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Posts from the ‘Football misc’ Category

Jan 11

Blue Indian

It’s increasingly common that we are asked to try and facilitate introductions to football connections to underpin commercial deals or prospective partnerships.  We have to deflect more than we take forward purely in the interest of the spirit of respect, as we don’t seek to be a sales broker or ‘post man’.

This Week, we deflected a personal aspiration to meet Manchester City FC.  We had to decline with no sound, commercial reason to co-operate.  I’m guessing that with my lecturing responsibilities moving from Turf Moor to the Etihad in Semester 3 at UCFB, there might be more of such approaches but my professionalism and ethics shall not waiver.

On the other hand, I was proud to facilitate an introduction and personalised facilities tour (including players’ areas not commonly seen) for the visit of the CEO of the Bank of India.  This on behalf of a long established working relationship with Slater Heelis.  A topical thing to post in the Week that announces the annual growth of the Indian economy has exceeded, fellow BRICS county, China.

 

Dec 2

Vive la France

The aftermath of the Paris atrocities left a sour taste in mouths and minds. The delay in this posting has come from deliberation not merely a swift reflex. I admired and enjoyed the comradery of sporting bodies and fans alike. From the splendid red, white and blue of Wembley Stadium to Wembley Indoor Arena to the solidarity of the players from both French and English nations in the recent friendly match in football between both Countries. The imagery and choral endeavors of the fans in the subways even on that very same evening of bombings and shootings by the spectators casually fleeing the Stade De France.

One of the more innovative gestures of testament to the disaster was the Scottish team, Hamilton Academical FC wearing the French away strip. Sport and football wins hands down over terrorism.

Oct 30

Cobblers in financial mess

Kindly reproduced with gratitude to Development Finance Today – an article that highlights the pitfalls that can unfold in sports developmental projects when capital-build is the name of the game.  Over the years, we’ve witnessed several horror stories or simply buildings not fit for purpose for the sports for which they were intended. Also, we ‘County’ fans no the impact of loans rather than equity and how they can lead to demise of a club:

“Buckingham Group has stopped work on the redevelopment of Northampton Town’s East Stand because the contractor has claimed it is owed £3m from its client County Developments Northampton Ltd (CDNL). CDNL, which is jointly owned by Northampton Town Football Club Chairman David Cardoza and his father Anthony Cardoza, has not paid the Buckingham Group.

Northampton Town has recently been issued with a warning from Northampton Borough Council over the repayment of a £10m loan as well as being issued with a petition by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).  Buckingham Group has so far been paid a total of £442,000, net of VAT, by its initial client 1st Land Limited which received a significant proportion of the public loan through its client, Northampton Town FC.

This contract stalled after a dispute between 1st Land and the football club where Buckingham was owed £1.85m. But at the end of March, the contractor had reached an agreement with David Cardoza to return to work and complete work on the new stand.  “This agreement was based on assurances that there were adequate, additional, public loan monies that remained available to fund the completion of the East Stand works,” said Buckingham Group.

A new contract was signed by CDNL and Buckingham returned to work, but a repayment due under the contract was not paid on time in May, leading to another suspension.  Buckingham has claimed that to date, no money has been paid by CDNL and it currently owes £3m, inclusive of an element of VAT, to Buckingham for works completed and for the debt that CDNL took over from 1st Land.  This has resulted in the contractor engaging in legal action against CDNL.  “This regrettable situation has arisen through what we can only conclude is the gross mismanagement and/or the misappropriation of a very significant public loan by those in receipt of that loan,” said Buckingham Group.

“The loan sum advanced to 1st Land Ltd via Northampton Town Football Club was approximately double the value of the original construction contract for the East Stand work.”  On the 22nd October, Northampton Borough Council confirmed CNDL had been wound up, resulting in the Council to look at a wider range of ways to get its £10m loan paid back.  “Our priority is to protect the public purse and ensure that the loan is repaid in full, while also offering support to safeguard the future of the football club,” said the Council. “With that in mind, we have made proposals to David Cardoza and offered to work with the club to avoid being liquidated by the HMRC petition, and we await a decision from David Cardoza on that.”

Last week, David Cardoza said he was working night and day to secure a resolution to all the issues that the club is currently facing.  “There are plenty of headlines surrounding the club at the moment, that’s understandable, but all efforts are being dedicated to resolve this situation as soon as possible,” said David.

“I understand and accept the urgency, I understand the importance, and I am doing everything possible to remove the uncertainty surrounding the club as soon as possible.””

Oct 24

What a Week!

Next week sees the last date of my role at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).  I have enjoyed my activities and am proud of achievements.  The next challenge will come from my joining the University College of Football Business (UCFB).

This is a logical progression with thirty years in sports management and marketing – and an opportunity to build on the Associate and Guest Lecturing that I have undertaken at MMU, UCFB and University of Northampton.  I will initially lead the modules on Sports Management for Burnley and Wembley Stadium, and Lecture on enterprise in the first semester.

I believe that UCFB is the pinnacle of sports education and this Week’s developments have done nothing to dispel that belief.

On Monday, the University announced its partnership with Real Madrid. It announced: “UCFB to create first ever UK higher education partnership with Real Madrid Graduate School. From September 2016, UCFB’s postgraduate students will be given the opportunity to add to their unique experience of studying inside the famous Wembley Stadium by spending a period of time in Madrid.  The Real Madrid Graduate School’s facilities include the new Sports City and the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid.”

On Thursday, UCFB “marked a significant step in its growth with the launch of its third campus at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester. UCFB Etihad Campus will allow students to live, learn and work at the heart of one of Europe’s leading sporting facilities. UCFB’s newest location will see lectures and seminars delivered within the Etihad Stadium itself, building on the unique learning environment harnessed since the pioneering higher education institution was founded. Amongst further Etihad Campus facilities, the agreement will also see the impressive City Football Academy facilities utilised during students’ degree programmes.”

This is why I joined the University and will work whilst continuing to lead ACROBAT Consulting & Marketing LTD and FC Sports Marketing LTD.  The organisation is more commercial than other providers and proudly shows that ninety percent of final year students have secured jobs prior to final examinations.  UCFB setting the standards for others to follow.

Interested to find out more: a.stores@ucfb.com

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