Charlie Stebbings

Ahead of tomorrow's Fair Game UK annual conference at AFC Wimbledon's stadium, we've put together a short pack explaining how LCP can help football clubs, owners, investors, governing bodies and other stakeholders in the areas of football finance and governance. Key elements of our service offering include: ⚽ In depth financial analysis of individual / multiple clubs or leagues, including transaction support  ⚽ Financial scenario analysis to assist in planning and risk management ⚽ Communicating the “financial story” to fans, potential investors or other stakeholders  ⚽ Supporting good governance and  compliance with regulatory requirements I'll be attending the Fair Game UK conference tomorrow along with LCP colleagues John Parnis England and Ashley Mould, and DEI expert Buki Mosaku. If you're at the conference, please come and say hello to us! During the Speed Meetings session at lunchtime, I will be focusing in particular on the Owners' and Directors' Test (OADT) . In this regard, two of my colleagues in our Financial Analysis team, Jonathan Wolff and Tom Gillespie, recently looked at what a more effective revamped OADT might look like under the new Independent Football Regulator - and how this could be a real gamechanger for the sustainability of English men's professional football. Their article is here: https://lnkd.in/educf5kk More details on the Fair Game UK conference can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ePsisebK #fairgameuk #financialsustainability #footballgovernance

30

3 Comments

Fair Game UK's conference on Tuesday was full of thought-provoking sessions and a great opportunity to meet and mix with a wide range of football people concerned about the future governance and financial sustainability of the beautiful game. Particular highlights for me were: ⚽ Hearing from interim COO of the Independent Football Regulator Martyn Henderson talk about what his organisation will and, as importantly, won't, have powers to do once established under the Football Governance Bill going through parliament ⚽ CEO Niall Couper's impassioned exposition of the eight key issues Fair Game UK believe still need to be addressed under the Bill - with support from Fair Game's legal expert Simon Orriss of Mills & Reeve. ⚽ Presentations by Aaryaman Banerji of the Civitas Think Tank, and Dr Mark Middling and Dr Lisa J. Ferguson of Northumbria University on the need for better governance and ownership models in English professional football. ⚽ Being able to hold AFC Wimbledon's official replica of the FA Cup trophy their predecessor club won in 1988 beating Liverpool Football Club 1-0 at Wembley - a game I went to as a Liverpool fan. ⚽ Seeing the amazing ground and facilities AFC Wimbledon have built at the old Plough Lane site, developed and financed primarily by their fans as one of the very few community owned clubs in the English men's league pyramid. ⚽ Representing LCP at the conference, along with colleagues John Parnis England and Ashley Mould, and our friend and associate, EDI expert Buki Mosaku - and discussing with many conference attendees how we can use our expertise to support better football finance and governance. With yesterday's news of an election on 4 July, will the Bill come into force before then? It looks unlikely, with parliament being dissolved on 30 May - but with broad cross-party consensus in support of its provisions, it looks certain to be adopted at some point in the next year or so. #fairgameuk #footballgovernance #financialsustainability

39

Padel is growing and we have a realistic ambition to lead its growth in the UK. There are two strands to our model: 1 - Outdoor canopied sites enjoy lower costs. Rent is dramatically lower, and even after adjusting for the cost of adding canopies our 'all in' annual cost is low enough to give us a significant profit advantage over 'indoor' courts. 2 - Good coaching ensures that new players get the bug. Almost everyone who gets on a padel court has fun. But to get players hooked it is critical to invest in the support to turn an enthusiastic newbie into a regular player. Our investment in outstanding coaching allows us to build a stronger business. We have a model that works and a pipeline that is ready to build out. Come and join us on Crowdcube as we accelerate on our journey. Crowdcube Jacob Symes Daniel Sparkes Jessica Windsor Carson Russell

46

3 Comments

TEAMcard and Silverstone Circuit agree new expanded venue-wide partnership Silverstone Circuit, the home of British motorsport and host venue to the Formula 1 British Grand Prix has renewed with TEAMcard in an expanded agreement that will cover access control, accreditation, visitor management and verification services for the entire 155-acre site. Silverstone partnered with TEAMcard for venue access control in 2021, setting the foundations for a successful partnership that saw two record-breaking summers for racing fans entering the circuit. Matthew Evans, Business Systems Manager at Silverstone, said: "Working with TEAMcard has been a real game-changer for us. We have a whole host of different events that take place across the year attracting all sizes of crowds, from domestic race meetings to major events like Silverstone Festival, MotoGP and Formula 1. Regardless of the event size, the TEAMcard access control solution works seamlessly every time – we know we can really trust it." Now moving towards a third year in partnership, Silverstone have expanded their relationship with TEAMcard by activating the use of additional modules in the TEAMcard product stack – Accreditation, Visitor Management and Verification. These new modules will allow Silverstone to organise, manage and record the movements of every person arriving at the circuit, 365 days a year from a single system. Mike McEachern, Head of IT at Silverstone, said: "Working closely with everyone at TEAMcard has allowed us to better understand the wider product stack, and how their other solutions could work alongside access control to benefit our whole business. Stacking other modules like accreditation, visitor management and verification is allowing us to streamline more processes, collect better data and create better customer experiences across the board." For the full story, go to: https://lnkd.in/ervmHCmi #accesscontrol #accreditation #eventindustry #eventsindustry #eventmanagement #formula1 #f1 #sportbiz #sportsbiz #sportsindustry #Silverstone Daniel Huson Lee Howkins James Holifield Stephane Bazire Ben Phillips Robert Byrne Victor Leitch Josh Whittaker-Vyse Jean-Francoys Brousseau #sportsvenuebusiness #sportsvenuebiz #svblive Sports Venue Business SVB LIVE Cassandra Calleja

28

I am always surprised by the amounts businesses pay for marketing and advertising... and sponsorship or advertising with a football club has never been a consideration! Even a club like ours, we can deliver an audience in the millions for what is on paper a very small investment! Sport is often either not thought about when choosing a method or too expensive, as it is only the the "big" clubs who can deliver the audience required! We have a video on TikTok which gained over 3million views! #devonbusiness #exeter #exeterbusiness #northdevon #business #football #entertainment #hospitality #digitalmarketing #marketing #socialmedia #branding #advertisingandmarketing

22

5 Comments

It's been fascinating in recent weeks working with LCP colleagues looking at the Football Governance Bill - and in supporting Fair Game UK in setting out their position on the Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT), in particular on the financial aspects. The Bill needs to ensure there are fit and proper people running football clubs, and the financial sustainability both of individual clubs and of the pyramid. ⚽ Along with Ashley Mould from LCP's Sport Analytics team, and John Parnis England and Jonathan Wolff from our Financial Analysis team, we have provided input on the financial sustainability aspects of the OADT through Stephen Radley for the Fair Game UK Position Paper published today: https://lnkd.in/ebANQXpy ⚽ I also enjoyed taking part in a Fair Game UK podcast, along with Fair Game CEO Niall Couper, journalist Graham Miller, and human rights expert Nicholas McGeehan on the subject, also released today. https://lnkd.in/ejVFDAPC From a financial sustainability viewpoint, we believe that key issues for the new Independent Football Regulator, when considering the business plans of owners, should include: 💷 not just their willingness and ability to cover losses, but also whether there is an enforceable legal obligation for them to do so; and 💷 this should cover any projected losses under the ongoing business plan, and also crucially allow for potential additional losses in realistic downside scenarios, like relegation. Without this, clubs will continue to be at risk of wealthy owners buying clubs and investing for success on the pitch. but then withdrawing financial support if and when that success fails to materialise #oadt #footballgovernance #fairgameuk

41

We all felt women’s football was elevated by the Lionesses winning Euro 2022 - and now we have it in numbers. Deloitte’s Annual Review of Football Finance says WSL club revenues were up 50% in 2022/23, with total league attendances over one million for first time. And it’s the big four of Arsenal F.C, Chelsea Football Club, Manchester City Football Club and Manchester United driving most of that growth with disproportionate investment - generating 66% of all cumulative league revenues, while their wage bills also accounted for 57% of league wage costs. Useful insight from Timothy Bridge and the team #SportsBiz https://lnkd.in/e8GwvGnU

61

8 Comments

Our Chairman Nick Hawker explaining how Fan Engagement is so key to what we do! It is also how we have been named number 1 when compared with all 92 league clubs! 🏆⚽️ Working with Exeter City Football Club in any capacity is a great way to promote your brand/business whilst also contributing to a genuine community cause... 👍 With a social media audience over 500,000 and the new Sky Sports deal our exposure is huge! 💪 #devonbusiness #exeter #exeterbusiness #northdevon #business #football #entertainment #hospitality #digitalmarketing #marketing #socialmedia #branding #advertisingandmarketing

17

1 Comment

5 REASONS TO PICK CLUBROOM... 1. One meeting for all sport 2.Saves time, energy and money 3.Get the best deal with somebody to negotiate on your behalf. 4.An overall sport input with focusing on a broader range of aspects. 5. No more packages just a tailor made approach to suit your Business needs. This can include a range of Sport locations, Clubs , individuals and options. Clubroom provides speed , quick response and a good level of knowledge, experience and skill to get your business the best value for money

2

Leadership with empathy, Respect in Golf, Women in Golf, Golf media, Golf Course/Club valuations, workforce survey findings and Driving Range Technology with Toptracer........are topics covered in our last six episodes of Golf Club Talk UK! If you haven't already checked it out, please do so here and pass it on to a colleague who may benefit 👇 #sharinginformation #alternativeeductaion #clubmanagement

14

1 Comment

This is an iconic deal in the landscape of English cricket and possibly world cricket. GMR Group and Hampshire County Cricket Club and its assets, currently owned by Rod Bransgrove, have agreed to an aquistion! Rod has been such a huge contributor to the game in the UK. I personally think this deal will be the catalyst to opening the gates to further Indian investment into English cricket (not new news) which points towards a bigger holistic future of players being centrally contracted by franchises (not countries). There will be mixed views on this deal and the the future of state of world cricket. https://lnkd.in/gFKvGPsN

53

5 Comments

EQUITY is a very important value in my life (more than EQUALITY, but that’s another post for another day). At last night’s Denver Barbarians Rugby Club training, we had a scrimmage against our “sister” rugby club, Colorado Gray Wolves. I used to coach a women's team back in New York, and many of my current players have played in co-ed touch rugby teams, but this was the first time any of us had played in a men vs women game. Specific aspects were adapted and controlled to maintain safety and security, but otherwise it was a regular scrimmage. In our sport, soft skills such as rugby IQ, spatial awareness, and communication are no less important than hard “skills” such as strength, physicality, and aggression, and under last night’s controlled conditions, the soft skills in my players were thoroughly tested. The result was a highly competitive, highly skillful, and highly equitable game of rugby where both teams adapted, learned, and had fun, three key tenets of my coaching (and leadership) philosophy. Moral of the story: “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”. This is true in sport and in business, and to achieve equity we must recognize these inequalities, make adjustments, and adapt. But here’s the rub: blindly putting our thumb on the scale to engineer equity, is the absolute antithesis of equity. #passion #purpose #performance #equity #leadership #coaching #timrhutchins

13

🏟️ Is Multi-Club Ownership in Football Sustainable? 🤔 777 Partners' ambitious venture into multi-club football ownership, with Everton FC as their latest target, has sparked significant debate. While the strategy aims to leverage top-tier clubs to bolster the entire portfolio, the approach has faced numerous challenges, including financial scrutiny and legal battles. The allure of turning struggling clubs into profitable assets is undeniable. However, with the recent issues surrounding 777's acquisition of Everton and the financial instability revealed in their broader operations, it's essential to question the viability of such investments 📉 As clubs and investors alike navigate this complex landscape, one must consider: Is the multi-club ownership model sustainable in the long run? Can it deliver on its promises without compromising the stability of the individual clubs and the broader financial ecosystem? How do you see the future of multi-club ownership in football? Can it be a win-win, or is it a high-stakes gamble with too much risk? Share your insights below! 👇⚽️ #FootballBusiness #MultiClubOwnership 🔗 Read the full article on FT - https://lnkd.in/e_-gP29f

7

3 Comments

🚀Ever thought about owning a sports franchise?** ⚽️ 🎾 Think you have what it takes. 🌟 Take our quick quiz to find out if investing in a sports franchise could be your winning move! Whether you're passionate about sports, working with children or looking for a business opportunity, this scorecard will help you evaluate if it's the right path for you. 🔗 Take the Quiz Now: https://lnkd.in/eyS2RN82 #SportsFranchise #FranchiseOpportunity #Entrepreneurship #BusinessStrategy

10

Demonstrating that performance and sustainability can, and must, go hand in hand is a key focus of ours - and this report beautifully shows all that is happening to help achieve our goals. Onwards.

22

1 Comment

Lots to learn from this report; will clubs use "the power of the badge" to enhance social cohesion in the community or just to drive marketing goals? The best clubs do both! Stay tuned for more from The Sports Effect on how foundations do what they do, and who is doing it the best...

10

In the wake of my post this week on the relationship between #padel and the LTA, can I ask any stakeholders in the UK padel scene who would like to contribute to as well as share their views and experience on the interplay between the sport and the LTA to get in contact with me (publicly or privately). At this stage I want to collect names and understand and coordinate views, whether positive or negative, what should continue, what should change, objectives, timelines, limitations etc. I will try to then coordinate a forum based on that intel to really fine tune the feelings of the group. Ideally we can end that phase with a decision on next steps and any meeting with the LTA. As an aside, if anyone (not necessarily from within padel) has experience of building and standing up a #nationalgoverningbody #NGB in the UK, how to work constructively with UK Sport and Sport England and the relevant #InternationalFederation #IF etc that perspective could be really useful as well. Finally, if you read this and feel someone else should be made aware of this, please feel free to repost or forward.

25

11 Comments