A look at the job of chairman

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In the game of football, the role of the club Chairman or Chairwoman is an interesting one. They are certainly not all alike. Usually the job of the Chairman/woman is to try to earn as much income for the club as possible to either generate a profit or at least not make a loss.

Retained earnings can later be used to provide the funds to make significant player purchases from other clubs in order to bolster the player ranks as some of the older players prove that perhaps their best playing days are behind them.

The case for Chairmen/women for non-league football clubs is no doubt not that much different except that there is far less opportunity to generate income for the club, which makes it challenging to purchase players of a calibre to elevate the club out of non-league status.

Some leaders in football leave a lasting impression though. Matthew Harding left such an impression with Chelsea football fans when he ensured he managed club affairs in a transparent manner.

Over at Cardiff City, Mehmet Dalman the Chairman, recently apologised for the way he behaved in his dealings with the previous manager of the club, Malky Mackay. Fans are loyal to their clubs so this kind of openness creates more of a sense of forgiveness.

Manchester United on the other hand are seeing things a little differently with the current challenge of bringing down their debt which still stands in the hundred of millions of pounds.

David Moyes is overhauling much at United presently, so it is difficult to see how things will shake up in the medium term, but maybe Moyes will make the tough decisions needed to take United fiscally back in the first direction. Results on the pitch are not as strong either with a top 3 finish looking unlikely.

 

 

Michael Owen blames football academy structures for lack of young English players

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Michael Owen has urged the footballing authorities in the UK to adopt a draft system similar to the one used in the US for young English footballers. He says this will allow teams in the Premiership to effectively field B teams elsewhere in the football league this ensuring the future success of football in England. The blog from ex England star Owen appeared on  Sportlobster  the dedicated sports social network  which is also launching its new iPhone app today.

Michael Owen has the credentials to make this statement being one of the most famous, and successful, products of the youth set up in England. Nevertheless, he feels that this is now failing in its task and his idea of bringing in a system similar to that of the NFL draft in America is certainly an interesting one,

Owen said on Sportlobster :

“I feel what would be hugely beneficial to the state of our national game is the creation of a loan system whereby every team in the Premier League provides a set number of English players to be distributed fairly among The Championship, League One and Two clubs. This is similar to the draft system they use in American Football.

“Each league club would receive two or three players per season in two waves (start of the season until Christmas then Christmas until the end of the season) from random Premier League clubs which would not only help our lower league teams but more importantly help the development of our future talent. Fairly distributing these young English players across all teams in every league as this would be much fairer than the current system.

“Imagine 150 or so young English players learning their trade in the lower leagues. It would do absolute wonders for their development. The experience gained and the ability to perform under pressure would be priceless. These are the challenges our youngsters need to be exposed to early on if we are to expect them to rise to the challenge later in their careers.”

Sportlobster co-founder and CEO Andy Meikle said:

“It’s important to have sporting heroes like Michael Owen using Sportlobster to talk about issues in sport and voice their honest opinions. It is also important for everyone else to get involved in such debates and be heard. This is exactly why we created Sportlobster, it gives fans a way to interact in an environment completely dedicated to sport.”

Read Michael’s full article and join the debate: https://sportlobster.com/themichaelowen

Link to the app: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sportlobster/id726335461?ls=1&mt=8

 

New customers of the Man Utd credit card have a choice of limited edition designs

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New customers of the Man Utd credit card have a choice of limited edition designs

The four limited edition credit cards available for eligible new Manchester United Credit Card customers

UK-based fans making a successful new card application can opt for one of four “heritage” designs

New designs launched as MBNA and Manchester United Football Club extend partnership

 

MBNA, the credit card specialist based in the UK, has partnered with premiership football giants Manchester United to launch limited edition versions of their joint credit card in order to extend their collaboration to 2016. Any fan of Mancheter United can apply for a credit card from today, and select from one of the four custom-made designs which include:

  •  The “Champions 2013” logo created to celebrate United’s 20th league title win.
  • United’s famous Old Trafford stadium and “Holy Trinity” statue of club icons George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton.
  • Ryan Giggs’ famous FA Cup goal celebration against Arsenal in 1999.
  • A legends design with images of club icons through the years including Gary Neville, Andy Cole and Peter Schmeichel.

The new card designs have been launched by Manchester United as part of an extended three-year relationship with MBNA, one of the UK’s largest credit card lenders. The two brands have been working together for the past 15 years.

The Manchester United Credit Card is available for UK-based fans now at
https://apply.mbna.co.uk/UKNeoCCapp/entry?sc=1UASMUFIMS001EC&mc=UAMMUF0030P.

The credit card offers eligible new customers zero percent interest for 20 months on balance transfers and money transfers, plus three months at zero percent on purchases*.

The new card comes with Red Rewards, an array of benefits and incentives developed specifically for Manchester United fans. For every £50 spent on the card, the cardholder will also be entered into a monthly prize draw with a chance to win a range of fantastic prizes, including club memorabilia signed by the first team and once-in-a-lifetime days out; including the chance to watch the first team train at United’s training ground.

Manchester United Group Managing Director Richard Arnold comments: “MBNA is one of the UK’s largest and most well-known credit card providers and the club is delighted to be extending its successful 15 year partnership for a further three years. We have eight million followers in the UK and the new MBNA Manchester United Credit Card will give these fans a new way of showing their support, whilst taking advantage of the attractive incentives and rates MBNA has to offer.”

Michael Donald, MBNA’s Business Development and Commercial executive, added: “Throughout our 20 years in the UK, we’ve established credit card partnerships with some of the world’s most iconic brands; and Manchester United Football Club is certainly one of those. We’re delighted to extend our partnership for another three years, and to celebrate, we’re launching something unique for fans based in the UK.”

* Terms apply. Full details of these offers are available on the website and within customer’s terms and conditions. The Manchester United Credit Card offers new customers successfully applying for the card zero percent on balance transfers and money transfers for 20 months (a 3 percent handling fee and 4 percent handling fee apply respectively) and as long as they are made in the first 90 days of account opening. It also includes zero percent on card purchases for three months from the date an account is opened.

Representative example 16.9% p.a. variable on card purchases. This is equivalent to 16.9% APR representative variable based on a credit limit of £1200.

 

Two Welsh teams look forward to the start of the season in the Premiership

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The Premier League will include two Welsh Clubs, for the first time, this season following the promotion of Cardiff City in April, to join Swansea City who in 2011.

The Premier League has a global fan base, and the government of Wales wants to use these two teams as a way of marketing the country as a good place to invest. Edwina Hart, the Economy Minister, has said that this was a great opportunity for the country to advertise itself to the whole world. Welch tourism and businesses are set to reap rewards from the football that is beamed across the world.

According to the government, football clubs and politicians can work together and market the country to the many viewers across the world. Now they have Swansea jerseys being sold at the Seoul airport just like Man United shirts, a situation that was not possible 10 years ago.

In a sponsorship arrangement with the government, Visit Wales Branding can be seen inside and outside the Croesco Stand, which was originally named the Liberty Stadium’s North Stand, ever since Swansea entered the Premier League.

In a similar deal, the Canton Stand will be renamed in a £110,000 deal signed by the government and Cardiff. The question that remains to be answered is whether sports can be used to brand a country. Cardiff has hosted Teamworks, a branding company, for more than 20 years.

According to the commercial director, Tom Tribe, it is crucial for a country to create its identity and sell accurate perceptions to the global market. This kind of branding helps people to understand their identity.

He added that Welsh football has succeeded well recently, since the British and Irish Lions are mainly Welsh, and this success can be used to get the message out that although they are a part of Britain, they are also their own country too.

 

Coventry and Northampton to share a ground for the new next couple of seasons

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It’s official; after much deliberation by the Football League, Coventry Football Club have been given permission to share grounds with Northampton Football Club up until at least the 2015/16 season, much to the disappointment of their Supporters Direct fan group

The football club, currently playing in League One had to relocate after falling out with the owners of their 32,600 capacity home ground, Ricoh Arena.

Football League board of directors are said to have ‘reluctantly approved’ the request made earlier this week by the Sky Blues’ administrator, Otium Entertainment Group to have the home games played almost 35 miles from their current home ground.

A statement by The Football League said the board had ‘deep regrets’ about the fact that Coventry Football Club’s administrators could not come to a mutual and amicable resolution with the owners of the Ricoh Arena. They also stressed however that the club are not in the clear yet as they still need to meet a number of pre-set requirements before they can be granted full approval.

The statement continued, “The Board wanted to ascertain where Coventry fans will be calling their home ground for the 2013/14 season which starts less than a month away. Despite this the Board wants to stress the fact that their go ahead was merely on a conditional basis. If the club ultimately wants the approval to be permanent then they need to exit administration in line with the conditions set forth in the League’s regulations, and successfully transfer its League share.”

The statement goes on, “The administrators, Otium will need to prove to the Football League, the intentions of the club to move back to Coventry in the near future. This proof is needed in the form of a £1m Performance Bond.”