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Tackles the important issues, challenges the mainstream view - opinion, not opinionated !
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It really does seem like the lunatics are running the asylum.
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When normally sane, sensible and successful businessmen enter the football fraternity, they seem to forget all the lessons that their long business careers have taught them. Financial plans and business systems that they would never have looked at in the world of commerce are suddenly okay and acceptable in the football sphere. It really does seem like the lunatics are running the asylum.
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Lets start with that wonderful old club, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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The Chairman, Steve Morgan, who has a successful business career behind him, in my opinion, has committed some cardinal sins in the running of his football club.
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The previous manager, Mick McCarthy, had kept the club in the division for the previous two years but it was self evident that this season would be another one of struggle for Wolverhampton.
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Steve Morgan had interviews with the press and even used the social media to make comments that in my opinion, cast doubt on McCarthy's management. If this was his intent and he really did feel this way, why didn't he axe his manager before the January transfer window and let a new man come in with some money to spend so that he could bring in some of his own players ?
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The chairman waited until late into February when, after a home defeat to local rivals West Bromwich Albion, he suddenly decided that it was time for change. He had not lined up any new manager prior to the dismissal of McCarthy and in some ways, worse than this, he interviewed experienced managers who in my opinion, were never going to take the job under the caveat of having to keep Wolves up.
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Why would an established manager with a good reputation, risk that reputation over thirteen games when he is unable to bring in any players ?
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The situation dragged on and eventually Morgan was forced to turn to McCarthy's sidekick and assistant manager, Terry Connor. The players would have been coached by Connor before, heard his voice in the dressing room before and over a period of time seen him as an integral part of the old regime.
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Why sack the manager when no replacement is ready ?
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Why do it at the time he did ?
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Why sack the shepherd then appoint one of his sheep ?
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Steve Morgan would never have adopted this business model in his commercial business. If he were to get rid of the Chief Executive he would make damn sure of his new appointment before doing so.
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After watching Wolves play Blackburn last weekend they looked like a plane in freefall. They certainly lack class but they now seem to be lacking in spirit and organisation. The defence is as porous as a colander. We all accept that there have to be winners and losers in football but I do feel that the long-suffering Wolverhampton Wanderers supporters have been badly led.
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The recent events at Chelsea Football Club are no better.
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Abramovich, the Russian owner, paid Porto FC 13.4 million in compensation to secure the services of the thirty three year old Andreas Villas Boas.
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He that is Abramovich, decided to dispense with the services of Ancelotti, an experienced and proven manager, for those of this young man from Portugal. He did have some brief success with Porto after being one of Jose Mourinhou's staff. In the chosen ones time at Chelsea he prepared reports on upcoming opponents.
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Villas Boas was thrown into the Chelsea cauldron with a brief to make the style of play more attractive and to change the age profile of the playing staff. It was not his fault that he lacked experience at such a high profile club because it was the owner's decision to bring him to Chelsea. This would be very much like a young proprietor of a small bed and breakfast hostel getting the managers job at The Savoy.
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It was quite early in his reign that it became obvious that several senior players were not happy with his ideas or his leadership. Some players like Frank Lampard were older that the newly appointed manager and had already won several league titles. Villas Boas failed to man manage these huge egos and the owner patently failed to publicly support his manager.
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Just like Wolverhampton, if a change was to be made, it should have been made before the January transfer window but again the owner made the change in late February with only a handful of games to go.
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Again, just like Wolverhampton, who got the new temporary appointment ? The assistant - Roberto Di Matteo. The pattern again is clear as the assistant was closely linked with the previous occupant. The senior players had won and had their way and the owner is millions of pounds out of pocket.
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Abramovich appointed Villas Boas on a whim and paid for it through the nose. Abramovich is a billionaire and surely in his business dealings he would never be so cavalier as to his senior leadership. Again the hard world of business is turned on its head when it comes to football. The revolution at Chelsea will have to wait and they will do well to qualify for The Champions League. The owners burning desire to lift The Champions League trophy seems further away than ever.
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The recent financial demise of Glasgow Rangers Football Club is perhaps the most surprising of all.
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This is a giant of a club that stands with Celtic like a colossus over Scottish football. It represents more than a football club because of its association to its British and Protestant links.
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While Celtic essentially represent the Catholic community, Rangers represent the other side. They have a huge fan base not only in Scotland but also throughout the world. They have a passionate support of tens of thousands in the stadium and millions throughout the wider Scottish community.
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Fred Donnelly held a Football Association full qualifying licence and coached the 15-16 olds at Arsenal Football Club for 15 years before going on to become the full time Director of coaching for the Arsenal Women's Academy.
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Craig Whyte, again a fairly successful businessman, took over the chairmanship of this great club. He made huge promises to the fan base and committed himself to a heavy burden of spending.
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The Scottish Football Association, to their dishonour in my opinion, did not do a fit and proper test of this man's ability to run a leading football club. Income tax was not paid; VAT was not paid and visiting clubs legally owed money were not paid.
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A large and expensive playing squad was assembled but with little or, no relationship to the financial state of this great giant. The club is now in administration and players are taking huge wage cuts in order for it to survive. Scottish football cannot afford to let the financial wolf pack eat this great club away. They are too much part of the fabric of Scottish society and every club in the premier division needs the monies generated when they visit. It is yet again a sorry tale of financial mismanagement and business stupidity.
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...and this financial stupidity isn't a new thing
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If we go back a few years to the time of Peter Ridsdale, the then chairman of Leeds United, it is easy to see. He took Leeds to the semi final of the Champions League and to the edge of bankruptcy and near extinction. Again, he was a successful businessman who, in my opinon, got into the football world and let vanity rule his common sense.
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It's rumoured that, at the height of their spending spree, he went to sign a player whose agent told him that they were going to ask for a certain figure in wages, but then, negotiate down to a lower figure. Supposedly, the original offer from Ridsdale was well above their highest expectations, but when he saw the player's and the player's agent's jaws drop (in bewilderment presumably), to their complete astonishment, he offered even more money ! The player concerned didn't do particularly well for Leeds, but if true, this stands as a fine example of the alleged financial mismanagement that was rife within the club. It is said that he even employed a man just to look after the gold fish in the director's area! Peter Ridsdale is still in football and it looks like he learned his lessons the hard way.
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Liverpool will be fortunate to finish 6th or, 7th in the league
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Last season, the American owners of Liverpool Football Club decided to part company with Roy Hodgson and appoint, at least on a temporary basis, the old Liverpool legend, Kenny Dalglish.
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After a short courtship, the results improved though, not dramatically, but they decided nevertheless, to make the appointment full time. They gave the old warhorse, Dalglish, a huge war chest of money to spend on new players and hopefully, take Liverpool back into the Champions League where they believed they belonged.
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I accept they won the League Cup this season, but as far as Champions League Football is concerned, they are further away than ever. They will be fortunate to finish 6th or 7th in the league. All this after spending a King's ransom on a number of players who have had very limited success at this great club.
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Andy Carroll was brought in from Newcastle for a fee approaching fifty million. So far, he has been an unqualified failure. Jordan Henderson was brought in at great expense from Sunderland and he too has failed to make an impact on the team. Stuart Downing was brought in, but again, he has failed to really make an impact. Dalglish went again to Newcastle and spent large amounts of money to acquire the left back, Jose Enrique. He also, went to Blackpool and paid good money for Charlie Adam, the midfield player.
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All these expensive additions have only marginally improved the club. The one player who has been a successful addition is Luis Suarez who Dalglish acquired from Amsterdam giant Ajax. However, Suarez, good player that he is, does not seem to be a proven goal scorer and Liverpool are desperate for goals.
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For Liverpool to take a giant stride into The Champions League elite, large amounts more will have to be invested. Will the American owners patience run thin or, will they once again give Dalglish another war chest to spend ?
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Liverpool desperately needs to move to a new ground, as the capacity at Anfield cannot match that of other clubs. If money is spent on players, will any money be left to spend on ground improvements and if not, where will the self-sustaining financial model come from ?
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I have a feeling that if it was anyone other than Kenny Dalglish, the patience of the owners would already have worn away.
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For all the talk by EUFA of financial fair play and sustainable business models in football, it does not seem to happen. Whether it is rich Arabs, rich Russians, rich Americans or simply previously successful businessmen, the football world is an open pit that swallows up money by the billions.
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a private message for the web site administrator
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February 16, 2014 - 08:31 am
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February 13, 2014 - 06:20 am
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March 22, 2012 - 11:43 pm
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Good point around Liverpool needing a bigger ground, but now not in a position to expand. Makes one glad to be an Arsenal supporter considering that the stadium has already been built, and is on the way to being paid down. Will be hard for Liverpool to get there without Champions League money.
Cheers,
Graham
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March 22, 2012 - 10:46 pm
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Hi Fred: Enjoyed your commentary. As an Arsenal supporter there are times of course when I want to be critical for sure but when you compare to most clubs.....Wolves falls into the sad cases.
Regards, Peter
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March 22, 2012 - 03:35 pm
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Hi Freddie boy - good stuff. When is your next one? - there is loads of stuff that needs airing. Get your administrator to get the articles on an RSS feed so I know when there is a new one. Well done - John
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March 16, 2012 - 05:31 am
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Hi Fred,
Welcome to our web site and thank you for writing and submitting your first article to us. I am sure that it will be the first of many.
A fascinating insight into the tangled financial mess that some owners have got their football clubs into.
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