In this special episode, David sits down with former Leicester City Chief Executive Officer Barrie Pierpont, who played a pivotal role in transforming the club during the early 1990s. Barrie shares his journey from joining a financially struggling club to significantly increasing its revenue and fan engagement, including raising ticket sales by nearly 250% and launching successful community initiatives. Barrie discusses the challenges he faced, including a tumultuous boardroom environment and the pressures of relegation, while highlighting the importance of involving fans in decision-making and creating a positive club culture.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Transforming a Struggling Club: The journey at Leicester City involved turning a financially struggling club into a successful business by focusing on community engagement.

• Fan Involvement: Establishing a fan forum was crucial for understanding what supporters wanted from the club.

• Importance of Training and Staff Engagement: Investing in staff training and maintaining an open-door policy fostered a positive work environment.

• Navigating Challenges: The role of a CEO in a football club involves navigating various challenges, including boardroom conflicts and the threat of relegation.

• Evolving with Technology: While the fundamentals of good management and fan engagement remain important, adapting to modern technology and social media is crucial for maintaining a connection with fans and improving operational efficiency in today’s football landscape.

BEST MOMENTS

"When I went to Leicester City Football Club, I was one of the first marketing directors in the UK. The job wasn't easy because the football club was virtually bankrupt."

"We had a very poor membership scheme when I first went there. There was no easy access for people to buy anything."

"We created a brand called Fox. The first brand was Fox Leisure. All our merchandise and all our kit and leisure wear."

"Nobody's bigger than the football club. I think I would make the managers more accountable."

"The book really is about a business of football, how we developed a bankrupt Leicester City into a successful football club."

GUEST LINKS:

https://twitter.com/barriepierpoint?lang=en

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/barrie-pierpoint-fcim-4527097

OUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessoffootballpodcast/

Tik Tok : https://www.tiktok.com/@businessoffootball

HOST BIO

Right out of the block, David Chimbaza took his International Football Business degree to do exactly what it says on the tin: Launch his own International Football Business, DTCMEDIAUK. His company works with professional leaders & business owners in the football industry to create, monetize & scale their brands for their business & professional gains. Having created and managed multiple of his own sports social media accounts from the age of 15, many of which have scaled thousands of pounds & millions of views across 3 different platforms, David has constantly found ways to bring new and engaging entertainment to his audience. Now documenting his story of managing his Global business, his experiences in Stewarding, digital management & many more, David will bring you a fresh insight into how anyone can conquer the industry.