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Jun 15

Stockport Fans S'PORT
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Supporters’ Directive

An ultimatum and directive have resulted from a perceived mis-use of social media by the then Chief Executive of Supporters’ Direct (SD). It is the overseeing organisation formed by the Government (with cross-party agreement) to provide support to ‘supporters’ trusts (fans) to secure a greater level of accountability and democracy within football clubs and more recently in other sports.  

The alleged remarks, reported in The Guardian, made his position untenable and has resulted in his, only this week, using the hashtag on the same platform, Twitter, #gizzajob.

£1.2M funding has been pulled (SD’s enabling fund for the next three years).  This decision courtesy of the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF), a grant-giving body the Premier League wholly finances. The FSIF board stated the withdrawal of funds was in response to insulting comments, including swearing, by the Chief Executive after AFC Wimbledon won promotion to the Football League.  Naturally some of our clients are pro-greater supporters’ involvement as was much of our recent Turkish conference.  I have only worked on projects in consultation with former SD employees Brian Lomax (earlier Managing Director) and Simon Binns who conducted themselves professionally (others less so) – and a former Director, Sean Hamil now at Birkbeck College, who was credible as a guest speaker at our aforementioned conference also.

Jun 12

Vernon Bear

Hoddlegate

So National media today publishes an interest in investment by GHA (Glenn Hoddle Academy) to Stockport County.  No surprises where this might have come from with the Tottenham connection.  A strategic alliance ‘yes’ but takeover ‘not sure’.  With ‘Wardy’ and ‘Lordy’ currently in post, the indigenous team are more than capable of continuing their already impressive record of talent spotting and developing youth.  I could even assist with my Turkish connections. 

My fear is the amount of times that unfounded or unscrupulous characters crawl out to express a desire in owning a football club.  I have witnessed it many times with some household names expressing a potential bid but our ‘due diligence’ actually confirming that they haven’t got a “pot to piss in”.  

The latest publicity will appeal to the fans, but I offer a word of caution on premature excitement.  If some of the characters supposedly involved are true, then I’m already nervous. And claims of Council-relationships that mean an iconic new stadium cause me concern – as that’s not what I’ve heard. 

Whilst, it’s rare for me to agree with much that “County” do these days, I do think that “show me the money” and an honest and robust appraisal is fundamental.

Jun 11

Football Book

Deloitte reports

It’s that time again – the birth of “Deloitte Football Money League 2011” report. Now in its 14th year, often an interesting barometer on football finance and good PR for Deloitte!

You can download the Report.  Some key contents:

(1)    The full ranking of the top 20 Money League clubs including total revenues and the breakdown of the three sources – matchday, broadcast and commercial incomes. 

(2)    Feature article assesses each of the three key revenue streams, listing the top 20 clubs for each, whilst comparing and contrasting these lists with the overall top 20.

In the English Premier League (EPL), clubs posted an all-time high with losses of £445M.  This, the result despite generating record income of £2Bn.  Though note with a time lag in reporting the analysis relates to pre-tax losses in financial year 2009-2010. Of the top 7 clubs in EPL only Arsenal made an actual profit! Is Wolverhampton Wanderers the UK’s top football club? 

A Division below, the Championship League shows a similar trend with £133M losses.  There are plans to adopt “in principle” financial rules similar to those designed by European soccer’s governing body, UEFA. This it is envisaged will reduce insolvencies in the game. Watch this space?  Too many ills in my view to expect improved health in English football overnight, without a new and improved ‘medication’!!

Jun 9

Stockport County Fans Edgeley Park
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Who are your favourites?

No doubt not everyones choice but just picked ‘my all time’ team at Stockport last night (since I’ve been watching):

1. Paul Jones 1996-1997 Another Welsh international goalkeeper. I can recall at least three in my lifetime. Bought from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

2. Sean Connolly 1992-2001 Plucked from obscurity in amateur football in Sheffield where studying to be a physio. Now same job at Cardiff City, up until recently under former ‘County’ manager, David Jones. ‘No smoke no fire’.

3. John Hardiker 2005 Hardiker was a product of the academy system at Morecambe where he made his first full appearance at the age of 16. The same management I’m currently assisting at Stalybridge Celtic. He moved in 2002 for a fee of £150,000 to Stockport County where he famously scored two goals in a prominent victory over Manchester City. Could have picked Paul Williams here!

4. Les Bradd 1978-1981 31 goals from central defence, some notable record. Solid player. Last time I saw him was in the commercial department at Nottingham Forest. Close run with Bill Williams; Les was mainly a striker, but in defence often at “County”.

5. Tommy Sword 1979-1986 More than 230 appearances from the Geordie defender. Bought as a player who played up front but played at the rear for the team – though did score 51 goals. Believe now runs a pub in the North East.

6. Chris Marsden 1996-1997  424 appearances in the Football League and scored 22 goals as a left footed midfielder. He first came on the radar at Huddersfield Town before successful spells at Stockport County and Birmingham City.

7. Tony Hancock 1988-1989  Got from ‘Sunday league football’ I recall. Gave you that real lift of excitement every time he got the ball with his trickery in dribbling and pace.

8. Anthony Pilkington 2006-2009  Joined County from Atherton after being spotted by scoring a hat-trick against FC United of Manchester. Prominent in the 2007 record-breaking team. Now at one of my clients, Huddersfield Town.

9. Kevin Francis 1991-1995 (+2000) Never to be forgotten. Away fans teased him with ‘circus tunes’ targeting his 6ft 7 inches (2.01 metres) frame, yet he often had last laugh as a towering goal scorer terrorising the oppositions’ defences (especially in the air!). 28 league goals in consecutive seasons with Stockport in 1992-93 and 1993-94. Obtained from Derby County reserves.

10. Micky Quinn 1982-83 Now a media pundit but once a feared striker. Always a bit on the podgy side, yet those first few steps often set him apart and enabled 39 goals in 63 appearances. We picked him up from Wigan where they got shot of him saying he’d never make it in professional football. An occasional drinking partner of mine when at College in Portsmouth. 

11. Louis Cavaco 1996 -1998 Wizzard on the run, never forget that goal against West Ham in the League Cup (away). One of only a few Portuguese players to have been at Stockport.

12. Neil Edwards 1991-1997 Seem to recall got from Leeds United reserves. Welsh stopper with only real limitation that not the tallest in the game! 

13. Tommy Rowe 2007 – 2009 A player with so much potential, unfortunately sacrificed at the time of the Club’s financial difficulties by a transfer for a miniscule fee to Peterborough United. 

14. George Best 1975  Needs no further introduction R.I.P yet only played 4 games for the Club. 

15. Les Chapman 1979 (and 1985) Midfielder; also managed the Club. Came from San Jose Earthquakes back to UK and “County”. 

16. Ashley Williams 2003 -2008 162 appearances and only 3 goals. One of last must have been that scorcher against Rochdale (away). Bought from Hednesford Town. Now in premiership with Swansea City. 

I know I have missed some other talented players out, but this was my first attempt at listing players that have most entertained me over the years. What a team though! 4-4-2 with Francis and Quinn up front.

Who have I had most contact with, well that’s different. Drinking or just in same place, Andy Thorpe, Carlo Nash, Micky Quinn, Paul Jones (defender), Nicky Brookman, Lee Todd etc. Absent but not forgotten are: Rickie Lambert, Rob Clare, Carl Baker, Alun Armstrong, Stuart Lee etc.  They are all in my very own ‘Hall of Stockport County Legends’. Who would you pick?

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