This module aims to develop a comprehensive and critical understanding of the financial landscape within the football industry, focusing on key financial challenges, regulatory frameworks, and strategic management. Specifically, it seeks to:

Cultivate a deep understanding of the financial challenges confronting football clubs and leagues, critically examining their economic structures, revenue models, and financial sustainability.

Critically analyse the current financial regulations governing the football industry, evaluating their impact on organisational practices, compliance, and financial transparency;

Critically evaluate the strategic importance of sound financial management, emphasising its pivotal role in the effective execution of business strategies and long-term organisational success within the football sector;

(LO1) Students will be able to interpret and critically analyse football club accounts.

(LO2) Students will be able to critically evaluate and analyse the major financial issues at stake in the contemporary football business.

(LO3) Students will be able to critically interrogate how national football and financial structures vary internationally, and how the national context affects club management and strategy.

(LO4) Student will be able to critically analyse and evaluate the financial implications and limitations of corporate strategies.

(LO5) Students will be able to critically analyse the implications and sustainability of schemes of licensing and regulation in football.

(S1) People Focused
Students will work with multiple stakeholders within the MBA programme and externally. This will be done through challenges posed in the curriculum and outside the curriculum, working and networking with businesses locally and internationally. In doing so students will demonstrate people-focused leadership by prioritising human agency and well-being in a dynamic, disruptive world. Develop inclusivity, transparency, and reflection through teamwork and decision-making exercises, while leveraging innovation to drive personal, organisational, and societal advancement in the digital age.

(S2) Authenticity
Students will develop emotional intelligence through coaching to enhance self-awareness and awareness of others in achieving long-term, purposeful goals. This will permeate with all modules, cultivating accountability by mastering time, resources, and relationships to problem-solve and take actions. In doing so students will act with integrity, foster trust, and engage in respectful challenge and debate.

(S3) Agility
Students will have opportunities to thrive in turbulence and uncertainty. Actively build personal and organisational resilience to embrace disruption, find solutions and keep learning in dynamic environments. Informed, relevant, forward-focused mindsets stemming from constant challenges inside and outside the classroom. Provide clear direction for people and organisations to navigate effectively through simulated and real work problem solving.

(S4) Digital
Students will use a number of digital tools and develop a mindset to confidently embrace new knowledge and technologies, leverage its future potential to inspire, to enhance connectivity, decision making and learning. To bring wisdom in leadership to navigate the new digital revolution and make positive impact. Innovate. Engage in respectful debate.

(S5) Global Perspective
All modules will indulge and challenges students to think globally and consider how they drive the wider global ethical, sustainable and environmental agenda, taking a purposeful approach to aligning people, planet and profit. Experience and appreciate how building partnerships to deliver innovate solutions to economic, environmental and societal challenges are needed to solve wicked problems, improve co-operation globally and be an agent of change.

Lectures (12.5 hours)
Lectures will introduce, explore, and critically assess key concepts, ideas, and practices relevant to the subject. A variety of resources, including journals, textbooks, online videos, media articles, and opinion pieces, will be provided in advance for further reading and application across different contexts. The lecture will also outline expectations for the seminar by providing necessary guidance.
Seminars (17.5 hours)

Seminars will create an interactive environment where participants engage individually or in groups in activities such as case studies and scenario analysis. These sessions will encourage the practical application of concepts introduced in the lectures.
Peer-to-Peer Learning (3 hours)

Peer-to-peer learning fosters a collaborative approach where participants learn from and teach each other through active discussions, idea exchange, and feedback. This method enhances critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills while building a sense of community and mutual support among learners.
Self-Directed Learning (67 hours)

Participants will be expected to review a range of materials, including core and recommended readings, reports, and articles available through libraries and open-access sources. Additionally, they will conduct independent research using both academic and non-academic sources to support their learning and assessment. Lecture notes will provide guidance, and suggested answers or solutions will be available for seminar activities. Participants should complete seminar tasks as instructed before progressing to the next topic.

This module is designed to be highly participatory and interactive, using live football club accounts and digital software to engage students in hands-on financial practices unique to the football industry. The continuous dialogue and practical application throughout the sessions provide students with immediate, informal feedback.

2.5 ho ur lecture x 5
3.5 hour seminar x 5
36 mins asynchronous or peer to peer directed learning x 5
67 hours self-directed learning

Analysing and interpreting football club financial statements;

Balance sheets and their components;

Income statements, revenue streams, costs and profit types;

Accounting for football plater related transactions, using a case study;

Ownership structures, investment and funding models;

Valuing clubs;

Licensing, regulation and cost control methods;

Governing bodies and competitions: financial implications of strategic decisions.