Business of Sport’s Post

Championing a Winning Culture in Football During my time working with Ange Postecoglou at club level, where we clinched back-to-back national titles, Ange fostered a culture of unwavering excellence. He expected commitment to a winning mentality from everyone involved—be it players, staff, board members, fans, sponsors, or support personnel. This ethos promotes a positive, forward-thinking environment that propels everyone toward an ultimate collective goal of supreme success. Yet, this drive contrasts starkly with instances in recent days at Spurs where fans preferred their team to lose to prevent a rival, like Arsenal, from winning the title. Choosing this over maintaining hopes for a Champions League spot not only undermines a winning culture but also highlights a deeper systemic issue at Spurs. A genuine passion for football should encourage striving for victory in every match, elevating the club's ambitions rather than compromising them. Ange’s reaction is very typical and understandable. He wants to be surrounded by winners who don’t compromise on the bigger picture. #FootballCulture #WinningMentality

America and the EFL: What does it mean for the fans? ⚽️ Interest in the EFL (English Football League) has skyrocketed in the U.S., with CBS signing a multi-year TV deal to broadcast matches to American audiences. 🇺🇸📺 Over 20 EFL clubs have been invested in by Americans.🇺🇸 Celebrities at games, Disney documentaries... But what does it all mean for the fans on the ground? Tom Brady’s involvement with Birmingham City FC has been making headlines. The NFL legend’s partnership with Knighthead Capital Management, LLC has brought global attention to the club, sparking optimism among supporters. 🏈⚽ Our own Sam Ucko reached out to Birmingham journalist Alex Dicken get his thoughts: "The landscape at Birmingham City has completely changed since Knighthead took control of the club last year. Relegation in their first season wasn’t part of the plan, but it hasn’t decelerated their ambitions. Blues have just enjoyed their biggest transfer spend since 2017 and are well equipped to attack the Championship when they return. Knighthead have attracted several high-profile partners to the club to increase revenue, and there is the promise of a new super stadium in the background. These are exciting times for Blues fans.” But let’s look at some attendances since American owners have come in: Wrexham AFC:   19/20: 4,058 → 23/24: 13,152   (A 224% increase!)  Birmingham City FC:   22/23: 16,758 → 23/24: 27,327   (A 63% increase!)  Leeds United:   22/23: 36,566 → 23/24: 36,495   (Holding steady)  Portsmouth Football Club:   16/17: 16,823 → 24/25: 20,265   (A 21% increase) Fans are embracing the changes, clearly optimistic about both short and long-term success. What’s your view on the growing influence of American ownership in football? Author: Sam Ucko #EFL #FootballFans #USASoccer #AmericanOwnership #TomBrady #BirminghamCity #Wrexham #LeedsUnited #PortsmouthFC #FanCulture #SoccerInAmerica #ChampionshipFootball #GlobalFootball #EFLinAmerica #FootballBusiness #SportsGrowth

Love this interview. Positive reinforcement of the environment that all clubs, every sport, should be striving to create within their teams. “There are no dumb questions …. Right?” Also where he talks about the front office recruiting the type of player that wants to learn. Has desire to get better. If a coach can surround him or herself with like-minded coaches and players it creates a really impressive group of individuals who all buy in to the same philosophy ……. “What do we need to do to be successful?” Then plan the work and work the plan.

FOOTBALL FRIDAY ⚽ In Scottish football, the term "bronze criteria" typically refers to the set of requirements that clubs must meet to gain entry to the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). These criteria ensure that clubs are financially stable and meet the standards expected within the (SPFL) league structure. "The Scottish FA has announce that Buckie Thistle FC will not be eligible to participate in the Pyramid Play-Off tie," the governing body has stated. "A Flawed Process" "As someone who values logical reasoning, I find it perplexing how a structured league system can culminate in such an unprofessional and controversial conclusion to the season. This glaring flaw underscores the lack of consistent standards among the various associations overseeing the Scottish leagues within the pyramid system." It appears that Buckie FC's aspiration was to secure promotion and partake in the league, yet financial or organisational constraints hindered their progress. To address this predicament, there ought to be a comprehensive funding initiative in place to ensure that clubs facing similar challenges receive the necessary financial backing to pursue their objectives for the upcoming season. "The Purpose of the Pyramid" was with its promotion and relegation system, is often considered fair because it allows teams to advance or regress based on their performance on the field rather than subjective judgments by a committee? Furthermore, it would be prudent to align the "Bronze Licensing Criteria" with the leagues in which participating teams compete. A simple application process and more equitable and accountable approach will involve disqualifying teams from promotion at the season's outset if they fail to meet the specified criteria. These teams would not be able to be promoted. Conversely an alternative is, if a team demonstrates responsible adherence to the standards of the Highland League without encountering significant obstacles, they should be afforded a season to fulfil the criteria. It's noteworthy that certain clubs within the league undergo annual audits based on the same criteria, allowing them the opportunity to rectify any deficiencies rather than being summarily expelled from the league immediately. Moreover, it's perplexing to discover that Brechin FC doesn't assume Buckie FC's place in the playoffs if they fulfil the criteria. Both teams have recently competed in a league that seemingly lacked any real significance. Will Scottish football embrace logic and adopt a more structured approach to address these issues? 

My first article for my new blog page, includes how it is time for the Carlton Football Club to become ruthless in their premiership hunt now. After a couple close victories. It is time for them to take the next step. https://lnkd.in/eNyiuQ8T

Our president, Marc Guerrero, met yesterday with one of the most experienced football #executives at the top of European football, the new appointed Manchester United's CEO, Omar Berrada. There is an undeniable fascination with professional #football clubs the world over. But whilst the star players, head coaches and owners typically dominate the headlines, one of the most important figures in any club is undoubtedly its #CEO. What made CEOs successful in the past is no longer enough. The #context in which they operate has become fundamentally more #complex and traditional approaches to leadership are now insufficient. In the past, sporting success led to business success. That relationship is being reversed. In this #changing and increasingly stressful #environment, CEOs must bring to bear a unique blend of skills, experiences, and perspectives, as well as a knowledge of how to leverage the support of the board of directors, to help them run their football club.

The Crossroads League has five of the top 13 teams ranked nationally for offensive efficiency in NAIA Men's Basketball. (Of a total of 231 teams) The top 5 Crossroad League teams include: Huntington University, Grace College & Seminary, University of Saint Francis, Marian University Indianapolis, and Indiana Wesleyan University. Comparing the top 5 Crossroads League teams with national NAIA team averages: all teams had similar number of possessions (83), free throw rate (13%/12%) and number of three point field goals per game (8/7.4). The major differences included: Points per game, Points per Possession, EFG%, 2 point fg's made, % of possessions scored, and turnover %. (DATA SOURCED FROM SYNERGY SPORTS 2024)

12 months after completing the VSI Executive Education CEO of a Sports Organisation course, this post is demonstration of the connection that remains after you receive that certificate from VSI. I have built more meaningful relationships and had more interactions with my cohort and the extended network established through the course demonstrating the lasting value of a course like this. Other people in the same or similar role in sport will definitely get real benefit from investing their time on this course: https://lnkd.in/dADmXEtZ #SportsBiz #Networking #SportsLeadership

Please read my article discussing the crisis at Manchester United.