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 Intro
05:38 Why Montpellier Was the Perfect Start
14:04 Building the Right Financial Structure
18:04 The Valuation Problem in Women’s Football
23:35 Why Women’s Football Need To Stop Copying the Men’s Game
34:37 The Challenge of Managing Multiple Clubs
36:47 The Path from Pitch to Boardroom
41:12 Balancing Independence with System Constraints
44:17 What Makes the Women’s Game So Investable
48:20 Would Bex Buy a Club in England Today?
49:14 How Players Drive Engagement and Value
55:41 Why Equal Pay Isn’t the Whole Story
58:22 Managing the Female Athlete’s Body
01:03:53 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 value
Athlete 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 analytics
A 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.com
Stryde
Bringing 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 Intro
04:24 How do the teams work
07:40 Reviving a stale sport
11:00 Building a community & youth programs
13:20 Inside Majesticks GC operations
16:15 Why team golf is so exciting
21:00 Relegation & Recruitment
25:00 Building audience & identity
30:00 Path to profitability
42:44 $1.1 Billion in losses & long-term vision
49:20 LIV's unique fan experience
52:00 How LIV changed the way players compete
On 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 golf
Media, 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 media
The 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 game
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!
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 Intro
05:01 Pablo Longoria’s Path to Football Executive
08:18 Joining Olympique de Marseille
10:12 The State of Marseille When Pablo Arrived
11:37 Revenues: Ticketing, Security, Food & Beverage
20:19 How On-Pitch Success Drives Business Growth
21:56 Pablo’s Role in Player Recruitment
24:52 What People Get Wrong About Football Managers
28:41 Football Director vs Manager: What’s the Difference?
29:42 Managing Transfer Market Inflation
39:33 How Fans Influence Transfer Strategy
43:29 Learning from Transfer Mistakes
45:45 Where Marseille Fits in the Football Pyramid
49:22 Inside France’s Evolving Media Rights Landscape
53:53 The Competitive Imbalance in French Football
55:09 How CVC’s Investment Impacts French Clubs
56:37 Winning vs Profitability Under U.S. Ownership
01:01:26 The Concentration of Value in Top Leagues
01:07:18 Underinvestment in Technology Across Sport
01:10:49 Where Marseille Aims to Be in Five Years
On 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 table
Building 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 like
The 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 product
Transfers & 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 decade
A 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.com
Stryde
Bringing 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 Intro
03:50 Liberty Media’s $4.9B MotoGP Takeover
10:04 Why MotoGP Is Undervalued
16:23 Can MotoGP Fix Its Competitive Imbalance?
20:02 How to Run a MotoGP Team Sustainably
22:38 How MotoGP Teams Make Money
26:52 The New Wave of Sponsors in MotoGP
29:12 How MotoGP Can Create Global Superstars
35:10 Can MotoGP Grow Without Losing Its Core Fans?
42:47 The Core Risks Behind Investing in MotoGP
46:09 Inside The Media Rights Structure
47:45 The Attention Economy & Youth in Motorsport
51:56 What Makes The Best Riders?
52:42 Why Riding a Bike Is Harder Than Driving an F1 Car
54:00 Health & Safety in MotoGP
01:00:29 Quick-Fire Round
On 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 it
3. 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 wheels
4. 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 name
The 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 Intro
05:28 How the PL Has Changed Since Graeme Played
09:25 The Reality of Changing Teams
13:08 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 Transfers
24:22 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 Playing
43:26 Why Many Players Struggle Financially After Football
51:01 If I Could Change One Game
54:43 The Added Pressure of Social Media on Players
59:23 What It’s Like Covering the Premier League in America
01:00:39 The Future of MLS
01:05:15 Quick-Fire Round
In 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 defender
2. 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 transfers
How 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 Intro
03:54 Rebuilding Williams Through Culture
07:18 Balancing Past Success with a New Identity
10:54 Williams’ Long-Term Plan for Success
17:31 What Vowles Brings to Sainz & Albon
22:35 Can Money Alone Deliver F1 Success?
25:22 Does Losing Money Matter in F1 Ownership?
28:23 Turning Heavy Investment Into Performance
30:45 Williams’ New Revenue Streams
34:25 How Teams Compete for the Same Sponsors
37:37 Will Formula 1 Control Its Own Platform
41:30 Overcoming Challenges as a New Team Principal
46:10 The Mediafication of F1 Leadership
47:30 Quick-Fire Round
In 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 discipline
How 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 environment
The 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 rest
3. 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 fans
4. 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:
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 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:
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 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:
The Finances of Tennis Players:
The Tennis World 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:
Improving the Product:
Financial Sustainability is Essential:
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:
Managing at the Top Level:
Global Perspectives & Opportunities Abroad:
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
Ownership, Investment & Growth
The Business Model & Financial Sustainability
Fans, Media & the Attention Economy
A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:
RUNNA
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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:
The Value of New Ownership:
Matching Ambition with Longevity:
A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:
RUNNA
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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
Brand, Identity & Culture
Leadership & Legacy
A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:
RUNNA
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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
Money, Fame & Mistakes
Retirement, Identity & Reinvention
A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:
RUNNA
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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
The Mediafication of F1
Drivers
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!
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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
Entrepreneurship & the Athlete Mindset:
Footballing Legacy
A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:
RUNNA
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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:
Player Trading and Squad Building:
Financial Reality of the Premier League:
A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:
RUNNA
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Revolut
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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:
Running a Championship Club:
Football Business vs. Football Culture
Millwall's Future
A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:
RUNNA
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Revolut
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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?
Business of Boxing:
Changing World of Boxing:
Fighter Psychology & Motivation:
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!
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Revolut
Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus!
https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC
