Business of Sport

• Jeff Shi, Wolves Chairman: ‘How to Succeed in the Premier League & Be Financially Sustainable’

  This week, we’re delighted to welcome Wolves Chairman Jeff Shi to the show. Having been at the club since 2016, he has been a key part of the club’s rise from Championship survival to top half Premier League finishes and European quarter finals. Currently enjoying their longest run of Premier League football, there is a lot to be proud of.  Jeff hasn’t done a huge amount of interviews. With the club surviving a tricky period last year when their top flight status was at risk for half the season, now is the time to talk to the fans and wider football community about both his ambitions for the club moving forward and how he believes a club needs to be run to bring both stability and success. He is candid in his reflections; it took him a while to understand what it really takes to run a club in this country. But in this era where there is a demand for access and insight into our top teams, a Premier League Chairman keen to come and open up on his philosophies and development plans is to be admired. From signing top European players while in the Championship to building for the future with Vitor Pereira, it’s time to take a look inside a top Premier League team. On today’s show we discuss: The Wolves Project: Why Wolves is still seen as a project in progress and how the club has evolved under Fosun’s ownership What kind of long-term vision Fosun has for the club, and why sustainability now outweighs pure spending Balancing business logic with football emotion  How Wolves preserve their club identity while operating as part of a global group Why Jeff sees his role as a ‘guardian’, not just a CEO and how he tries to protect Wolves' long-term future Player Trading and Squad Building: How Wolves approach squad construction after big-name departures Why Jeff doesn’t regret selling key players and what he looks for in a signing beyond just talent How Jorge Mendes, data, and direct club scouting all influence Wolves’ recruitment model The economics of selling academy players and why the club must now “sell smart” Why Wolves is one of the best clubs in Europe for young players to develop Financial Reality of the Premier League: Why Wolves' net spend has dropped and why that doesn’t reflect a lack of ambition How the club is adapting to stricter FFP regulations and evolving its internal culture What fans misunderstand about sustainability, profit, and the cost of competing with richer clubs The challenge of stadium redevelopment and how infrastructure investment plays into the club’s future A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC

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• Mark Fairbrother, Millwall Managing Director: ‘Is This The Most Misunderstood Club in Football?’ (Ep75)

  This week, we’re delighted to welcome Millwall’s Managing Director Mark Fairbrother to the show. This is a football club that many people both in and out of football have a preconceived idea about, built around historical associations with hooliganism and social unrest. These perceptions are rooted in media portrayal, cultural symbolism and sociopolitical factors rather than the club’s present day values. So, what does the Millwall of today represent and stand for? Off the back of a hugely successful Championship campaign which saw the club fighting for a play-off spot on the last day of the season, eventually finishing 8th, Mark is building both a club that can push the boundaries of its modest budgets (comparative to their competitors) and act as a pillar of the community. Football clubs are more influential than ever to the people that support them and localities they serve; this is a club going a step further. We’re very excited to bring you this; an insight into one of England’s most notable clubs intent on rooting itself high up the football pyramid.  On today’s show we discuss: The Millwall Identity: What makes Millwall unique and why does the club's reputation precede it? How does the club lean into its history without being constrained by outdated stereotypes? What does “no one likes us, we don’t care” mean to the leadership today? Is it a challenge or a strategic asset? Can a club change how it’s seen without losing its soul? Running a Championship Club: How do you balance short-term results with long-term stability in a volatile league? What are the day-to-day commercial realities of Championship football? How does Millwall approach player trading and squad investment with limited resources? How do media rights and the recent Sky deal affect clubs like Millwall? Is the EFL sustainable as a whole or are financial disparities becoming too great? Football Business vs. Football Culture What are the pressures of running a club where emotion runs high, but margins are tight? How do you manage fan expectations while still being fiscally responsible? Is the modern football club more like a community anchor or a business enterprise and what happens when those two pull in different directions? What’s the biggest misconception fans have about how football clubs are run? Millwall's Future What does success look like for Millwall? Is it promotion, survival, or something else? How is the club investing in infrastructure, community, and culture to grow sustainably? What are Millwall’s ambitions on and off the pitch in the next five years? Can the club compete with parachute-funded rivals while staying true to its values? What role does leadership at club level play in shaping the future of the Championship? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC  

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• Carl Frampton, Fmr Boxing World Champion: ‘How to Win in the Brutal Business of Boxing' (Ep74)

  This week we’re delighted to welcome Carl Frampton to the show. Second dive into boxing is long overdue and so much has happened since we last visited the sport. A boxing legend and Ring Magazine ‘Fighter of the Year’ in 2016, he was the first Northern Irishman to hold world titles in two weight classes, Carl is recognised as one of the best fighters of his generation. As you may expect, there is far more to him than the success he achieved in the ring. This was also the time for us to understand what the life of a top class fighter looks like, and how the business of the sport works from the athlete’s perspective. Saudi involvement has elevated both prize money and fight calibre in recent times, correcting some of the big problems in the sport and making the fights that everyone wants to see actually happen. But this hasn’t always been the case, and from the promotion world that can consist of exploitation and mismanagement to the challenge of driving commercial opportunities building the brand of the individual, Carl’s story is one of both past and present. Now one of the leading media figures in the sport as well as exploring a number of business ventures including his own whiskey brand, we take a look inside a sport that is re-establishing itself as one of the major assets in global entertainment. Whether a fan of Carl or just fascinated by the boxing industry, this is one you’ll enjoy.  On today’s show we discuss: Boxing Industry: A Good Place to be? Why is professional boxing considered by Frampton to be a “crooked” and exploitative business? What happened in Carl Frampton’s legal dispute with Barry McGuigan, and what does it reveal about fighter vulnerability? Is the real danger in boxing the fights themselves, or the hundreds of rounds of sparring in training camps? What can be done at the coaching level to reduce head trauma and protect fighters? Business of Boxing:  How does a fighter’s earning potential evolve from early career to world championship level? What role do management structures play in limiting or enabling endorsement and sponsorship deals? Why did Frampton earn more from sponsorships after leaving his initial management, even without a world title? Why is building a brand now essential for boxers to reach the top commercially? Who are the best and worst examples of fighters whose success (or lack thereof) was defined by branding? Changing World of Boxing: How has Saudi Arabia, and specifically Turki Al-Alshikh, changed the boxing landscape? Why are previously impossible matchups now becoming reality, and how did the Saudi-backed model enable this? Does influencer boxing help or hurt the sport overall? How are fighters like Jake Paul impacting the visibility and pay of other boxers, especially women? Is jealousy among traditional boxers driving backlash against influencer fights? Fighter Psychology & Motivation: How did Frampton’s mindset evolve through his career, and did he ever truly enjoy boxing? Why did he set a retirement age early on, and how did that shape his choices in the ring? What motivates fighters to retire and then return and is it often driven by financial pressures? How are fighters like Jake Paul impacting the visibility and pay of other boxers, especially women? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC  

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• Rufus Hack, Sony Sports CEO: ‘From The Makers of VAR; Is Tech Making Sport Better? (Ep73)

  This week we’re delighted to welcome Sony Sports CEO Rufus Hack to the show. Strap in, this is a reveal on how technology is changing sport, from the man that brings us Goal Line Technology, VAR, TMO, DRS and much more. Sony have been elevating their proposition, developing on the established Music, Entertainment and Playstation divisions to influence sport and deliver crossover value as sport converges with the modern entertainment industry. Through their ownership of Hawkeye, Rufus oversees the company that is implementing some of the most important changes in sport; the decision review systems aimed at increasing accuracy and elevating sporting products. As you know, this doesn’t come without its challenges. What this conversation reveals is a fascinating perspective on how this tech is created and then implemented by the various sports with varying degrees of success. How do we ensure the tech delivers what we need it to via ensuring it is properly applied, because it’s rarely a fault of the tech; normally a fault of the operator. On top of this, leveraging Toy Story IP in an NFL environment and an assessment of the crazy golfing landscape completes a truly unique and different show. On today’s show we discuss: Sony’s Role in Sport: How Sony’s global footprint, spanning India, the UK, and South Asia, gives it a unique vantage point in the sports broadcasting world. The strategic importance of local relevance in international rights and how Sony tailors its offering to cricket, football, and combat sports fans. How Sony’s sports business sits within the broader Sony Group and the advantages (and limitations) of operating within one of the world’s most diversified media companies. What is the acqusition strategy of the company looking to make moves in a new environment? VAR & Decision Review: How VAR is implemented differently across sports and the importance of education supporting accurate usage. The global standardisation of officiating technology and what federations need to get right before adopting tools like Hawk-Eye. The importance of a move to fully automated offside and broader decision making, removing the chance of human error. Is 95+% VAR accuarcy reliable enough when the cost is so great on fan emotion and experience? The evolution of decision review systems (DRS) in cricket and the growing fan expectation for accuracy, transparency, and speed in officiating. Changing World of Sport: How fans’ media habits are fragmenting, and why that makes sports content more valuable, not less. The tension between global streaming consolidation and the regional nuance required to serve true fanbases. Why leagues and federations need to rethink rights packaging, data usage, and storytelling in a world of short attention spans and instant feedback. The role of AI and automated production in driving cost-effective coverage, and how Sony is investing in next-gen workflows. What Rufus sees as the biggest challenges and opportunities for sports media businesses over the next 5–10 years, and why the traditional broadcaster vs. streamer narrative is missing the bigger picture. A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC    

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• Ryan Sparks, Bradford City CEO: ‘We’re a Big Club But We Haven’t had Enough Big Success’ (Ep72)

  Today we’re delighted to welcome Bradford City CEO Ryan Sparks to the show. Promotions don’t come much more dramatic than Bradford City’s 96th minute winner on the final day of the season to seal promotion to league one. We know how important it is to move through the leagues for both the business and performance side of clubs.  Bradford is a team with immense support, Premier League history, a 25,000 seater stadium…but it’s been a chaotic 25 years since leaving the premier league. Administration, relegations, England's 4th tier, cup finals; moments of real lows with a sprinkling of hope. That’s football to most.  We primarily think of the extreme pressure and scrutiny in football falling on the players, but executives shoulder a huge portion of that too. Once the youngest CEO in the EFL at 29, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Ryan. But with the first major steps achieved, this is the man in charge of restoring a great club’s successes with the platform now to build from.  On today’s show we discuss: How Promotion was Achieved: The story (from the boardroom) and that crazy final day which saw Bradford promoted with almost the last kick of the season. How does the performance and business sides of the club differ when it comes to handling the pressures of results. What needs to be in place to achieve promotion, and how well are the club set up to perform in League One? How do the finances of Bradford compare to other teams in League Two and does success correlate with financial capabilities? Recovering from previous relegations and the impact past failures had on being able to bounce back. Business of Bradford: How to create a stable £8-9m business in League Two. What areas of the business and most influential in generating revenue for the club and how does it compare to other teams in the division? Being careful not to fall into the major problem in football finances today; sustainability defined as ‘sustainable losses’. What is the economic impact of promotion? Does having a 25,000 seater stadium significantly increase the earning potential of Bradford, or is there a downside? EFL Opportunities and Challenges: How have Wrexham and Birmingham (among others) impacted the financial demands on clubs in lower league football? How the new media deal actually did not favour Bradford…why did they still vote for it? ‘The English Pyramid’ is the greatest footballing institution in football; how do you protect its financial capabilities while continuing to celebrate Premier League success? Can a football club really protect itself from overspending? A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: RUNNA Whether you’re an existing use or if it’s your first time on the app, use the code below for exclusive access! https://join.runna.com/lKmc/redeem?code=BOSRUNNA Revolut Click the link below to sign up and get your £200 welcome bonus! https://get.revolut.com/z4lF/20VC  

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