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Tom Burwell - Interim CEO Podcast

Cack Stottie said:
I really enjoyed that, actually.

Probably worth noting that he's appearing on a sports business podcast and not one specifically aimed at Sunderland fans, so if people are ever so slightly uncomfortable with the way he speaks, then they just need to swallow it, really, as he's in a room with other sports business types who are pretty much all cut from the same cloth.

Burwell is only acting as the interim CEO and he was keen during that chat to point out that he was actually interviewing for the permanent role that same day, so whilst he's got a high level oversight of the running of the club, at some point soon he'll step back in his role with the sporting group that owns us and the running of SAFC will eventually be left to whoever they have in mind, which is both daunting and exciting.

The most intriguing thing that stood out to me was how far behind we are because of spending ten years in the wilderness. It's obviously been viewed that whilst we are moving quickly, we aren't moving quickly enough, and at a corporate level, we need to bring some serious experience in to help shift Sunderland into the 21st century so that we don't end up lagging behind other clubs in the top flight commercially.

The uncomfortable truth is that if we want a competitive team in the Premier League, there are going to be some unpopular decisions made. However, I trust this owner and board as they've given us no reason not to trust them.

We're a very attractive football club right now, which I imagine makes us a tasty proposition for ambitious executives who really want to get stuck into a project that could do wonders for their career, and I don't think we should fear that. It's a long way away from being seen as the biggest basket case in England, where nobody of worth would have touched us with a barge pole.
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Done nothing to make us not trust them? You been asleep the past month fella?


Its obvious they will go ahead with the extension he literally said its the one thing they can do which will make most impact in terms of local revenue.
 

Cack Stottie said:
I really enjoyed that, actually.

Probably worth noting that he's appearing on a sports business podcast and not one specifically aimed at Sunderland fans, so if people are ever so slightly uncomfortable with the way he speaks, then they just need to swallow it, really, as he's in a room with other sports business types who are pretty much all cut from the same cloth.

Burwell is only acting as the interim CEO and he was keen during that chat to point out that he was actually interviewing for the permanent role that same day, so whilst he's got a high level oversight of the running of the club, at some point soon he'll step back in his role with the sporting group that owns us and the running of SAFC will eventually be left to whoever they have in mind, which is both daunting and exciting.

The most intriguing thing that stood out to me was how far behind we are because of spending ten years in the wilderness. It's obviously been viewed that whilst we are moving quickly, we aren't moving quickly enough, and at a corporate level, we need to bring some serious experience in to help shift Sunderland into the 21st century so that we don't end up lagging behind other clubs in the top flight commercially.

The uncomfortable truth is that if we want a competitive team in the Premier League, there are going to be some unpopular decisions made. However, I trust this owner and board as they've given us no reason not to trust them.

We're a very attractive football club right now, which I imagine makes us a tasty proposition for ambitious executives who really want to get stuck into a project that could do wonders for their career, and I don't think we should fear that. It's a long way away from being seen as the biggest basket case in England, where nobody of worth would have touched us with a barge pole.
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I wonder if it was he who has introduced the “handcuffs” to those in 76 Yards and Founders Bar wanting to move? 🤔
 
its an interesting watch, and as somebody has already pointed out, he makes bain and metvhen look like second hand car salesmen

we have certainly moved on as a business and the premier league is our ticket to more exposure.

but as fans we have to realise to survive and thrive we have to generate more income, so we have to be realistic or we will just regress and end up as a club to big for the championship but falling behind smaller clubs in the premier league
 
Fact Hunt said:
What does the hierarchy expect when the club is in the poorest region in the UK 🤷‍♂️
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That's not really relevant to front of shirt sponsor and things like that which are reported to be low. Barnes and phil smith both been saying as great as the hummel kit deal has been shirt wise, its very small in figures and we are tied into it.
 
Fact Hunt said:
I wonder if it was he who has introduced the “handcuffs” to those in 76 Yards and Founders Bar wanting to move? 🤔
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I reckon they will have put targets on the sales staff (sorry "account managers" with commission etc for various renewal targets. Only reason for them to be playing these sort of games
 
He definitely wants more corporate seats he quoted how much more Everton were making in there new stadium. I can see a big extension to the east stand with something like Evertons village Street running the length of the stand were you can drink and eat and walk a few yards to your padded seats
 
Coeus said:
Yea im 20 minutes in and im not keen.
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I honestly wish the club wouldn’t do these type of podcasts. Reminds me of the Stewy D era. Always ends up biting us on the backside.

He comes across as all about 💰. Obvious why we are having issues with long serving season ticket holders not being able to renew! 💰 💰

I don’t think he comes across pro SAFC at all
 
magic snood said:
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Just dropped, interesting listen, I'm still working through it but comes across pretty well and gives a lot of credit to Speakman, Bruce etc.
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Very impressive bone structure.
Raich Carter said:
He’s did more interviews in the last 2 weeks than the previous 3 combined! :lol:
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I like his clarity. No doubt people will fear his educated take on things
 
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Mowgli said:
That's not really relevant to front of shirt sponsor and things like that which are reported to be low. Barnes and phil smith both been saying as great as the hummel kit deal has been shirt wise, its very small in figures and we are tied into it.
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Yeah the thing these people I were speaking to specifically mentioned was the front of shirt deal for next season and the Hummel deal.

I have literally never seen so many fans wearing a current shirt as us and the blue Hummel one. But it’s to do with the type of deal we have apparently that means we make basically nowt form the sales (?)
 
Mowgli said:
That's not really relevant to front of shirt sponsor and things like that which are reported to be low. Barnes and phil smith both been saying as great as the hummel kit deal has been shirt wise, its very small in figures and we are tied into it.
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Would imagine that deal had promotion factored in with it being over the 5 years but it’s not uncommon for clubs to cancel kit contacts for a better offer
 
SAFCTEES said:
I honestly wish the club wouldn’t do these type of podcasts. Reminds me of the Stewy D era. Always ends up biting us on the backside.

He comes across as all about 💰. Obvious why we are having issues with long serving season ticket holders not being able to renew! 💰 💰

I don’t think he comes across pro SAFC at all
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it is a business podcast, its purely about the business of football

some fans are never going to be able to accept we are not old sunderland....the premier league is a business, a really really hard business

its not bovril and a pie anymore

we either have to move on with the business are just accept we are a big championship club who will never progress any further

thats the cold hard reality of premier league football
 
HarrogateMackem said:
Rumour I heard at the weekend was that Bruce had been sacked because the commercial revenue was nowhere near where senior leadership wanted it, and they were unimpressed with our various sponsorship deals.

I think this interview (I’ve only watched the first bit so far) already singles exactly what the intent of the new CEO will be (I’m going to bet it ends up being this like full time - but even if not). To get every penny out of us all. Way of the modern game innit.
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The hummel deal at the time was an open goal for bruce to score well with the fans. When it comes to renewal I do worry they won’t be able to come close to matching the sponsorship money on offer from Nike or Adidas.

No idea how long the deal is but the club could be locked into multiple years before they even get the chance to negotiate elsewhere.
 
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GingerNick said:
it is a business podcast, its purely about the business of football

some fans are never going to be able to accept we are not old sunderland....the premier league is a business, a really really hard business

its not bovril and a pie anymore

we either have to move on with the business are just accept we are a big championship club who will never progress any further

thats the cold hard reality of premier league football
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Totally agree it wasn't a fan's podcast it was all about the business side of football in my opinion he came over very well I think very exciting times if we can keep getting it right on the pitch. The clubs never been run so professionally I think some fan's just can't accept its a multi- million pound business now and we've got to grow or die
 
Exactly. Thank god. Seems like we are eyeing the big 6.
GingerNick said:
it is a business podcast, its purely about the business of football

some fans are never going to be able to accept we are not old sunderland....the premier league is a business, a really really hard business

its not bovril and a pie anymore

we either have to move on with the business are just accept we are a big championship club who will never progress any further

thats the cold hard reality of premier league football
Click to expand...
 
GingerNick said:
it is a business podcast, its purely about the business of football

some fans are never going to be able to accept we are not old sunderland....the premier league is a business, a really really hard business

its not bovril and a pie anymore

we either have to move on with the business are just accept we are a big championship club who will never progress any further

thats the cold hard reality of premier league football
Click to expand...

You can still get a nice pie in the Premier Concourse but I fear you might be right about the Bovril.
 
Hope the sponsorships can help take us up another level next couple years. Didn’t expect to have 13/14 best revenue first year back. Surprised the SOL hasnt had a sponsor attached to its name yet
 
The PL has changed a lot since we were last in it. Massive changes will have to be made for us to compete financially, whether people like it or not. As sad as it is you cant just rely on being a regionally massive club. It's all about global pull now.
 
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