industry” to survive the next decadeA huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: David Go and check out the amazing products revolutionising the protein bar at https://davidprotein.comStrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

Today, we're delighted to welcome Richard Coleman to the show. Alongside one of our favourite previous guests Mr Guenther Steiner, Richard is the new co-owner and Team Principal of MotoGP team Tech3. This sport has had some big headlines since Liberty's $4.9bn acquisition went through earlier this year. As the infamous owners of F1 who have played a major role in re-inventing the sport and making it one of the most popular and marketable entertainment products on the planet, it's not hard to understand why the buzz has now spread to asking what it is that Liberty can do with MotoGP; a hugely popular and successful motorsport, but one that doesn't have the global reach or brand power F1 has enjoyed. In a world of massively inflating sports assets prices and the clamour for good deals and unique opportunities, do these racing teams present some of the most exciting sports business opportunities on the market? The parallels to F1 are obvious, but this is also very much a property with its own values, diehard fans, and a plan to capture the audience in a way that differentiates itself from four wheel racing. This a look at the big business of MotoGP and the big potential of Tech3. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro03:50 Liberty Media's $4.9B MotoGP Takeover10:04 Why MotoGP Is Undervalued16:23 Can MotoGP Fix Its Competitive Imbalance?20:02 How to Run a MotoGP Team Sustainably22:38 How MotoGP Teams Make Money26:52 The New Wave of Sponsors in MotoGP29:12 How MotoGP Can Create Global Superstars35:10 Can MotoGP Grow Without Losing Its Core Fans?42:47 The Core Risks Behind Investing in MotoGP46:09 Inside The Media Rights Structure47:45 The Attention Economy & Youth in Motorsport51:56 What Makes The Best Riders?52:42 Why Riding a Bike Is Harder Than Driving an F1 Car54:00 Health & Safety in MotoGP01:00:29 Quick-Fire RoundOn today's show we discuss: 1. The Business of MotoGP:How the $4.9bn Liberty Media acquisition has transformed the outlook for MotoGP and why the new owners are betting they can replicate the Formula One boom.What this means for valuations across the grid, and how teams like Tech3 are transitioning from racing outfits into full-scale businesses and global entertainment brands.Why Richard believes MotoGP is one of the most undervalued sports assets in the world today.2. Inside the Tech3 Acquisition:The story behind Richard and Guenther Steiner's joint purchase of the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team.The financial realities of running a race team: from start-money payments to manufacturer support and sponsorship structures.Why the goal isn't just to compete on track, but to build a sustainable commercial operation behind it3. Building Global Reach:Why the sport must expand beyond Southern Europe to truly go global and the opportunities and risks that come with it.How MotoGP can attract younger and more diverse audiences, develop riders from new regions, and create stars with global recognition.The importance of telling the human stories. The “gladiators of the modern age” risking everything on two wheels4. Safety, Technology & the Human Element:How MotoGP is balancing spectacle with safety through better circuits, tech innovations, and airbag suits.Why confidence, courage, and connection matter as much as engineering and how the sport can make its heroes household nameThe unseen dangers of racing at 230+ mph and the deep bond between riders and their crews.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Stryde Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit http://www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

This week we're delighted to welcome Graeme Le Saux to the show. A Chelsea, Blackburn and England icon, Graeme played over 500 club games, 327 of them in the Premier League, as well as 36 caps for England. There was more than enough in here to just enjoy some unparalleled sporting nostalgia, from Blackburn's insane Premier League title to playing in the infamous David Beckham red card match at the 1998 World Cup. But you know that's not our style; what Graeme brings to this conversation is both a reflection on his experiences handling the turbulent world of a footballer alongside the more macro issues facing the game. He did have a different background, different interests, and unique way of approaching the celebrity that comes with football. Having been a record transfer for a defender when he moved to Chelsea for £5.5m in 1997, he also gets what it is to play with expectation and pressure that can humanise players we fans often treat as emotionless machines.It touches on many of the key points we always look to build on, from asset inflation and club overspending to the responsibility of player education. A special player with a special outlook on both football and life as a top level athlete…and as you'll no doubt lock onto he brought a big dose of humour to accompany it. Timestamps:00:00 Intro05:28 How the PL Has Changed Since Graeme Played09:25 The Reality of Changing Teams13:08 Is It the Club's Fault When Talent Leaves for Free?14:36 Are Players Now More Valuable Than Clubs?16:33 How Signing-On Fees Change Transfers24:22 Are Football Clubs Passion Projects or Investments?26:47 How Big Was Abramovich's Arrival in the Dressing Room?29:56 Thinking About Finances While Playing43:26 Why Many Players Struggle Financially After Football51:01 If I Could Change One Game54:43 The Added Pressure of Social Media on Players59:23 What It's Like Covering the Premier League in America01:00:39 The Future of MLS01:05:15 Quick-Fire RoundIn Today's Episode We Discuss:1. Life at the Start of the Premier League:What it was like to play before and after the birth of the Premier League.How TV money and sponsorship transformed football into the global powerhouse it is today.The pressure of record transfer fees and why Graeme struggled at first to justify being Britain's most expensive defender2. Transfers, Contracts & the Media:How moving clubs is about more than football, from dressing-room dynamics to family upheaval.The realities of modern contracts, signing-on fees, and bonuses.Why players today hold more power than ever, and what that means for clubs facing Bosman deals and free transfersHow social media has changed the scrutiny players face, both positively and negatively.3. Blackburn's Title & Chelsea's Rebirth:Inside the story of Blackburn's Premier League win and why money alone wasn't the reason for their success.What really happened in the final days before Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea and how one game against Liverpool effectively saved the club from administration.Why investment can change a club's fortunes but only if combined with identity, culture, and the right management.4. Education, Identity & Life After Football:Why Graeme refused to conform in the dressing room and why he's proud he stuck to his values even when it made life harder.The importance of education and broader interests for young players, and why football needs to do more to support life beyond the pitch.The shock of retirement, coping with irrelevance, and why building purpose and relationships off the field is essential.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:Stryde Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit ⁠https://www.gostryde.com/ to become part of the movement!

When we recorded this show the day before James flew out to Baku, we did not expect Williams to be up on the podium delivering in real life what James was theoretically describing to us on the show. Podiums are of course part of the development plan, but not yet. When James came to see us at Business of Sport HQ last week, we talked through both what he has done to position the team for future success, and what he still needs to do. In a sport that requires so many minds pulling together, utilising a vast array of talents, the prospect of building what is popularly termed as ‘winning culture' could seem daunting; where do you even start? For James, it was recognising that even in a sport of technology and science, people and culture are what makes you win. This weekend's result would place Williams ahead of where James has set expectations. But don't get me wrong, this result in Baku will have been celebrated in the halls of Grove, because no matter how long term the strategy for success is, these wins you pick up on the way are integral to showing the team that what they're doing is on the right path, and from James' perspective (though he'd never look at it like this) that he's the man to deliver for them. This is James Vowles on the business of Williams and F1…and a taste of what's to come.Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:54 Rebuilding Williams Through Culture07:18 Balancing Past Success with a New Identity10:54 Williams' Long-Term Plan for Success17:31 What Vowles Brings to Sainz & Albon22:35 Can Money Alone Deliver F1 Success?25:22 Does Losing Money Matter in F1 Ownership?28:23 Turning Heavy Investment Into Performance30:45 Williams' New Revenue Streams34:25 How Teams Compete for the Same Sponsors37:37 Will Formula 1 Control Its Own Platform41:30 Overcoming Challenges as a New Team Principal46:10 The Mediafication of F1 Leadership47:30 Quick-Fire RoundIn Today's Episode We Discuss:1. Rebuilding Williams from the Ground Up:Why James left the comfort of Mercedes to take on the challenge of reviving one of Formula One's most historic but struggling teams.How he discovered Williams was “a bankrupt organisation” on arrival and why he likens it to running a 50-year-old startup.The long-term plan to make Williams both competitive and profitable again by 2028, balancing heavy investment with financial disciplineHow James is instilling accountability, long-term thinking, and a “break everything” mindset to push the team beyond survival.2. The Culture of Performance:The importance of ego-free leadership from drivers like Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz in shaping a winning environmentThe real split between car and driver performance and why drivers remain the best “sensors” for development.What James learned from working with Schumacher, Rosberg, and Hamilton, and how those lessons are applied to Albon and Sainz today.Why humility, confidence, and resilience separate the very best drivers from the rest3. The Business of F1:The realities of cost caps, sponsorship, and commercial growth in modern F1.Why Williams' sponsorship strategy is about authentic partnerships, not stickers on a car and how deals like Atlassian reflect the team's values.James' candid view on asset values, media rights, and how F1 must evolve its broadcasting model to engage younger fans4. The Future of the Sport:Why two-day race weekends could be the future, and how unpredictability makes F1 compelling.His view on an 11th team, the balance of tradition versus innovation, and how Netflix and Drive to Survive changed the sport's global appeal.What excites him most about the years ahead: leaving a lasting legacy at Williams and returning the team to the front of the grid.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:Stryde Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

This week we're delighted to welcome Patrick Mouratoglou to the show. Patrick is one of tennis' most successful coaches, working with Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov, Simona Halep to name a few. Perhaps most famous for his collaboration with Serena Williams where they won 10 Grand Slams together, it's regarded as one of the most successful coach-player relationships in tennis history.Alongside this, Patrick is the founder of the world-renowned Mouratoglou Tennis Academy. The academy has nurtured hundreds of elite players including Coco Gauff, Holger Rune and Stefanos Tsitsipas through a personalized, high-performance training model. It combines cutting-edge facilities with academic programs, helping student-athletes from over 45 countries balance education and sport. The academy has become a global brand with satellite centers in China, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Dubai and the U.S.Patrick's new book ‘Champion Mindset' takes the position of transferring everything he has learned in tennis to apply to everyday life. Believe it or not, what makes Serena so successful won't be too far away from what can work for you, in business, performance, or just general life. I have put the link in the bio (not an advert!) because it's one of the best books I've read. This is an inspiring conversation that I know you will love, whether a big tennis fan or just interested in the philosophies of nurturing top talent.On today's show we discuss: Coaching the Greats:Inside the 10-year partnership with Serena Williams that delivered 10 Grand Slams and is regarded as one of the greatest player–coach relationships in history.Why courage, honesty, and “never being afraid to get fired” are central to coaching elite athletes.Lessons from working with Naomi Osaka, Simona Halep, Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov and others and the unique challenges of guiding champions at different stages of their careers.The Philosophy of Confidence:Why success is built on stacking “little victories” and creating positive experiences every day.How champions like Murray, Djokovic, and Serena win even when they're not playing well and how to transfer that mindset to business and everyday life.The art of knowing what to say, when to say it, and when to say nothing at all.The Mouratoglou Academy & Champion Mindset:How his academy became Europe's biggest and now spans 14 global centers, producing players like Coco Gauff, Holger Rune, and Stefanos Tsitsipas.The importance of combining world-class training with education to make tennis accessible beyond the elite.Patrick's new book Champion Mindset and why the same principles that drove Serena to greatness can apply to anyone in sport, business, or life.Champion Mindset by Patrick Mouratoglou (Yellow Kite: £20)A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

This week we're delighted to welcome Mark Hammond to the show. Mark is the CEO of Bromley, one of the EFL's emerging success stories. Having only played one full season in the football league and finishing a hugely respectable 11th last year, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the the early stages of this club's acclimatisation to top level football would focus on consolidation and survival. You'd be wrong, as Mark clearly told me when about to assume the same thing; this is a club whose ambition is once again promotion.But it is not just the work the first team are doing on the pitch that makes Bromley such a standout case. An academy system that focuses not just on supplying players for the first team but also providing an education and opportunities beyond the pitch for hundreds of children is going a long way to fixing some of the big problems football has when players give up everything to chase the (almost) impossible dream. Mark's career as a player, coach and now CEO is not the path you often see to top football executive, but that's what endears. Different ideas and approaches to building exciting, sustainable entertainment products doing the best for their fans and communities requires a different approach. ‘We're not teaching our kids to be professional footballers; we're teaching them to be professionals in football'. On today's show we discuss: The Rise of Bromley FC:How Bromley went from non-league football to mid-table in their first-ever EFL season.Balancing ambition with discipline: why promotion is the goal, but not at the expense of financial sustainability.Why the relationship between owner, chief executive and manager is at the core of Bromley's success.Community and Education at the Heart:Why Bromley is built on being a true community club, with over 350 students and 58 grassroots teams pulling on the Bromley shirt every weekend.How the club's education system provides career pathways beyond playing. Creating “professionals in football,” whether as coaches, analysts, physios, or teachers.The importance of honesty with young players about their chances of “making it,” while still giving them an elite environment to grow.Building a Sustainable Club Model:The challenge of competing with bigger budgets while staying disciplined and creative.The academy and B-team strategy that develops players at different stages and how Bromley is already producing players for the Premier League and England youth teams.Why the best coaches in the club must be with the U14s and U18s, preparing players for the toughest transitions in football.The Future of Bromley FC:Developing Hayes Lane into a 6,000+ seater stadium and building the infrastructure for long-term growth.The balance between selling talent and ensuring homegrown players get their chance in the first team.Why the club embraces being part of fans' “second team,” and how schools and grassroots football are key to building the next generation of supporters.A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:StrydeBringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

This week we're delighted to welcome Dominic Thiem to the show. We've waited nearly 100 shows but finally tennis has arrived, right in the middle of the US Open, which Dominic won in a 5 set epic in 2020. One of the few non-Federer, Nadal, Djokovic players to win a slam while those three were at their peak, Dominic's career saw him win 17 ATP titles alongside the Slam before being forced into retirement at just 31 through injury. But in his own words, Dominic describes this as a ‘new beginning not a farewell'. From playing through the most incredible era tennis has seen, losing two French Open finals to Nadal and one Australian Open to Djokovic, receiving over $30m in prize money; this is a serious education that few could even think about experiencing. So how is Dominic applying this to his life away from the court, and what is it like for a tennis player when they move on from an individual sport that requires your 100% focus? As a big tennis fan, this was a special show to do with one of the most normal and humble athletes we've had the pleasure of meeting. A different conversation full of unique insight delivered through the sharing of stories that we all want to know about. On today's show we discuss: The Power of Grand Slams: What makes the four Grand Slams such incredible events to participate in…and which one did Dominic enjoy the most? Playing Rafael Nadal in two French Open finals and the aura that surrounded one of the sport's greatest ever players. Dominic's triumphant 2020 US Open victory; coming from two sets down to achieve his lifetime ambition. The pain of loss and the 2020 Australian Open final defeat to Djokovic. The Finances of Tennis Players: Is the distribution of revenue from tournaments to players sufficient? Can you carve out a career for yourself if you are outside of the world top 100? The importance of capitalising on success to build your value as a brand off the court. A look at the ATP's ‘Baseline Initiative': does the effort to ensure players have a minimum fixed annual salary work? What was it like to receive his first paycheck of €4,000 just for playing in a tournament? How are the finances divided up amongst the players team when prize money is received? How it can cost nearly $1m for a young player to reach the top of the sport! The Tennis World Today: How important has the rise of Alcaraz and Sinner been to carry forward this next phase of tennis? The importance of academies and investment into tennis to make the pathway for young players easier to navigate. Is tennis about to see a LIV golf style disruption? What rules would Dominic change to make the sport more appealing to the audience of today? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: Stryde Bringing sports investment opportunities to your door. Visit www.gostryde.com to become part of the movement!

This week we're delighted to welcome Simon Massie-Taylor to the show. Simon is the CEO of The newly branded Prem Rugby. The competition has faced well publicised challenges in recent years, with clubs going bust and broader questions around the viability of the sport as an attractive investment. But with attendances on the rise, commercial income flowing, major long term broadcasting deals and the Red Bull marketing machine as a new stakeholder, this is a competition looking forward not backwards. With talk of challenger leagues and continual disruption to the established order of rugby, this is a perfect time to understand why Prem Rugby and broader club rugby in England still holds the greatest appeal. The challenge is grabbing that opportunity; an unrelenting commitment to ensure when fans tune into the sport away from the international game, that this is the competition they turn to. Let's see what the plans are. On today's show we discuss: Investment in Prem Rugby: Why did Red Bull decide to invest in Prem Rugby with their purchase of Newcastle Falcons? Is club rugby a good investment when there are so many opportunities to buy assets in broader sport? There has been a new type of investor coming into rugby. Why is this important? Can you continue to run a league when clubs continue to lose money? What type of profile to Prem Rugby want to see from prospective owners? Improving the Product: Despite all the challenges the game has faced over the last 10 years, attendances are rising, media deals are getting bigger, commercials are stronger than ever. Why? The importance of attracting a new audience while maintaining the relationship with the existing fanbase. Why more isn't always better; the challenger league conundrum. Aligning the global calendar to ensure a clash of major tournaments does not diminish the quality of the game. Financial Sustainability is Essential: What is the importance of good governance in rugby? Why understanding the responsibilities of each organisation and their executives will allow for a future of collective progress; rising tide lifts all boats. What did the CVC deal allow the league to do, and is more private equity investment on the horizon? How is the salary cap facilitating more responsible financial management? What does the future hold? Better financial performance and regulation to drive the commercial and investment viability of the sport. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA

Michael Beale is part of a top crop of young English managers. At 44, he has already managed QPR, Rangers, and Sunderland, while also forming a successful partnership as Steven Gerrard's assistant at Rangers, Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq. As virtually every manager quickly comes to realise, there'll be some roles that work out, and some that don't, but the most important thing to learn from the experiences that don't turn out how you'd hope and come back a better coach and manager…there is a difference. Michael's roots are in youth development, and has played a huge role in the development of both Chelsea and Liverpool's academies over the years. Spotting, nurturing and improving talent is far away from the skills you may utilise leading a top first team, but for Michael, the root of everything is the relationships a manager has with their people and understanding how to build a culture that encourages development while maintaining an expectation to win. This is a look into football leadership unlike any show we've done. Don't get lost in situations that haven't worked for Michael; take a listen to the approach to leading in the modern football environment and what it takes to operate successfully in these now global businesses. A big thank you to High Performance who, if you're watching, you will have noticed lent us their studio covering a last minute Business of Sport HQ glitch. On today's show we discuss: The Roots of Coaching & Youth Development: How Michael's journey began in a church hall in Bromley before moving into elite academies at Chelsea and Liverpool. The key traits he looks for in players as young as six years old, and why natural enthusiasm and competitiveness matter more than early perfection. The importance of relationships in youth development between coaches, parents, and players and how those lessons shape his philosophy today. The concept of “100 games” as the benchmark for players finding their true level. Managing at the Top Level: Why clarity of vision and remit from ownership is crucial when stepping into management roles at QPR, Rangers, and Sunderland. The demands of working with sporting directors, boards, and the media The reality of hire-and-fire culture in football, and what Michael has learned from the highs and lows of management. Why English football must allow mavericks to thrive. Global Perspectives & Opportunities Abroad: What Michael discovered working in Brazil and Saudi Arabia, and why culture is so influential in shaping players and footballing identity. The opportunities and challenges for British coaches abroad, and why he believes more should follow in the footsteps of Bobby Robson and Terry Venables. The ambition to return overseas in the future and the lessons learned from adapting to new footballing environments. Why he feels, at 44, he's only just getting started as a manager, and what his long-term goals in football look like. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA

It's a different take this week; welcome to Formula 1 on water! SailGP has become one of the fastest growing sports leagues, bringing sailing to the forefront of modern entertainment. The national teams that race identical F50 Catamarans go to some of the world's most enticing coastal locations in a Grand Prix style format with millions in prize money on the line. The franchises are valued between $50m+ and owners include major PE and finance as well as consortiums of celebrities including Kylian Mbappe, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway. As Managing Director, Andrew is in charge of the global water show as it continues to develop its product and fan base. But how do you successfully build and establish a new sporting product that delivers both the entertainment factor while proving financially sustainable? We talk about the competitiveness of the modern attention economy; the race is on (literally) to capture that audience and develop a new type of sailing fan. If you haven't seen what SailGP is about, I highly recommend you take a look. Let's see what it's all about. On today's show we discuss: Building SailGP Into a Global Sport How Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts created a commercially sustainable sailing league from scratch Why SailGP is designed like “Formula One on water” with national teams racing identical high-tech F50 catamarans The governance issues in the America's Cup that inspired a new model Why centralising boat design, technology, and costs levels the playing field and attracts investors Ownership, Investment & Growth How franchise values have grown from cost-covering investments to $50M+ assets What makes the ideal SailGP owner and why passion for sailing matters The role of celebrity investors like Kylian Mbappé and the importance of authentic involvement The future expansion plan, from Italy and Brazil to potential markets like China, Japan, and Mexico The Business Model & Financial Sustainability How SailGP's cost cap protects teams while encouraging investment in marketing and fan engagement Breaking even in professional sport: how top teams generate $8–9M in revenue Key revenue streams: sponsorship, branding on boats, hospitality, merchandise, and ticketing Why data sharing between teams improves competition and performance Fans, Media & the Attention Economy How SailGP is attracting younger fans through TikTok and YouTube Why 70% of Auckland event attendees had never been on a sailing boat The league's broadcast strategy and challenges in monetising media rights Plans for behind-the-scenes content to rival Drive to Survive The long-term vision for 20+ national teams and global fan bases A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA

Mark Devlin is the CEO of Leyton Orient, a team that's been riding the rollercoaster of English football right on the edge in recent years. From nearly going out of business and dropping into non-league football to bouncing back into League One playoff finals, the fans have been on a ride the few would choose. However, new ownership and big plans to build both on and off the pitch make this London club a hugely exciting football proposition for the next decades.  What has this journey looked like from the inside and how is success being built into the fabric of the future? Having been so close to joining the list that no one wants to be near, alongside Bury, now Morecombe and even Sheffield Wednesday, Orient's struggles are another glaring reminder of the house of cards an owner financing model presents to the Football League.  Mark is an experienced CEO, leading Brentford through the early years of their ride to Premier League consistency. His take on what is required to build a club for the community and fan while keeping the finance team happy is what sets the O's apart, and promises big things for a fanbase juggling the mixed emotions of just being happy to still have a football team alongside a want and expectation to win. On today's show we discuss: Recovering from Financial Disaster: They story of Leyton Orient's near terminal financial crisis; what happens when a club runs out of money and the owner will no longer cover the losses? Relegation to non-league football and the impact falling through the decisions has on a club. How do you claw yourself out of a situation like this. The stories are often of disaster, but Leyton Orient have more than recovered in the past few years. Are they in a better place now than they were before? The Value of New Ownership: What are the ambitions of new owner David Gandler and why did he decide to buy the club earlier this year? Where does the value lie in modern day football? What areas of the club need to be developed to both elevate the fan experience and make more money to fund the desired growth? What does it take to build a new stadium: from finding a site to financing a project in the hundreds of millions. Why this is an opportunity to build something that stretches beyond football; the value of a multi-sport model. Matching Ambition with Longevity:  Finding the balance between financial sustainbility and ambition is the hardest part of modern football ownership/management; what is Orient's plan to chase promotion while ensuring the business is safe? How much does it cost to get promoted? The crazy finances of the Championship laid bare... What did Mark learn from his time in charge of Brentford and applying some of the model they have so successfully been able to implement to reach and thrive and in the Premier League. The ambition is to be a sustainable Championship club, but do they dare to look beyond this? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA  

Peter McCormack is the Owner and Chairman of Real Bedford, who play in the 8th tier of English Football. But this is unique for a number of reasons. We always look for the stories that represent a different approach to running sports assets, and building your Premier League ambition around Bitcoin is certainly one of those. Peter is the host of one of if not the biggest Bitcoin podcasts. As you'll hear his journey to club ownership is as colourful as it is extraordinary; this is someone who has come through some challenging times to get to where he is now. As you've just heard in the intro, everyone laughed at him when he laid out the plan for Real Bedford, but with a wealth of both deep pocketed sponsors and investors, most notably the storied Winklevoss twins (of Olympic rowing, Facebook lawsuit, and Gemini fame to many of you I'm sure), this is quickly becoming a team with both the resources and strategy to fly up the pyramid. With a women's team competing in the third tier and proving equally ambitious, the plan is to build a club fully representing the community, full of opportunity and success. The usual challenges remain: success vs profit, full attendances, wider football governance. But as this is a place where we want to look at how to create sustained value beyond football's historic and increasingly out of date financial levers, the Real Bedford model is a captivating alternative. Not for everyone, not guaranteed to work, and certainly unorthodox, but a bold attempt to break the wheel. On today's show we discuss:  Buying a Football Club How Peter went from addiction to building a media brand around Bitcoin The inside story of how Peter bought Real Bedford FC with podcast money How he convinced the Winklevoss twins to back a team in the tenth tier Why Real Bedford is run more like a startup than a sports club The brutal financial reality of owning a non-league football team Why so many lower-league clubs are unsustainable Brand, Identity & Culture Why Real Bedford has a clearer identity than most football clubs The value of cult storytelling, local community, and crypto-native branding What clubs get wrong about women's football and how Real Bedford does it differently How ambition and relentlessness are what drives the project Why does crypto present an opportunity on the financial side of football ownership that traditional approaches miss? Leadership & Legacy What owning a football club taught Peter about management, burnout, and ego Why he's building a club for his kids, not just for wins How he thinks about failure and what he'd do differently next time "It's not all about winning": Having this approach allows you to recognise success in broader terms, but does it only work at a lower level? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA  

This week, we're delighted to welcome Ryan Bertrand to the show, the only man to make his Champions League debut in the final…and of course win it in historic style with Chelsea in 2012. The regulars of you will know a conversation like this is exciting for us both as big Chelsea fans, and the shirts we wore throughout gave the game away anyway. But Ryan isn't just the player who won that cup, played over 260 Premier League games, and was capped 19 times by England. This is a former athlete with a story to tell that incorporates exploration away from football; interests that fans, the media, even those within the game don't associate with players. You can do business, learn business, all while playing at the highest level. You can also leverage the power of your network and your unique experiences to add something few others can to businesses outside of the game. This is something we encourage athletes, the ones who are interested off their own back and the ones who may not have understood the possibilities, to do in a world where opportunity can come from multiple sources. Ryan has built businesses, managed people, and carved out a path that now positions him to succeed at scale. What can you learn from him? It's the balance of the stories we of course are desperate to hear paired with his transition from player to multi-faceted operator.  On today's show we discuss:  Football Culture, Clubs & Career Decisions What Ryan learnt from being around legends like Drogba, Lampard, and Ashley Cole? What makes a great dressing room character and why every team needs one What happens when a club loses its “win at all costs” mentality? Why the best Managers are honest with their players and who was the worst manager he played under What really goes on during loan deals, and why he cancelled his own loan? How do directors, signings, and behind-the-scenes agendas shape team selection? Money, Fame & Mistakes What's the financial trap that catches most young players off guard? Why do so many players go broke despite millionaire contracts? The mistake that almost cost Ryan his England career Why did Ryan get into investing and how's he helping other players now? What does Ryan think about today's player brands? Retirement, Identity & Reinvention What's the real emotional toll of retiring from football? What happens to your identity when you're no longer “the footballer”? What advice does he give to younger players about career and legacy? Why did Ryan refuse to be defined by punditry or football alone? What would he change about how football prepares players for life after sport? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA  

This week, we're delighted to welcome the legendary Guenther Steiner to the show. One of the most iconic Team Principal's to grace the paddock, the personality and energy he brings to the room is not just a show put on for the Drive to Survive cameras. What you have seen on TV is a true account of the man, taking the mickey out of us from the off while delivering such a compelling view on life as a Team Principal and the wider world of F1.  Having left Haas at the end of 2023, he seemed relaxed and free from the pressures of day to day management in one of sport's most high pressure environments. The toll it takes when under such scrutiny without respite is one of the most fascinating aspects of executive management in F1. Christian Horner's departure from Red Bull last week tees up the conversation focusing on what happens when a leader departs, but also how well prepared organisations are to deal with unexpected circumstances. Guenther's profile has become a poster for modern F1; someone who the fans didn't have exposure to thrust into the limelight as a result of a turbo charged media and brand strategy. But he is more than the big smile and humour. This is someone who founded a team from scratch, operated it under extremely difficult circumstances, and gave life to the sport where it was most needed. He does not disappoint.  On today's show we discuss: Running an F1 Team What goes into running an F1 team and why it's more business than racing The chaos and logistics of travelling with the F1 circus The inside story of how Haas F1 was built from scratch Why the cost cap has improved competition and how it changed the sport as a whole What no one tells you about a team principal leaving: power shifts, media spin, and personal fallout Why Guenther believes being a good team boss is more about managing people than cars The Mediafication of F1 How Drive to Survive changed the sport and how it changed Guenther's life The shock of becoming globally famous just for doing your job Guenther's take on the Brad Pitt F1 movie and what Hollywood will never get right about racing Why modern drivers need to master more than just the car; media, messaging, and memes included The hidden costs and benefits of turning Formula 1 into entertainment Why it's not just Netflix who created a new generation of fans  Drivers Why you need two number 1 drivers to compete at the top Who has more power today: the drivers or the teams? How to manage modern drivers; especially their egos, entourages, and online presence The difference between a quick driver and a team player Who would be Guenther's dream driver lineup (for the memes) A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA  

This week, we're delighted to welcome Thomas Robson-Kanu to the show, known to many of you I'm sure as Hal. The different names he has gone by is the perfect demonstration as to why this is such a unique story. A footballer with over nearly 500 competitive games under his belt and a businessman with revenues in the tens of millions, Thomas is the epitome of creating additional opportunity alongside elite sporting performance. Many of us think straight to that momentous moment in Euro 2016 when he scored the goal of goals against Belgium to put Wales in their first Semi-Final. As incredible as that was, it doesn't come close to doing him justice. The Turmeric Co has become a leading company in the food and beverage industry, with the shots extracted directly from turmeric roots linked to Hal overcoming career ending injuries and chronic inflammation. We have to be careful about how we directly link this to recovery, but everything points to major health benefits and recovery. But how do you build a business and compete in the Premier League at the highest level? This is a conversation for everyone; any athlete looking to understand how you can influence the business world, Hal gives one of the best explanations we've heard on 80 shows. Anyone interested in the realities of building a business alongside another high intensity career, this is also for you. Not to mention, from a fan point of view, it's another reveal on the people behind the athletes we celebrate but don't give full recognition to.  We have put a link to the Turmeric Co below (not a paid advert!) because I think this genuinely something you should try. I'm excited for you to hear this.  On today's show we discuss: Football, Media & Player Empowerment What was it like to walk away from football while still receiving offers? How do you recover after being told you'll never play without pain again? Why do so few players take control of their own stories? How does the football system fail young players in preparing them for life after the game? Why media narratives can overlook the full story of a player's journey Entrepreneurship & the Athlete Mindset: How did he balance building The Turmeric Co. while still playing professionally Why sports people make the best entrepreneurs Why resilience, discipline, and recovery matter just as much in business as in elite sport Building a brand off the back of a sporting career The mindset of training like every game could be your last and how that mentality translated to startup life What made Hal believe a turmeric shot could replace surgery Footballing Legacy Why careers aren't defined by stats, but by moments. The magic of the Euro 2016 tournament and how it reshaped Hal's legacy How can players prepare emotionally and financially for retirement Mentoring the next generation: what young footballers need to hear now. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA AND You can get your hands on some of the awesome Turmeric Co products here with our special code BIS30 for 30% off of orders!

This week, we're delighted to welcome Wolves Chairman Jeff Shi to the show. Having been at the club since 2016, he has been a key part of the club's rise from Championship survival to top half Premier League finishes and European quarter finals. Currently enjoying their longest run of Premier League football, there is a lot to be proud of.  Jeff hasn't done a huge amount of interviews. With the club surviving a tricky period last year when their top flight status was at risk for half the season, now is the time to talk to the fans and wider football community about both his ambitions for the club moving forward and how he believes a club needs to be run to bring both stability and success. He is candid in his reflections; it took him a while to understand what it really takes to run a club in this country. But in this era where there is a demand for access and insight into our top teams, a Premier League Chairman keen to come and open up on his philosophies and development plans is to be admired. From signing top European players while in the Championship to building for the future with Vitor Pereira, it's time to take a look inside a top Premier League team. On today's show we discuss: The Wolves Project: Why Wolves is still seen as a project in progress and how the club has evolved under Fosun's ownership What kind of long-term vision Fosun has for the club, and why sustainability now outweighs pure spending Balancing business logic with football emotion  How Wolves preserve their club identity while operating as part of a global group Why Jeff sees his role as a ‘guardian', not just a CEO and how he tries to protect Wolves' long-term future Player Trading and Squad Building: How Wolves approach squad construction after big-name departures Why Jeff doesn't regret selling key players and what he looks for in a signing beyond just talent How Jorge Mendes, data, and direct club scouting all influence Wolves' recruitment model The economics of selling academy players and why the club must now “sell smart” Why Wolves is one of the best clubs in Europe for young players to develop Financial Reality of the Premier League: Why Wolves' net spend has dropped and why that doesn't reflect a lack of ambition How the club is adapting to stricter FFP regulations and evolving its internal culture What fans misunderstand about sustainability, profit, and the cost of competing with richer clubs The challenge of stadium redevelopment and how infrastructure investment plays into the club's future A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC

This week, we're delighted to welcome Millwall's Managing Director Mark Fairbrother to the show. This is a football club that many people both in and out of football have a preconceived idea about, built around historical associations with hooliganism and social unrest. These perceptions are rooted in media portrayal, cultural symbolism and sociopolitical factors rather than the club's present day values. So, what does the Millwall of today represent and stand for? Off the back of a hugely successful Championship campaign which saw the club fighting for a play-off spot on the last day of the season, eventually finishing 8th, Mark is building both a club that can push the boundaries of its modest budgets (comparative to their competitors) and act as a pillar of the community. Football clubs are more influential than ever to the people that support them and localities they serve; this is a club going a step further. We're very excited to bring you this; an insight into one of England's most notable clubs intent on rooting itself high up the football pyramid.  On today's show we discuss: The Millwall Identity: What makes Millwall unique and why does the club's reputation precede it? How does the club lean into its history without being constrained by outdated stereotypes? What does “no one likes us, we don't care” mean to the leadership today? Is it a challenge or a strategic asset? Can a club change how it's seen without losing its soul? Running a Championship Club: How do you balance short-term results with long-term stability in a volatile league? What are the day-to-day commercial realities of Championship football? How does Millwall approach player trading and squad investment with limited resources? How do media rights and the recent Sky deal affect clubs like Millwall? Is the EFL sustainable as a whole or are financial disparities becoming too great? Football Business vs. Football Culture What are the pressures of running a club where emotion runs high, but margins are tight? How do you manage fan expectations while still being fiscally responsible? Is the modern football club more like a community anchor or a business enterprise and what happens when those two pull in different directions? What's the biggest misconception fans have about how football clubs are run? Millwall's Future What does success look like for Millwall? Is it promotion, survival, or something else? How is the club investing in infrastructure, community, and culture to grow sustainably? What are Millwall's ambitions on and off the pitch in the next five years? Can the club compete with parachute-funded rivals while staying true to its values? What role does leadership at club level play in shaping the future of the Championship? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC  

This week we're delighted to welcome Carl Frampton to the show. Second dive into boxing is long overdue and so much has happened since we last visited the sport. A boxing legend and Ring Magazine ‘Fighter of the Year' in 2016, he was the first Northern Irishman to hold world titles in two weight classes, Carl is recognised as one of the best fighters of his generation. As you may expect, there is far more to him than the success he achieved in the ring. This was also the time for us to understand what the life of a top class fighter looks like, and how the business of the sport works from the athlete's perspective. Saudi involvement has elevated both prize money and fight calibre in recent times, correcting some of the big problems in the sport and making the fights that everyone wants to see actually happen. But this hasn't always been the case, and from the promotion world that can consist of exploitation and mismanagement to the challenge of driving commercial opportunities building the brand of the individual, Carl's story is one of both past and present. Now one of the leading media figures in the sport as well as exploring a number of business ventures including his own whiskey brand, we take a look inside a sport that is re-establishing itself as one of the major assets in global entertainment. Whether a fan of Carl or just fascinated by the boxing industry, this is one you'll enjoy.  On today's show we discuss: Boxing Industry: A Good Place to be? Why is professional boxing considered by Frampton to be a “crooked” and exploitative business? What happened in Carl Frampton's legal dispute with Barry McGuigan, and what does it reveal about fighter vulnerability? Is the real danger in boxing the fights themselves, or the hundreds of rounds of sparring in training camps? What can be done at the coaching level to reduce head trauma and protect fighters? Business of Boxing:  How does a fighter's earning potential evolve from early career to world championship level? What role do management structures play in limiting or enabling endorsement and sponsorship deals? Why did Frampton earn more from sponsorships after leaving his initial management, even without a world title? Why is building a brand now essential for boxers to reach the top commercially? Who are the best and worst examples of fighters whose success (or lack thereof) was defined by branding? Changing World of Boxing: How has Saudi Arabia, and specifically Turki Al-Alshikh, changed the boxing landscape? Why are previously impossible matchups now becoming reality, and how did the Saudi-backed model enable this? Does influencer boxing help or hurt the sport overall? How are fighters like Jake Paul impacting the visibility and pay of other boxers, especially women? Is jealousy among traditional boxers driving backlash against influencer fights? Fighter Psychology & Motivation: How did Frampton's mindset evolve through his career, and did he ever truly enjoy boxing? Why did he set a retirement age early on, and how did that shape his choices in the ring? What motivates fighters to retire and then return and is it often driven by financial pressures? How are fighters like Jake Paul impacting the visibility and pay of other boxers, especially women? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC  

This week we're delighted to welcome Sony Sports CEO Rufus Hack to the show. Strap in, this is a reveal on how technology is changing sport, from the man that brings us Goal Line Technology, VAR, TMO, DRS and much more. Sony have been elevating their proposition, developing on the established Music, Entertainment and Playstation divisions to influence sport and deliver crossover value as sport converges with the modern entertainment industry. Through their ownership of Hawkeye, Rufus oversees the company that is implementing some of the most important changes in sport; the decision review systems aimed at increasing accuracy and elevating sporting products. As you know, this doesn't come without its challenges. What this conversation reveals is a fascinating perspective on how this tech is created and then implemented by the various sports with varying degrees of success. How do we ensure the tech delivers what we need it to via ensuring it is properly applied, because it's rarely a fault of the tech; normally a fault of the operator. On top of this, leveraging Toy Story IP in an NFL environment and an assessment of the crazy golfing landscape completes a truly unique and different show. On today's show we discuss: Sony's Role in Sport: How Sony's global footprint, spanning India, the UK, and South Asia, gives it a unique vantage point in the sports broadcasting world. The strategic importance of local relevance in international rights and how Sony tailors its offering to cricket, football, and combat sports fans. How Sony's sports business sits within the broader Sony Group and the advantages (and limitations) of operating within one of the world's most diversified media companies. What is the acqusition strategy of the company looking to make moves in a new environment? VAR & Decision Review: How VAR is implemented differently across sports and the importance of education supporting accurate usage. The global standardisation of officiating technology and what federations need to get right before adopting tools like Hawk-Eye. The importance of a move to fully automated offside and broader decision making, removing the chance of human error. Is 95+% VAR accuarcy reliable enough when the cost is so great on fan emotion and experience? The evolution of decision review systems (DRS) in cricket and the growing fan expectation for accuracy, transparency, and speed in officiating. Changing World of Sport: How fans' media habits are fragmenting, and why that makes sports content more valuable, not less. The tension between global streaming consolidation and the regional nuance required to serve true fanbases. Why leagues and federations need to rethink rights packaging, data usage, and storytelling in a world of short attention spans and instant feedback. The role of AI and automated production in driving cost-effective coverage, and how Sony is investing in next-gen workflows. What Rufus sees as the biggest challenges and opportunities for sports media businesses over the next 5–10 years, and why the traditional broadcaster vs. streamer narrative is missing the bigger picture. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC    

Today we're delighted to welcome Bradford City CEO Ryan Sparks to the show. Promotions don't come much more dramatic than Bradford City's 96th minute winner on the final day of the season to seal promotion to league one. We know how important it is to move through the leagues for both the business and performance side of clubs.  Bradford is a team with immense support, Premier League history, a 25,000 seater stadium…but it's been a chaotic 25 years since leaving the premier league. Administration, relegations, England's 4th tier, cup finals; moments of real lows with a sprinkling of hope. That's football to most.  We primarily think of the extreme pressure and scrutiny in football falling on the players, but executives shoulder a huge portion of that too. Once the youngest CEO in the EFL at 29, it hasn't always been smooth sailing for Ryan. But with the first major steps achieved, this is the man in charge of restoring a great club's successes with the platform now to build from.  On today's show we discuss: How Promotion was Achieved: The story (from the boardroom) and that crazy final day which saw Bradford promoted with almost the last kick of the season. How does the performance and business sides of the club differ when it comes to handling the pressures of results. What needs to be in place to achieve promotion, and how well are the club set up to perform in League One? How do the finances of Bradford compare to other teams in League Two and does success correlate with financial capabilities? Recovering from previous relegations and the impact past failures had on being able to bounce back. Business of Bradford: How to create a stable £8-9m business in League Two. What areas of the business and most influential in generating revenue for the club and how does it compare to other teams in the division? Being careful not to fall into the major problem in football finances today; sustainability defined as ‘sustainable losses'. What is the economic impact of promotion? Does having a 25,000 seater stadium significantly increase the earning potential of Bradford, or is there a downside? EFL Opportunities and Challenges: How have Wrexham and Birmingham (among others) impacted the financial demands on clubs in lower league football? How the new media deal actually did not favour Bradford…why did they still vote for it? ‘The English Pyramid' is the greatest footballing institution in football; how do you protect its financial capabilities while continuing to celebrate Premier League success? Can a football club really protect itself from overspending? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you're an existing use or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC  

I love this game! To anyone who has an interest in sport and finds themselves regularly on social media, this catchphrase is likely to mean something to you, as is the person who coined it. Patrice Evra is one of the most decorated and stand out footballers of the last 20 years. Premier Leagues, Champions Leagues, his success on the pitch most famously with Manchester United is no secret. But as his media profile has shown, there is more to the man than football. There's a drive, focus, and application that runs deep, now being leveraged to build a career in business both in and out of the sport. The value of the athlete investor has never been more topical, and in this special show we explore it in a new way, as we welcome Tommy Fish, his business partner at emerging football tech start-up ‘PLAYER', for a unique insight to how a top athlete can help create a business. PLAYER is tackling one of the biggest challenges in football; the provision of access and opportunity for the sport's brightest young players. Based on Tommy's vision and Patrice's crazy stories, this chat is full of education and entertainment! On today's show we discuss: The Value of the Athlete Investor: Why are more athletes looking to develop their exposure to business opportunities away from the pitch? A deepdive into Pat and Tommy's business ‘PLAYER': The Linkedin for Footballers How can a business best leverage the experiences of someone like Patrice to develop their product and audience? Did players are Manchester United look to invest in businesses and how did Sir Alex Ferguson react to players having a focus away form football? The danger of players never been taught how to manage the vast amount of money they make during their careers. Opportunities to Disrupt Football: Social Media: how the creation of an online presence and personality has provided Patrice with a whole new method of engagement. “Football has changed”...how? What is different now from the days Patrice was playing and is it a good thing? While there is lots good about the football industry, there are many ways the game needs to improve. What is PLAYER doing to be a part of the tech movement disrupting sport? Why the age of social media has created a new kind of footballer. Is there an issue with the emergence of ‘player as brand' and taking influence and control away from management? Creating the Right Mentality: “If you are a lazy person you are in big trouble”. The mentality that makes for the best players also makes for the best business people! Why in the year Manchester United won the Champions League and Premier League, losing the FA Cup is his resounding memory. What does a winning mentality look like and how can you build one? How was the culture of win at all costs instilled at Manchester United and what happened when Ferguson eventually left? When David Moyes was sacked, did the players look at themselves to take responsibility? A huge thank you to our partners RUNNA. Whether you're an existing user or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access: BOSRUNNA https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA You can also get more exclusive Business of Sport content from our newly launched Patreon. Come and see what we have for you! https://patreon.com/BusinessofSport

Today we're delighted to welcome Guy Kinnings to the show. Guy is the CEO of European (DP World) Tour and Ryder Cup Europe. Our first venture into golf and it couldn't be better timed. An Incredible Rory McIlroy Masters win to kick off the season followed by a summer of elite culminating in the Ryder Cup in New York in September.  The business or politics of golf have been hotly debated since the inception of Saudi backed LIV Golf a few years ago. Big cheques attracting some of the world's top players put huge pressure on the DP World Tour & PGA Tour to retain talent and continue to create elite sporting events. As Guy talks through today, this should be viewed as a development of the game; an opportunity to build on the successes of what have gone before while elevating the global product of golf. Naturally, with responsibility falling on his shoulders (behind the scenes at least) to deliver a rare Ryder Cup away win, there is plenty of conversation around what makes one of the most special events in sport tick. In a sport of genuine global icons and unparalleled moments of drama, we take a look at how the game develops behind the glamour of the 18th green. On today's show we discuss: What is the DP World Tour: There are many tours and competitions taking place around the world. What is the DP World Tour responsible for? Who gets to play on the Tour? How the reference to ‘European' is a misnomer; this is a sporting organisation with global reach. The finances associated with golf. From major sponsorship and broadcast deals to the cost of creating elite sporting events. With many of the key European players going and playing their golf on the PGA Tour in America, how do they retain value and participation at the top of the DP Tour? What does the strategic alliance with the PGA Tour look like and how have they been impacted by the arrival of LIV Golf? Athletes as Icons: Golf has produced some of sport's most famous names; the rise of Jack Nicklas, Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods and now Rory McIlroy. The Rory McIlory effect: from completing the grand slam winning the Masters to driving the European game forward, how important is individual stardom in the sport? How the commercial value of talent can drive a tournament forward or undermine its credibility. Where do the opportunities lie for golfers to really write their name in the history books: a Ryder Cup special! If golfers were on the stock market, which player would Guy invest in? The Future of Golf: The arrival of LIV has brought in private equity investment and a new set of eyeballs. Should this be viewed as an opportunity to grow the game at all levels? Building value in new markets can create additional opportunities for organisations like the DP World Tour to develop. How influential is something like the Ryder Cup in shaking off some negative perceptions of the sport? Is golf genuinely accessible and if not, can more be done to bring the game to areas of the world with the least access? A huge thank you to our partners RUNNA. Whether you're an existing user or if it's your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access: BOSRUNNA https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA You can also get more exclusive Business of Sport content from our newly launched Patreon. Come and see what we have for you! https://patreon.com/BusinessofSport  

Today we're delighted to welcome Spencer Owen, Founder & Owner of the iconic Hashtag United, to the show. This is one of the most unique organisations in football. Why? Well it was founded on the internet before becoming a successful men's and women's team competing in English football. Spencer, or Spencer FC as many of his fans know him, built one of the strongest online brands in football, with over 2m YouTube subscribers regularly engaging with his channel.  When he decided to take Hashtag from online concept to physical sports asset, unsurprisingly it was met with confusion and ridicule by an industry not known for it's acceptance and embrace of change. As a result, this show is one of most interesting assessments of both what makes football so great, and where there are major opportunities for change. It's a very different take on the football owner and executive shows we're used to, and that's why we love it.  This is sport for a modern age, packaged in a conversation explaining how a club that has more subscribers than many Premier League clubs has created a new blueprint for team ownership and management. On today's show we discuss: SpencerFC to Club Owner: What was the first step in becoming one of the most famous football ‘influencer/streamer' and how did that lay the foundations for Hashtag United? This is a club born on the internet; from creating a community online to turning those fans into active sports goers. Influencer driven sport has become a far more recognised phenomenon, but what was it like in the early days taking creators into real life football matches? This is reverse engineering a football club; why building a fanbase before they had an on-field product has given Hashtag a unique opportunity  Business of Hashtag “We are at our heart an advertising business when you think about how we make money” Playing in the 7th tier of English football does not deliver big revenue, so what have Hashtag done to make themselves so commercially attractive. How not owning their own stadium is an issue they are looking to resolve and why a physical home for their broad fanbase will elevate the team's identity. Raising money is next on the agenda but what type of people is Spencer looking to bring into the ownership group? “We are the opposite of Wrexham” Dealing with Criticism… How naming the team Hashtag United created an unforeseen issue yet remains one of the most important things about the club. Is there a problem with creating a model dependent on views more than results? The story of how the club has used broader issues and opportunities in women's football to create a really successful team. The 3pm blackout and the issues that it hides…? It doesn't make financial sense to be promoted in non-league football! What does Spencer mean by this? CLICK HERE to check out our newly released Patreon account for bonus content and exclusive giveaways! https://patreon.com/BusinessofSport