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.