Business of Sport
The show that takes you behind the scenes with the industry's biggest owners, operators and athletes. It's the game you don't see!
Episodes
THE BREAKDOWN: AC Milan’s Multi Billion Gamble, The Power of the Tour de France, & Tennis Player’s Limp ‘Boycott’ (E26)
England are still alive at the World Cup, but only just, and as the tournament properly gets going, Thomas Tuchel’s big selection calls are starting to look a little more uncomfortable. We’ll get into that, before heading to Wimbledon where Serena Williams’ return gave the tournament the talking point it probably needed, and the players’ prize money protest raises the obvious question: if you’re g
Colin Graves: From £25m in Debt to £15m in the Bank: How The Hundred Saved Yorkshire (Ep126)
County cricket. This is long overdue. If we wanted to do this properly, the was really only one place to start, so I’m delighted to welcome Colin Graves to the show. Colin has held positions at the top of international and domestic cricket as Chair of the ECB and Yorkshire, a role he was re-elected to in 2024 as the club faces some of the biggest decisions in its storied history.The stark reality
THE BREAKDOWN: The Real Impact of Man United’s Spiralling Debt, FIFA Claim 99% Attendance Record & Why Has Serena Williams Returned (E25)
With two weeks of edge of your seat football, it’s fair to say that the World Cup is delivering on the pitch. But what about all the noise around tickets and pricing and non-football exploits that dominated the news pre-tournament? Time to check in on that, alongside Serena Williams incredible return to Wimbledon in the singles draw at 44, Ben Stokes being back in the fold for the final test with
Monty Panesar: From Bowling Tendulkar & Saving Ashes Tests to the Challenge of Life After Cricket (Ep125)
Today we’re delighted to welcome Monty Panesar to the show. A brilliant servant to English cricket, Monty played 50 Test matches for his country, took Sachin Tendulkar as his first Test wicket, became the first Sikh to play Test cricket for England, and of course pulled off The Great Escape with Jimmy Anderson in Cardiff in 2009, one of the great modern Ashes memories.But what made Monty stand out
THE BREAKDOWN: Burnley’s £35m Win Opens the Floodgates, F1 on Water is Making it’s Mark, & The World Cup is Great (E24)
What a start to the World Cup. What was all the fuss about? As often happens, football seems to have taken over from the outside which is what everyone wanted to see, but we’ll give it another week before reviewing the ticketing and commercial delivery we couldn’t stop talking about in the run up. It is the turn of Burnley and Everton to take the limelight after the landmark £35m compensation ruli
Liam Scully: The Story of Lincoln City’s Promotion Miracle (Ep124)
When we sit down with football club CEO’s, we hear about plans, ambitions, challenges, expectations. These are some of the most scrutinised jobs you could wish for, a privilege but also a huge responsibility. When Lincoln City shocked football this season, in what could only be described as romping to the League One title and therefore promotion to the Championship, getting their excellent CEO Lia
THE BREAKDOWN: FIFA’s Big World Cup Mistake, Horse Racing’s Civil War & England Cricket at it Again (E23)
Huge news this week. It’s Charlie’s birthday, his 50th he’ll be happy for me to tell you, not that that is a surprise for those of you who are watching this; the studio got an impressive one day makeover. As his present, we let him dive back into the world of horse racing and deliver another knockout segment as Epsom and Ascot fill the sporting calendar. Add to this the long awaited start of the W
Jean-Éric Vergne: How To Recover From Losing Your F1 Seat (Ep123)
We’re back to four wheels today as we welcome Jean-Éric Vergne to the studio. JEV, as he is known in the world of motorsport, has seen it all in a career that has spanned F1, Formula E and Le Mans to name but a few. He raced in 51 Grand Prix’s as part of the Red Bull Racing family with Toro Rosso and is Formula E’s only double world champion.Now JEV is not known for being reserved with his opinion
THE BREAKDOWN: Should the Olympics Pay Athletes, The Problem Facing Women’s Football, & F1 Lands Another Mega Deal (E22)
It’s a huge week so let’s go. Athlete pay. We haven’t been able to escape it in recent weeks and with IOC President Kirsty Coventry’s recent comments suggesting there would be no change to her stance on athletes earning money at the Olympics, we go head first into the why and what should happen when an organisation that generation generates €8 billion euros in revenue per cycle and doesn’t pay the
Kieran Gibbs: Arsenal’s Title Win, The Bitcoin Salary & Moving to Beckham’s Miami (Ep122)
An Arsenal icon in the seat this week at the perfect time to reflect on the incredible season The Gunners have had despite their Champions League final loss. Kieran Gibbs played 229 Games for Arsenal, won 3 FA Cups, lived that late Wenger years, Emirates transition, and the balance between opportunity and pressure that comes with playing for one of the top teams in Europe.That’s what we know him f
THE BREAKDOWN: Premier League Winners & Losers, Enhanced Games Makes Its Entrance, & The World of Rugby League (E21)
With the Premier League coming to a close and with it, the hypotheticals we’ve been talking about for the last few months becoming reality, it’s time to look at the real winners and losers from this season. Who has performed to expectation based on money spent and who is well short of it? You’ll guess a few. Add to that a look at Rugby League ahead of the Challenge Cup Final (this is the most requ
Kyle Edmund: “When you’re 13 you DON’T really understand the call you’re making” (Ep121)
As the tennis summer gets going, we’re delighted to welcome Kyle Edmund to the show. Former British number one, world number 14, Grand Slam semi finalist, two ATP titles; there are some serious achievements to put to Kyle’s name. That and of course the aura that comes with playing in one of the greatest eras tennis has seen.Having retired last year at the age of 30 after years battling serious inj
THE BREAKDOWN: Does County Cricket Have a Future, ‘Small’ Clubs Are Outsmarting The Elite & Chelsea’s Alonso Move (E20)
What a week. If you’re here for a bit of Spygate, we released a bonus show yesterday just on that topic. When we recorded this, the outcome hadn’t been confirmed. But what we did have is a huge week of topics to catch up on, from Alonso joining Chelsea to Salah throwing Slot under the bus again to Jannik Sinner winning the Masters Golden Slam. Add to this a long awaited look at county cricket in E
SPYGATE SPECIAL | The Full Impact of Southampton’s Playoff Disqualification
The Spygate scandal has rocked the Championship playoffs. In a special emergency episode of ‘The Breakdown’, Charlie & Charlie unpack Southampton’s expulsion, the legal drama, the impact on fans and players, and what it means for the integrity of English football.Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry.
Tymal Mills: From Nearly Retiring at 22 to a Mega IPL Deal & OnlyFans Partnerships (Ep120)
Today we’re delighted to welcome Tymal Mills to the show. One of the fastest bowlers to grace cricket, Tymal has had a fascinating career. Forced to specialise as a T20 player because of injury, much of his career has been spent touring the world playing franchise cricket.He is World Cup winner with England, the leading wicket taker in The Hundred, one of the most expensive IPL buys in history, an
THE BREAKDOWN: What’s Going on at Real Madrid & Tennis Players Threaten Grand Slam STRIKE (E19)
This week, it is two huge topics that dominate the discussion. For those of you with a passion for football, the chaos engulfing Real Madrid at the moment on multiple fronts will no doubt have caught your attention. From the 70m signatures on a petition to remove Mbappe from the club to the Tchouameni/Valverde fight that ended up in hospital, not to mention the return of Jose Mourinho, there is a
From Running Man United Women to Becoming a CEO in the EFL | Polly Bancroft, Grimsby Town (Ep119)
Today, we are delighted to welcome one of the very few female CEO’s in the English Football League. Polly Bancroft spearheads the Grimsby Town revolution that has seen the club thrive across the board, currently vying for a place in the League Two play-off final. We recorded this a few days before the disappointing 2-1 first-leg loss of Grimsby’s play-off semi final with Salford, but it’s still al
THE BREAKDOWN: West Ham on the Brink, Are Sports Teams Just Brands & The WNBA’s Big Cash Play (E18)
After a bucket load of requests, it’s time to talk about West Ham. I’ve been nervous about discussing them because I didn’t want to inflict the Breakdown curse and condemn them to relegation, but their situation on the pitch when reviewed against the wider business needs discussing. I think they’ve been getting off lightly. Add to that a look at what happens when a sports executive dares to sugges
Tom Tainton: The Plan to Win The Prem, The Ilona Maher Effect & Building a Modern Rugby Club: Bristol Bears CEO (Ep118)
This week we welcome Bristol Bears CEO Tom Tainton to the show. With a new league structure recently announced and some high profile investments across the Prem, this is a great time to talk rugby and look at one of the top clubs pushing for their first title, to take them to the next level.Now since we recorded this show last week, there has been a lot of blowback from some fans and media based o
THE BREAKDOWN: F1 is Back, The Craziest Promotion of All Time & How the Sub-2 Marathon Shows Athletics’ Big Problem (E17)
After a huge week of golf and snooker last time out, we’re breaking more new ground this week. The sub two hour marathon; it’s finally been achieved in an official race when Sebastian Sawe won the London Marathon at the weekend. But do the athletes achieving these feats get the recognition they deserve? As is there a broader problem facing athletics as fights for attention in the most competitive
From Selecting Clubs to Signing Deals: Football’s Hidden Partnership | Chris Richards, Crystal Palace & Alan Redmond, Roc Nation (Ep117)
Player & Agent; we’ve been targeting a show like this for years, and today we bring it to you. This relationship is one of the most important in sport, but shrouded in mystery and hear say, often not portraying either side in the best light.You can put that all aside today. Crystal Palace centre back and the USA’s Men’s Player of the Year Chris Richards joined us with his agent Alan Redmond to
THE BREAKDOWN: LIV on the Brink, The Premier League’s Big End of Season Showdown, & Snooker Back in the Big Time (E16)
Spoiler alert, while I’m recording this after Liam Rosenior got the sack from Chelsea, we recorded the show just before the 3-0 defeat to Brighton. For those of you familiar with the show you’ll not be surprised by my sentiments: what a shambles! I’m not too upset we don’t get to talk about it today because what more is there to be said other than, yes he blew a big chance to succeed, but the deci
Tom Burwell: How Sunderland Have Positioned Themselves for Premier League Success (Ep116)
A huge show for you today with a Premier League club flying high in their first season back at the top. Sunderland have had a difficult and well documented 10 years, but under the ownership of Kyril Louis Dreyfus and the Bia Sports team, the good times are coming back. Tom Burwell has taken over as interim CEO as the club plan the next phase of this growth story. He delivers one of the most impres
THE BREAKDOWN: There’s NO Excuse if Arsenal Collapse & Why Women’s Rugby is Nailing its Development (E15)
What a weekend of sport it was last week. Rory’s Masters triumph, Grand National bashing for the bookies, Premier League blown wide open, and Championship relegation heating up with the Scottish title race. Dialling in, it’s Arsenal who are in the sights this week, and I knew they would be at 2:30pm on Saturday when they were booed off the pitch while 9 points clear in the Prem having lost 2-1 to
John Grabowski: KSI, Andy Carroll, & The Dagenham & Redbridge Revival (Ep115)
Dagenham & Redbridge has been all over the footballing news in recent weeks. A takeover fronted by John Grabowski and Happy Fan Group saw KSI come on board as a minority owner while Andy Carroll has been enjoying his time both on the pitch and in the dugout. Therefore this was never going to be your normal football club conversation.Non-League football in the UK is highly competitive. There is
THE BREAKDOWN: Italian football in Crisis, is the Grand National losing it’s magic, & Chelsea break ANOTHER unwanted record (E14)
Today it’s the turn of Italian football to take the spotlight. To say it has been a disappointing week for Italy would be an understatement. Missing out on their third World Cup in a row is quite incredible for the four time champions. But why is this happening? What is the root cause? Because this is now more than a blip. Add to this a dive back into horse racing ahead of Grand National weekend a
Maheta Molango: Pay, Calendar & Injuries: The Consequences of Football’s Exploitation (Ep114)
I’m so pleased to have finally got this guest in studio with us. When we first recorded with the PFA CEO Maheta Molango, it as over broken wifi at a conference in South Africa two and half years ago. Despite that, it was one of the best shows we have done. We wanted to bring this to properly though, and therefore we all agreed it was time to get the man that is in charge of the interests of all cu
THE BREAKDOWN: Eddie Hearn vs Dana White, The Crazy Business of The Masters & Tottenham Are At It Again (E13)
We come in this week with both some fresh material and some topics, well one in particular, we just can’t stay away from. For the fresh takes, it’s a look at the bubbling story engulfing the boxing world as Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren take on Dana White and his Saudi backed Zuffa boxing. It’s then the turn of the most mental business model in sport and we break down the Masters millions that they
“We don’t need F1 to Fail for Formula E to be Successful” | Jeff Dodds, Formula E CEO (Ep113)
Motorsport, you can’t escape it (well it certainly feels like that at the moment). But what about the newest addition to the global calendar. What do you know about Formula E, the fully electric powered racing championship? With F1’s new hybrid regulations coming into play this year, combining the traditional combustion engine with an electric power unit, the talk round electric racing has never b
THE BREAKDOWN: What Salah’s Departure Tells Us About Liverpool, Another Chelsea Scandal & Key and McCullum Survive (E12)
I feel like we have a month’s worth of news that has happened since we last recorded. Mo Salah’s departure announcement, yet more Chelsea punishment, Brendon McCullum’s continuation as England Head Coach, Spurs going deeper into the relegation pit; where do we even start. Don’t worry, we’ll be taking a look at all of this in some capacity, but the Mo Salah news and what it tells us about Liverpool
Pat Cummins: Winning the Ashes, Magic of the IPL & The Art of Bowling in a Batters Era (Ep.112)
One of the Business of Sport greats returns. It was too painful to do this just after the Ashes, but with time the ever effective healer, and with the IPL kicking off this week, what better moment to get Pat Cummins back in the seat.When Pat first came on before the 2023 Ashes, the conversation ranged from how they’d deal with the new style of cricket England were bringing to the test scene, while
THE BREAKDOWN: Football’s Leadership Problem, US/Iran War’s Sporting Impact & The $1BN College Sports Tournament (E11)
After Charlie’s epic run through of the horse racing industry, the pressure is on to deliver this week. With F1 race cancellations and continued speculation on Iran’s World Cup participation, it feels like the right time to look at the impact of the war on the sporting calendar. We’re also at the crazy time of the season where manager hiring and firings dominate the headlines, so a look at the imp
Carlos Ezpeleta: The Plan to Grow MotoGP , Marc Marquez's Impossible Championship, & Multimillion Team Sales (Ep.111)
MotoGP has hundreds of millions of die hard fans, has an excellent commercial model, some of the most talented sportspeople in the business, and now Liberty Media, the owners of F1, have arrived to try and bring a true global business to this already powerful sporting property. This is an awesome conversation looking into one of the great sports that you may not know much about. Carlos Ezpeleta is
THE BREAKDOWN: Celtic Complacency Exposed, Return of Christian Horner & Is Horseracing Sport’s Biggest Business? (E10)
This is a big week. Charlie is about to deliver a masterclass. Horse racing; it’s not my expertise, and may not be yours. But stick with us. His evaluation of the UK’s second biggest sport and one that has a huge global footprint is truly fascinating, just in time for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. You won’t be disappointed.It’s the turn for Scottish football to have its moment in the sun, looking at a
Julia Chapman: Winning Titles, Controlled Spending & The Henry Pollock Effect | The Northampton Saints Story (Ep110)
There couldn’t be a better time to have this chat. After the big news that Prem Rugby is set to embrace a franchise type model, we welcome Northampton Saints CEO Julia Chapman to the show.There is so much to unpick from this: what does it mean for the individual clubs? What opportunities does it offer the players? How will it impact the core business model? But there is also a huge amount to look
THE BREAKDOWN: Chelsea’s Record Financial Loss, Aston Martin In Big Trouble, PREM Rugby’s Franchise Move (E09)
It’s the turn of Chelsea to take the footballing spotlight today, as we take a deeper look at the implications of UEFA’s report showing a loss of £355m this year. How has this happened and what does it mean for the future?Follow that up with a look at the very exciting Prem Rugby franchising move and the start of the F1 season (with a particular focus on the Aston Martin chaos that seems to be unf
The Business of International Football: Inside the Welsh Football Revolution | Noel Mooney (Ep.109)
Noel Mooney is the CEO of the Welsh FA. So, what does it take to run an international football organisation? It’s a question I’ve wanted to ask from day one, and today we get to. It has been a great few years for Welsh football. Multiple tournament appearances including an iconic 2016 Euro semi final, superstar players like Gareth Bale, a team which at the moment looks like one of the most togethe
THE BREAKDOWN: Eileen Gu & The Politics of Sport, Pakistan’s Hundred Challenge & Referees vs VAR (E08)
Some huge football topics in the last few weeks and an amazing response to both the Spurs and Leicester situations which unfortunately for both do not look like they’re improving. However it’s the turn of Eileen Gu to stand tall this week, and after more gleeful messages than I can relay, an inevitable review of the rumoured boycotting of Pakistan players by Indian owned Hundred franchises. Add to
Matt Richards: The Financial Reality of Becoming Olympic Champion (Ep.108)
Matt Richards is a double Olympic Champion and silver medallist in the pool, winning a historic back to back relay title and falling agonisingly short of individual gold in the 200m freestyle (2 hundredths of a second to be precise). And that won’t be the end of it; LA28 is firmly in his sights.At the age of 23, he has achieved more than most will in their whole career. You would think as an Olymp
THE BREAKDOWN: The Real Cost if Spurs Get Relegated, The Price of Winter Olympics Gold, Vinicius Jr Racism Storm (E07)
This week it’s a balance of fact and hypothetical. The deep dive into Leicester’s concerning situation last week received an amazing response, and with it many requests to look at what would happen if the ever shortening odds of Spurs inconceivably going down paid out. So that’s what we’ll do! It was Charlie’s turn to suffer from the sniffles so bare with him; he’s still his usual self don’t worry
Anthony Watson on Rugby’s BIG Problem: Player Welfare vs A Global Game (Ep.107)
After numerous shows with players from Wales, New Zealand, South Africa, France, we have ourselves an England international. And what a way to kick off the red rose association.Anthony Watson is one of the game’s biggest names over the last decade. He broke onto the scene young, played over 50 times for England, a double British & Irish Lion, and retired by 30. Injury prevented him from achiev
THE BREAKDOWN: Are Leicester in REAL Trouble, The Glazer’s Billion $ IPL Move, & The NBA’s European Dream (E06)
What a show we have for you this week. Leicester’s points deduction for breaching financial regulations is a big problem, but is there something far worse going on? In short, Charlie expertly takes us through how a football club goes bankrupt. Add to that the Glazer’s IPL ambitions and some excellent conversation on whether NBA Europe will get off the ground (which includes some excellent statemen
Claire Williams: “They’ve Ripped up the Rulebook” | Is F1 About to be Flipped on its Head? (Ep.106)
It’s a return to the chair for one of our greatest guests, and what a time to do it. When Claire Williams came to see you in 2024 she delivered an account of Williams and the recent sale that few had heard. Today, we look forward. As the new season approaches, teams have had to deal with some of the biggest regulatory changes in the sport’s history. Are we about to see F1 flipped on its head? With
THE BREAKDOWN: Super Bowl & The Power of The NFL, Baller League Warning Signs, Winter Olympics Fights for Superstars (E05)
We break new ground this week. A couple of English guys taking a look at what makes the NFL so powerful on Super Bowl week. Add that to a review of challenger football leagues after Baller League paused their tournament in Germany and a look ahead to the Winter Olympics, and we have ourselves a breakdown!
Inside The Six Nations: How Rugby is Changing…For the Better | Tom Harrison, Six Nations CEO (Ep.105)
The Six Nations is upon us. With the tournament kicking off this Thursday in Paris, CEO Tom Harrison stopped by to give us a rare insight into how the tournament operates behind the scenes. As the former CEO of the ECB, Tom has a lot of experience when it comes to operating in top sporting organisations. The key focus here was how rugby continues to disrupt, adapt and protect its heritage while ex
THE BREAKDOWN: Indian Cricket Oversteps Again, English Football's Big Money Problem & Rugby's TikTok Dreams (E04)
There are some big stories to look at this week: politically, commercially and socially charged. Coming up? The uncompromising behavior of Indian cricket and the chaos that has surrounded Bangladesh’s removal from the T20 World Cup asks some serious questions of the other major cricketing nations. Are English football clubs falling behind their biggest European rivals off the pitch? What does a he
Rob Smethurst: The Resurrection of Macclesfield; From Bankruptcy to the FA Cup’s Greatest Upset (Ep.104)
It had to be done. It was the greatest upset in FA Cup history when Macclesfield beat holders Crystal Palace a couple of weeks ago. 117 places between the two teams in the football pyramid. But there is much more to the story than that result. A club that went out of business six years ago. An owner who was in the depths of addiction when he bought the club, now delivering one of the great footbal
THE BREAKDOWN: Glasner’s Moment of Madness, Manager vs Medical Staff, Tennis’s Pay Problem, & The F1 Livery Goldmine (E03)
It’s a big show this week. So much to cover, a fight as always to keep it to the point. Managers are back on the menu as we take a look at the ongoing discussion on whether power of selection should like with the head coach or the medical department. That inevitably feeds into a quick look at the chaos unleashed by Oliver Glasner in the media last weekend. It’s then the turn of tennis to celebrate
Petr Cech: “Not One Manager Was Fired Because They Weren’t Good Enough”; Chelsea’s Win At All Costs Mentality (Ep103)
Elite athletes who have achieved everything in their sport while building a career alongside; it’s the ambition many sports stars have today. But how do you do it effectively? Petr Cech is a footballing legend, and I don’t use that term lightly. Four Premier League titles, a Champions League, record for the most Premier League clean sheets, and hugely respected as one of the most dedicated and att
THE BREAKDOWN: Football’s Media Rights Reckoning, Darts Goes Mainstream & Rugby’s Identity Crisis (E02)
Another huge week to dissect today with a quick look back at how one of the stories in particular has developed from last week. Today it’s the turn of the chaotic world of media rights after DAZN pulled out of another league deal in Belgium, the rise of darts (at your request) and how the sport has transformed to get to where it is today, and rugby; in the wake of the challenger league R360 delayi
The Real Finances of a Footballer: What Goes on Behind the Headlines | Matt Smith (Ep.102)
We think we know what the financial world of a footballer looks like. But the reality is very different. There is much more to understand than the salaries that media outlets publish like football scores. And if we’re honest, it’s never done to encourage a positive response. So what is the financial reality that faces some of sports most influential stars? Matt Smith played over 500 games in the F
THE BREAKDOWN: Amorim & Maresca Escape The Chaos, Is LIV On The Verge of Collapse & The Real Reason England Lost The Ashes (E01)
Hello and welcome to our brand new show, The Breakdown. I’m Charlie Stebbings, and joining me on this ride is legendary sports executive Charlie Methven. With his boundless energy and unfiltered opinions, and my carefully constructed guiding influence, we’ll bring you the rundown on the week’s biggest sporting business stories. For the first show, we’re extending the timeframe slightly to cover wh
Why Revolut Are Investing In F1: Antoine Le Nel (Ep.101)
What does it cost for the biggest brands to sponsor the biggest sports? Why do they do it? How do they choose what to put their name to?The money behind sport is a primary feature of the show, but it’s normally from the perspective of the sports property. How big a sponsorship can Liverpool attract and what does it do to the bottom line. So to kick off the new year, we thought we’d change that. An
How Money Shapes Football: Transfers, Contracts and Power Dynamics | The Review
Over the past year, we’ve gone inside football’s boardrooms, dressing rooms and balance sheets. This episode brings the most revealing moments together in one place.Welcome to The Business of Sport: Football Review.Across this compilation, we bring together the best moments from our recent football conversations to explore how money really shapes the game. From transfer fees and player contracts t
Inside F1: Winning Championships, Rebuilding Williams, & The World of Guenther Steiner | The Review
Today, we’re doing something a little different. Welcome to the Business of Sport: F1 Review.Over the past year, we’ve sat down with some of the most influential figures in Formula One. Team principals, world champions, and senior leaders shaping the sport behind the scenes. For this episode, we’ve handpicked the best moments from those conversations and brought them together into one definitive F
Peter Moore: Becoming Liverpool CEO, The Mo Salah Situation, & Why Klopp’s The Modern Day Shankly (Ep.100)
Today, we’re going headfirst back into the world of the tier one football executive. Peter Moore is the former CEO of Liverpool, the man who oversaw the clubs return to the top of English and European football. Working alongside Jurgen Klopp from 2017-2020, this was one of the most effective ‘performance x business’ relationships in modern football. How do you win on the pitch and build value off
Bryan Habana: From World Cup Win to Family Betrayal, The Rebirth Of The Springboks, Why Rugby HAS To Change (Ep.99)
Today we welcome a true sporting legend. Bryan Habana is a 100+ cap Springbok, a World Champion and joint highest tryscorer in Rugby World Cup history, a man who races cheetahs. As I’m sure you’ve noted this is our longest show yet. That is because it’s also one of the best. Rugby sits at the heart of it, but the personal stories bring a side to an elite athlete we rarely see. There are moments in
PILOT: Ronaldo’s WC Controversy, Toto’s Mercedes F1 Sale & the Cost of England's Ashes Collapse?
Hello and welcome to Business of Sport: The Breakdown, a brand new show where we will be reviewing the week’s biggest stories from sport business. Hosted by Charlie Stebbings & Charlie Methven, the former CEO of Sunderland and Charlton among multiple other roles in sport with organisations such as McLaren and The Jockey Club,The Breakdown will analyse the biggest commercial, financial, and str
Sir Andrew Strauss: How to Win the Ashes in Australia (Ep.98)
Sir Andrew Strauss is the last England Captain to win the Ashes in Australia. So what better time to get him in the hotseat. Aside from the timing being perfect, this is a show I have wanted to do from day one. That is not just because he is one of England’s greatest captains and batsmen, but he has also played an integral role in shaping the success of English cricket across formats in recent yea
Emily Frazer: From The Joke of Matchroom To The Next Big Thing; The Rise of Multi-Sport (Ep.97)
Emily Frazer is the CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport. She's led the charge in transforming sports like 9-ball pool into fast-growing, commercially compelling global properties, building new formats, elevating athlete storytelling, and bringing fresh audiences into what we could call a challenger landscape. The Multi-Sport story was told to perfection in the recent Matchroom Netflix series, shining a l
ASHES SPECIAL | Barmy Army Head Down Under: Behind the Scenes with Sport’s Greatest Community | Chris Millard (Ep96)
IT’S ASHES WEEK. One of the biggest occasions of the sporting year is here, and with it we have a special show unlike any other we’ve done before. The Barmy Army is so influential it has made it into the Oxford Dictionary: to quote…it is a term for a group of passionate, noisy, and dedicated fans who support the English national cricket team, especially during overseas tours. For over 30 years, th
Dan Biggar: The Fight For the Future of Rugby, Wales’s Golden Generation, & The Power of Henry Pollock (Ep.95)
Rugby is facing a massive few years. A battle to demonstrate financial sustainability, the need for players to build brands that can compete with sport’s biggest stars, a threat to established systems from challenger leagues; it’s sink or swim time, if that’s not being too dramatic.Dan Biggar is one of the game’s great fly-halves (though he’d never admit it himself): over 100 caps for Wales includ
Tim Bezbatchenko: How Bournemouth Became A Destination For The Best Young Talent (Ep94)
Multi-club ownership groups have had a tough year in the eyes of many, with high profile cases around Crystal Palace & Lyon as well as Forest & Olympiacos showing the competitive risk of one owner or group having too much control over multiple entities. But, and it is a big but, this model can be a hugely valuable business and performance structure to apply to football.Tim Bezbatchenko is
Tom Gorringe, Swansea City CEO: ‘Why Did Snoop Dogg & Luka Modric Invest in Swansea?’ (Ep93)
The celebrity investor coming into football as part of an ownership group is nothing new these days, but there were more than a few eyebrows raised when it was announced that Snoop Dogg, alongside footballing legend Luka Modric, had become a minority investor in Swansea. There must be something in the Welsh water. Swansea is storied club with a hugely passionate fanbase and a recent history of Pre
Bex Smith: ‘Women’s Football Should Be BIGGER Than Men’s…And This Is Why’ (Ep92)
What does women’s football need to do to match men’s? Could it be even bigger? What is currently holding it back? Every so often, we have a chat on this show which pushes beyond the surface of sport. The potential, growth and popularity of women’s football has become a feature of macro conversation for years, but finding someone with the credibility and willingness to say it how it is is not easy.
James Dunkley, Majesticks GC Team Principal: ‘The Business Behind LIV Golf; What It Really Takes To Run A Franchise’ (Ep.91)
What is the world of LIV Golf really like? Cutting through all the noise and the image portrayed of a league propped up by PIF money incapable of supporting itself, is there another side? That’s what we take a look at with this week’s guest James Dunkley, Team Principal of Majesticks Golf Club, one of the 13 teams that compete on the tour. There is no denying the controversy that LIV caused when i
Pablo Longoria, Marseille President: ‘Rebuilding a European Football Giant’ (Ep.90)
Today, we’re delighted to welcome Pablo Longoria to the show. Pablo is President of french football giant Marseille, marking a welcome venture for us into European football! Make no mistake, this is a huge club steeped in history, the most passionate fans, and a global brand. Managing all of this from a business perspective is a serious job. Then of course add into it the need to create a winning
Richard Coleman, Tech3 Team Principal: ‘The $4.9bn Bet: Can Liberty Replicate F1 Success with MotoGP?’ (Ep.89)
Today, we’re delighted to welcome Richard Coleman to the show. Alongside one of our favourite previous guests Mr Guenther Steiner, Richard is the new co-owner and Team Principal of MotoGP team Tech3. This sport has had some big headlines since Liberty’s $4.9bn acquisition went through earlier this year. As the infamous owners of F1 who have played a major role in re-inventing the sport and making
Graeme Le Saux: ‘Big Money Transfers Can Break Players’ (Ep.88)
This week we’re delighted to welcome Graeme Le Saux to the show. A Chelsea, Blackburn and England icon, Graeme played over 500 club games, 327 of them in the Premier League, as well as 36 caps for England. There was more than enough in here to just enjoy some unparalleled sporting nostalgia, from Blackburn’s insane Premier League title to playing in the infamous David Beckham red card match at the
James Vowles, Williams Team Principal: ‘The Plan to make Williams F1 World Champions…Again’ (Ep87)
When we recorded this show the day before James flew out to Baku, we did not expect Williams to be up on the podium delivering in real life what James was theoretically describing to us on the show. Podiums are of course part of the development plan, but not yet. When James came to see us at Business of Sport HQ last week, we talked through both what he has done to position the team for future suc
Patrick Mouratoglou: From Serena to Djokovic, What Makes the Best Players in the World? (Ep86)
This week we’re delighted to welcome Patrick Mouratoglou to the show. Patrick is one of tennis' most successful coaches, working with Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Holger Rune, Grigor Dimitrov, Simona Halep to name a few. Perhaps most famous for his collaboration with Serena Williams where they won 10 Grand Slams together, it’s regarded as one of the most successful coach-player relationships
Mark Hammond, CEO Bromley: ‘ You Don't Need to Play in the Premier League to Have a Premier League Mindset’ (Ep85)
This week we’re delighted to welcome Mark Hammond to the show. Mark is the CEO of Bromley, one of the EFL’s emerging success stories. Having only played one full season in the football league and finishing a hugely respectable 11th last year, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the the early stages of this club’s acclimatisation to top level football would focus on consolidation and survival. You’
Dominic Thiem: ‘The Making of a Grand Slam Champion’ (Ep84)
This week we’re delighted to welcome Dominic Thiem to the show. We’ve waited nearly 100 shows but finally tennis has arrived, right in the middle of the US Open, which Dominic won in a 5 set epic in 2020. One of the few non-Federer, Nadal, Djokovic players to win a slam while those three were at their peak, Dominic’s career saw him win 17 ATP titles alongside the Slam before being forced into reti
Simon Massie-Taylor, CEO Prem Rugby: 'From Red Bull’s Newcastle Investment to Building the Best League in Rugby' (Ep83)
This week we’re delighted to welcome Simon Massie-Taylor to the show. Simon is the CEO of The newly branded Prem Rugby. The competition has faced well publicised challenges in recent years, with clubs going bust and broader questions around the viability of the sport as an attractive investment. But with attendances on the rise, commercial income flowing, major long term broadcasting deals and the
Michael Beale, Fmr Rangers, QPR, Sunderland Manager: 'Does English Culture Suppress Maverick Talent?' (Ep82)
Michael Beale is part of a top crop of young English managers. At 44, he has already managed QPR, Rangers, and Sunderland, while also forming a successful partnership as Steven Gerrard’s assistant at Rangers, Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq. As virtually every manager quickly comes to realise, there’ll be some roles that work out, and some that don’t, but the most important thing to learn from the expe
Andrew Thompson, SailGP Managing Director: ‘Welcome to F1 on Water’ (Ep81)
It’s a different take this week; welcome to Formula 1 on water! SailGP has become one of the fastest growing sports leagues, bringing sailing to the forefront of modern entertainment. The national teams that race identical F50 Catamarans go to some of the world’s most enticing coastal locations in a Grand Prix style format with millions in prize money on the line. The franchises are valued between
Mark Devlin, Leyton Orient CEO: ‘Striking the Balance Between Ambition and Financial Sustainability: The Leyton Orient Story' (Ep80)
Mark Devlin is the CEO of Leyton Orient, a team that’s been riding the rollercoaster of English football right on the edge in recent years. From nearly going out of business and dropping into non-league football to bouncing back into League One playoff finals, the fans have been on a ride the few would choose. However, new ownership and big plans to build both on and off the pitch make this London
Peter McCormack, Real Bedford Owner: Can Billionaire Investment Take You From Non-League To The Premier League? (Ep79)
Peter McCormack is the Owner and Chairman of Real Bedford, who play in the 8th tier of English Football. But this is unique for a number of reasons. We always look for the stories that represent a different approach to running sports assets, and building your Premier League ambition around Bitcoin is certainly one of those. Peter is the host of one of if not the biggest Bitcoin podcasts. As you’ll
Ryan Bertrand, Fmr Chelsea, Southampton & England: ‘It Didn’t Feel Like the Chelsea I was Brought Up In; The Foundations of Champions League Success' (Ep78)
This week, we’re delighted to welcome Ryan Bertrand to the show, the only man to make his Champions League debut in the final…and of course win it in historic style with Chelsea in 2012. The regulars of you will know a conversation like this is exciting for us both as big Chelsea fans, and the shirts we wore throughout gave the game away anyway. But Ryan isn’t just the player who won that cup, pla
Guenther Steiner: ‘A Life in F1: Moving On From Haas, Christian Horner’s Sacking, & The Genius of Verstappen' (Ep77)
This week, we’re delighted to welcome the legendary Guenther Steiner to the show. One of the most iconic Team Principal’s to grace the paddock, the personality and energy he brings to the room is not just a show put on for the Drive to Survive cameras. What you have seen on TV is a true account of the man, taking the mickey out of us from the off while delivering such a compelling view on life as
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