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 competitive league including teams outside of Celtic and Rangers for the first time in 40 years. Caveat to say we recorded this very soon after the nasty scenes at the end of the Old Firm derby last weekend, and so that isn’t included.

Add to that a potential return of the Christian Horner and Toto Wolff rivalry and we have ourselves a breakdown! 

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only. All financial analysis, commentary, and forecasts are based on publicly available information and/or permitted confidential sources. These represent our personal opinions, not professional financial, legal, or investment advice. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed. Nothing said should be taken as a statement of fact about any individual, club, or organisation's financial position or future prospects. We are not responsible for any actions taken based on our commentary.

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 at from the local level. One of the Prem’s great clubs, Saints have an amazing history with a dedicated fanbase that demonstrates the appetite and commitment of the audience to club rugby in England.

Time to get stuck into the ins and outs of domestic rugby with a guest who we have had many requests for in the past. We’re delighted to welcome Julia to the Business of Sport.

The Business of Northampton Saints

• How winning the Premiership created a sell-out season ticket boom

• The financial reality of running a Premiership rugby club

• Why owning the stadium is one of the club’s biggest competitive advantages

The Economics of Club Rugby

• Why player salary spend directly correlates with league position

• How academies allow smaller clubs to compete financially

• Why club rugby struggles to convert international fans into paying subscribers

Commercial Growth in Modern Rugby

• The power of player personalities and social media in growing audiences

• How clubs monetise content, partnerships and hospitality

• Why brands increasingly want access to players and behind-the-scenes content

The Future of Rugby Clubs

• Why Premiership rugby is moving toward a more aligned league structure

• The investment required to modernise stadiums and unlock revenue

• Why women’s rugby could become one of the sport’s biggest growth drivers

  
  

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

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 unfolding), and we have ourselves a Breakdown.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only. All financial analysis, commentary, and forecasts are based on publicly available information and/or permitted confidential sources. These represent our personal opinions, not professional financial, legal, or investment advice. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed. Nothing said should be taken as a statement of fact about any individual, club, or organisation's financial position or future prospects. We are not responsible for any actions taken based on our commentary.

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 together units in the international game, and now a big World Cup play off coming up at the end of the month. Noel Mooney is the man behind the scenes in charge of leading both the international team and overseeing domestic football in Wales. It’s no small job. How do you get the professional end firing while making sure grassroots and participation is building for future success? A fresh take with a truly fantastic leader. We’re delighted to welcome Noel to the Business of Sport.

In Today's Show We Discuss:

Building Modern Welsh Football

• How qualifying for Qatar 2022 unlocked £40–50m in grassroots investment

• Why the FAW deliberately runs a “non-qualification” budget model

• Turning World Cup prize money into long-term infrastructure

• Why Wales doesn’t own a national stadium and why that might be an advantage

• Centralised TV rights, sponsorship strategy and government funding

Growing the Welsh League & Attracting Investors

• Why investing £4m into the domestic league is a calculated risk

• The Wrexham effect and why Wales is “ripe for investment”

• Whether the league could eventually sit outside the FAW structure

Politics, Performance & Global Tournaments

• Managing Qatar 2022 and the One Love armband controversy

• Expanding World Cups to 48 teams and what that means for smaller nations

• Why Craig Bellamy is “world class” and destined for the very top

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

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 that a look at the impact of referees losing confidence in VAR and we have ourselves a Breakdown.

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 Olympic gold medallist, the world opens up to, and in some ways it does. But as he describes, these are athletes surviving on tiny salaries, reliant on sponsorship and external funding, all competing for the same dollars. So Matt decided to do something about it. He’s now not only an elite swimmer, but also a business owner looking to empower more athletes with the control over their revenue generating opportunities. I have put a link below to check out the platform. A special guy with a huge amount still to come. We loved this and I hope you do too. We’re delighted to welcome Matt to the Business of Sport.

Olympic Gold & The Reality Behind It:

• Winning gold in Tokyo at 18 and why it did not feel how he expected.

• The brutal 0.02 second Olympic silver in Paris and how he reset overnight.

• What actually changes after you become Olympic champion and how fast the buzz fades.

The Money Behind Olympic Sport:

• £28,000 lottery funding and what swimmers really earn.

• Why most Team GB athletes make nothing outside sponsorship.

• The three month Olympic window to monetize success without harming performance.

Building a Business While Chasing Gold:

• Launching Sponsor while competing at the highest level.

• Why athletes must see themselves as marketing assets.

• Balancing brand building, training, and the risk of distraction.

Pressure, Process & The LA 2028 Target:

• Calling himself Olympic champion at eight years old.

• The Olympic Village chaos, illness, and racing through adversity.

• Turning silver into fuel as he targets individual gold in LA.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

Seat Unique

Discover your next premium experience  https://wgl.io/s10it7

AND check out Sponza, Matt’s business to revolutionise sponsorship for athletes & brands https://sponza.co.uk/

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. Add to this a look at how much money it takes to win an Olympic gold and the concerning events surrounding Vinicius Jr and alleged racist abuse he received during this week’s Champions League tie against Benfica, and we have ourselves a Breakdown.

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 achieving even more, but as you will hear it also opened up other opportunities for him. From losing his way when first dealing with life in the spotlight, to university and masters degrees with a big future to look forward to, this is an incredible insight into how the world of elite sport can deliver big success both on and off the pitch. We’re delighted to welcome Anthony to Business of Sport.

Retirement, Injury & Identity:

• Why long injury spells prepared Anthony for the reality of retirement.

• The shock of going from England international to silence overnight.

• The unhealthy obsession with recovery and performance that followed.

• Building purpose beyond rugby through media, business and new ventures.

  
  

Eddie Jones, England & Elite Standards:

• Why Eddie Jones was a better man manager than people realise.

• The detail and intensity required to succeed in the England environment.

• What really went wrong at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

  
  

The Business of Rugby & Innovation:

• Why the Premiership needs radical innovation beyond the pitch.

• The reality of salary caps, squad depth and financial sustainability.

• R360, disruption and why rugby cannot afford to stand still.

  
  

Player Welfare, Superstars & Growth:

• Why growing the game cannot come at the expense of player health.

• The tension between protecting athletes and building global appeal.

• Whether rugby relies too heavily on its biggest names.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

Seat Unique

Discover your next premium experience  https://wgl.io/s10it7

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 statements for those of you out there who love a good comms strategy as much as we do) and we have ourselves a Breakdown. Oh, and don’t worry, the most requested topic of the week featuring some questionable antics of male ski jumpers looking to gain more lift to travel further is covered in detail too. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, that will soon change.

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? 

Without the pressure of having to be across every detail expected when Team Principal, Claire can take a breath and look at the sport from a different lens. Today, we, and hopefully you, are the benefiters of that. From how to prepare a car from scratch to why she thinks George Russell would be great in a McLaren (incredibly juicy we know), the educated eye once again casts a view of what could be the most dramatic F1 season on record. We’re delighted to welcome Claire to the Business of Sport.

On today's show we discuss:

Regulation Changes, Cost Caps and Competitive Balance:

• How sweeping technical regulation changes can reset the grid overnight.

• Why interpretation of rules and strength of engineering teams matter more than budget alone.

• How the cost cap has fundamentally changed the survival prospects of smaller teams.

Drivers, Risk and the Harsh Reality of Performance:

• Why being a second driver at certain teams can be the hardest job in the sport.

• Making brutal decisions on drivers and why timing matters more than patience.

• How pressure, risk and scrutiny have intensified in the modern F1 era.

Growth, New Teams and Protecting the Sport:

• Why Formula One is cautious about expansion despite having the money to support more teams.

• The balance between growth, dilution and protecting long term value.

• What adding new teams really means for competitive integrity.

Stepping Away and Looking Back:

• Why leaving Williams was not a choice and how perspective changes with time.

• Missing the sport while recognising the toll it takes on life outside racing.

• Why Formula One will always be part of who she is, even from the outside.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

Seat Unique

Discover your next premium experience businessofsport.seatunique.com