MSc Football Business

Football Fan Engagement This module will explore the importance, variation and motivation which influence football consumer behaviours. You will identify key factors which explore the changing nature of football consumer typologies, including the globalisation of fan engagement and the importance of customer relationship management and data analytics. This module explores and analyses the dynamic nature of football fan engagement and the online and offline tools being used to capture existing and new fans. Finally, the module examines the metrics and insights required to drive the business of football consumption. Football Operations Management In this module you will explore the impact, vision and activities of commercial operations and project management in a footballing context. You will develop an insight and understanding of approaches for managing football operations, in order to achieve successful delivery. You will be able to comprehend and apply alternative academic and best practice perspectives in terms of operational outcomes with a project management perspective. Football Finance This module will introduce you to the importance of finance as a discipline and decision tool in professional football clubs. You who may not have experience of accounting or finance, but want to build an understanding of its growing importance as a core management discipline in the football and sporting industries. In order to work in a management position in the business of football, an appreciation of the underlying financial mechanisms, regulations, and cash flow has become increasingly important. You will learn about the European Football Finance Landscape, and the importance of match day, broadcast and commercial revenue, through to financial regulation, cost management and all aspects of revenue generation. You will consider how existing governance frameworks have evolved, corruption and the function of Boards of Directors. There will be a strong focus on interpreting and monitoring financial outcomes and appraising club financial data, KPI’s and valuations. Global Sports Leadership Leadership is a fundamental element of both sport and business operating in a dynamic global arena. On this module you will review and conceptualise different approaches to leadership from both an applied and theoretical perspective to allow you to analyse critical incidents in order to judge organisational leadership performance. You will be able to apply leadership theory to examples from industry professionals who have experience of leading teams in a sporting setting. Cross-cultural leadership underpins many of the behaviours and skills discussed within the leadership framework, alongside diversity and inclusion, strategic leadership, communication and reflection. The module allows you to take responsibility for your own leadership development and effectiveness through the development of an e-portfolio and skills audit, alongside exposure to sports leaders from the global network of partners contributing to the live case studies. Applied Professional Project This module will advance your research and critical thinking skills, and support you in applying these to the sport industry and its associated workplace environments. This module aims to prepare you for research, reflective, and evidence-based development, important for your future career and higher study where applicable. The undertaking of an applied project will give you the opportunity to develop your problem-solving skills regarding topical issues in your area of interest, whilst also allowing you to evidence your academic ability and knowledge. By completing this project and consulting with your tutor, you will establish expertise in an applied area of interest, aiming to have real impact on the relevant industry. This module will give you a live insight into sport business issues. You will gain a thorough practice-based understanding of project design, conduct and action. As a result, you will be able to design and manage an applied project, and show potential to contribute to academic knowledge and industry practice – making you highly desirable for potential employers. Global Sports Consulting and Analysis Working in the global sports business as a manager, you will be called upon to work on new projects and within new or existing project teams, where some of the team may be based in other countries. This will test your ability as a manager and your team-working skills. You will be asked to work in a group and be given a consultancy project by a sporting organisation. Assigning roles to each team member, you will have to carry our research in order to investigate the current situation that the company finds itself in, and find the data that you need to inform your report. You will need to demonstrate a critical awareness of the current issues that face the sports organisation. You will then analyse this data and make your recommendations to the organisation. Sports Law and Governance Sport is big business but the right to exploit its commercial value is not unfettered. This module explores how English and European Law intertwines with sport across a variety of topical areas, equipping you with the ability to interpret and critically assess legal disputes and agreements, especially from a commercial context. The module places this legal discussion in a multidisciplinary context by examining the historical commercialisation of sport and how that has contributed to the juridification of the sector, through to the importance of good governance, CSR and ethical practices in sport. The module examines whether the specificities of sport preclude the application of UK and EU law to a variety of business practices or whether the law should treat sport in the same way as any other economic activity.