Liam Scully, CEO @ Lincoln City: The Real Cost of Competing in the Football League | Ep.41

Liam, CEO of Lincoln City, a League One club, shares how they’ve consistently outperformed both budget and expectations. Running a club further down the football pyramid requires sustainability, not billionaire backing.

As a board member of the English Football League, Liam offers broader insights into financial controls, 3pm broadcast blackouts, and protecting football’s future. With recent headlines dominated by Man City vs. the Premier League, this discussion delves into how to maintain the success of the game while ensuring longevity from top to bottom.
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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro
(00:41) Is Football the Most Ruthless Industry? An Executive’s Perspective
(01:45) Role of CEO of a League One Club Like Lincoln City
(05:44) When Football & Business Clash: How Liam Manages Conflicts?
(09:28) Budget, Salaries & Spendings
(12:53) Player Investments & Stadium Development in Board Discussions
(19:16) The Ticket Revenues
(23:35) The Role of an Academy
(25:25) Managing Player Sales
(31:52) Navigating Fan Expectations
(35:12) Are Football Owners and Executives Transparent Enough?
(41:39) 3pm Broadcast Blackout: Barrier or Key to Football's Sustainability?
(43:47) Biggest Challenge for the EFL Board Today
(45:45) Is Premier League Success Unsustainable for the Football League System?
(48:39) Can FCs Balance Being Community Assets & Private Businesses?
(52:17) Balancing Success & Sustainability in the EFL?
(54:42) Quick-Fire Round
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In today's show, we discuss:

Rise of Lincoln City:
Small budgets and non-league football status when he joined, how has Liam built a club to compete in the top tiers of English football?
What are the key things to focus on when running a club?
The revenue streams that a club must capitalise on to ensure they are able to compete with some of the biggest teams in the league.
The value of a strong academy; first team feeder or profit driver?
Bringing the glory back to Lincoln: what does it mean to the community to re-establish a club steeped in history?
The £1.3m FA Cup run; what did this enable the club to do from an investment standpoint?

Football League Challenges:
The football industry is unsustainable. Why?
There needs to be more money that filters down the pyramid to protect teams in the lower tiers. How do you do this?
The transfer market is the key generator of cash for lower league clubs, but they need Premier League teams to keep buying from English teams to sustain that flow.
Is the 3pm broadcast blackout an issue or vital to sustainability of the broader football ecosystem in the modern sporting environement?

The Nuclear-Sub vs. a Canoe:
Football is full of inequalities. How do you operate in a market where there is such a spread of wealth and opportunity?
League One is the eleventh most watched League in Europe, the product is better than ever.
US investors: The rise of foreign ownership has opened new markets to promote teams and competitions
How great owners and structured management can be the most important assets of a club regardless of their size.
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