The appointment of a ******* football manager

A dream or a nightmare?

The following application has been received.

I would like to be considered for the position of manager of **** *** ****** and would respectfully draw your attention to the following points in support of my application.

My experience in the Premiership has been gained quickly by not spending more than a year or two at a club before moving on to fresh challenges. No time to get stale, no ******* about!

It has enabled me to translate and yell 'Get rid of the ******* ball!' in more than a dozen languages - a simple instruction which has been greatly appreciated, particularly by the players for whom English is not a first language.

I have always placed great emphasis on the ability to get the ball forward quickly. So it's one big hoof into the opponents' half, preferably into their penalty area and even occasionally into their goal! No wasting time with pretty passing like ******* Barcelona! Leave the pretty stuff for the testimonial games.

My gum-chewing technique has been learnt from close observation of S** A*** F******* and has been found helpful in relaxing the tension when the team goes 5-0 down in the first half. No, I never watch myself on television so I don't see and I don't care how disgusting it looks!

I am a strong supporter of the conventions. What is said and done in the changing-room stays in the changing-room. Except of course when it appears in my book! And this would be a good opportunity to mention the unfortunate publicity regarding a young lady who was allegedly receiving my attentions. She referred to being on the game which at the time I thought referred to my interest in football.

As a parent myself, I believe I have the skills to cope with the immature behaviour sometimes associated with the modern player. What I would say is get it out of your system on the pitch. A crunching tackle or two during the game and then you won't need to repeat it later in the clubs.

I hope I can assume that the usual support staff will be available at the club: padre, parking atendant, pastoral guidance officer, personal trainer, pharmacist, physiotherapist, physician, psychologist, publicist, and that's just the p's.

I presume that the importance of the position would be rewarded by a substantial salary and bonuses, a chauffeured limousine for my exclusive use, free medical care, an appropriate personal pension, and a contract not inferior to that of S** A**** F*******. The precise details will of course be negotiated by my agent.

Further details may be obtained from my ghosted autobiography 'On the touchline' which is to be published shortly.

Thank you for your application. Unfortunately on this occasion we are unable to offer you a position with our club. May we respectfully suggest that you may find that employment with FIFA is more appropriate to your talents.

John Sweeney's summer brake?

Which was the most significant of the footballing stories this summer? Not, I think, except for Spain and South Africa, one concerning the FIFA World Cup. It is true that there were other countries such as England, France and Holland who made the headlines but not, I fear, for their skills on the pitch.

No, my vote would go to an unlikely source - a Panorama television programme shown on BBC1 on Tuesday 8 July at the unpromising hour of 10.35 pm, just three days before the start of the World Cup.

John Sweeney, a reporter and Tranmere Rovers fan, had prepared a devastating indictment of English football, particularly of the Premier League where the total debt is now £3.4 billion. This is greater than the total for the rest of European football.

Supporters of Sweeney's case included:

Dave Boyle, Chief Executive of Supporters Direct, 'English football (is) groaning under the weight of unsustainable debt';
Andy Green, financial analyst, 'Glazer core business in USA got it absolutely wrong';
Dave Wheelan, Chairman, Wigan Athletic FC, 'Got to stop. Debt in Premiership is unsustainable. Wigan next season will break even. No more debt; what goes out must come in'.

Among the people and organisations who declined to appear (no great surprise!) were:

The Football Association, the Premier League, David Gill (Chief Executive, Manchester United), the Glazer family (father and six children), and Hugh Robertson (Minister for Sport) who was concentrating on our 2018 bid for the World Cup!

Football would probably not be top of the list of concerns for the politicians at the moment. But in the end, the solution to football's woes will probably have to be political. Most clubs are unlikely to volunteer to change. Few executives and directors are natural democrats. But change is needed if a financial catastrophe is to be avoided.

Next time
A political solution for football?

The philosophical background

When considering football, many, if not all, fans inhabit a fantasy world where the activity is to talk about football, shout about football, complain about football and, sadly, occasionally fight about football.

All too rarely do they think about football and are thus vulnerable to another side of football, the financial side.

The modern game, particularly at the highest level, has been invaded by people who have exploited the fans for commercial gain. This has involved the clubs, the league (especially the Premier League), the players and their agents, some television companies and even some of the game's governing bodies such as the FA and FIFA.

This project is a small (some might say ambitious) attempt to fight back and to persuade enough fans to support the cause financially. This will not be easy and it may be that, in the end, the only way is to start again with non-league clubs and encourage their growth.

But most of us do not have the time or the patience to wait for this growth. So let's see if the alternative can be made to work.

The task is to create a structure which can satisfy the two distinct groups which are present in most football clubs. It may be useful to draw an analogy with the housing market; those who by nature or circumstance prefer to rent and those who prefer to buy.

Housing has two separate markets; football historically has had only one which has given it a valuable social cohesion. Can the unity of football fans be maintained in the modern world?

That is the aim of this project. Can a scheme be devised and, more importantly, proceed to a successful conclusion? Yes. Can it accommodate the fans who prefer to pay by the match or by the season and those who, with suitable encouragement, might be willing to provide the funds to buy the club and give it financial stability? Yes again. And still stick to one member, one vote? Yes once more. So let's make it work!

What? No guarantee of football success? No, and never can be. Over the years, West Ham has supplied more than its fair share of players for England, including the current team. That is the measure of its success and we should be proud of it.