

The Hard Truth - Inside the Football Industry with Darragh MacAnthony
Darragh MacAnthony
Having bought a professional football club Peterborough United aged 29 and been in the game for nearly 15 years Darragh shares his opinions on all things football as well as business discussion in this weekly podcast.
Brutally honest, direct opinion and insight of what happens behind the scenes, not in the public eye in the frantically busy and ever-changing world of football.
Hence the name of the podcast being “The Hard Truth”
Brutally honest, direct opinion and insight of what happens behind the scenes, not in the public eye in the frantically busy and ever-changing world of football.
Hence the name of the podcast being “The Hard Truth”
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 20, 2021 • 57min
EP37: Back Up Keepers, Goal Celebrations, Becoming a Scout, and Much More!
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony and Bradford City supporter Philip Ideson give insight on the "Hard Truths" behind the football industry via this weekly podcast 🎙️⚽🏢
On this week's episode...
- Man City for the title?
- Siriki Dembele transfer request update
- Bradford City's transfer business
- Goal celebrations and virtue signaling
- Wayne Rooney
- Max Watters from Free to £1M in 3 months
- Wigan's struggles to find a buyer
- The cost of sacking a manager
- and much more...
Follow Darragh at @DMAC102
Follow Phil at @pideson
Send any questions you want to be answered to the guys via email: contact@hardtruthfootball.com
We’re always grateful for feedback so feel free to post a review via your podcast provider and also follow us via our other media platforms to comment on and also share our content,
Twitter @hardtruthpod
Facebook at /hardtruthpod
Instagram at @hardtruthpod

Jan 13, 2021 • 55min
EP36: Accrington, Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday, and More!
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony and Bradford City supporter Philip Ideson give insight on the "Hard Truths" behind the football industry via this weekly podcast 🎙️⚽🏢
On this week's episode...
- Refereeing performances
- Can Accrington maintain their run into the playoffs?
- Is the FA Cup being devalued?
- Why do most transfer window deals get done close to the deadline.
- The financing behind Burnley's purchase
- The US political situation
- Sheffield Wednesday hiring and firing Tony Pulis
- VAR
- and much more...
Follow Darragh at @DMAC102
Follow Phil at @pideson
Send any questions you want to be answered to the guys via email: contact@hardtruthfootball.com
We’re always grateful for feedback so feel free to post a review via your podcast provider and also follow us via our other media platforms to comment on and also share our content,
Twitter @hardtruthpod
Facebook at /hardtruthpod
Instagram at @hardtruthpod

Jan 6, 2021 • 51min
EP35: Transfer Requests, Circuit Breakers, and much more
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony and Bradford City supporter Philip Ideson give insight on the "Hard Truths" behind the football industry via this weekly podcast 🎙️⚽🏢
On this week's episode...
- Responding to a transfer request
- Lockdowns and circuit breakers
- Preparing for the January transfer window
- The economics of selling a 13-year-old.
- Jack Byrne
- Promotion and relegation in the MLS
- and much more...
Follow Darragh at @DMAC102
Follow Phil at @pideson
Send any questions you want to be answered to the guys via email: contact@hardtruthfootball.com
We’re always grateful for feedback so feel free to post a review via your podcast provider and also follow us via our other media platforms to comment on and also share our content,
Twitter @hardtruthpod
Facebook at /hardtruthpod
Instagram at @hardtruthpod

Dec 30, 2020 • 36min
EP34: [Bonus] Firing Up the Points Per Game Calculator...
We weren't going to record this week, but with Darragh missing his football due to Peterborough United's COVID shutdown, Phil willing to talk to anyone who will listen about Bradford City's turnaround in form, and a local sports journalist in need of some stories to fill the back pages, we fired up Zoom and hit the record button!
Topics of conversation this week included:
The latest on Peterborough's forced COVID shutdown
Calculating PPG again!
The new manager bounce
Darragh's perspective on giving a caretaker manager the permanent job
Getting ready for January recruitment
The state of play in the Premier League
And much more...
Follow Darragh at @DMAC102
Follow Phil at @pideson
Send any questions you want to be answered to the guys via email: contact@hardtruthfootball.com
We’re always grateful for feedback so feel free to post a review via your podcast provider and also follow us via our other media platforms to comment on and also share our content,
Twitter @hardtruthpod
Facebook at /hardtruthpod
Instagram at @hardtruthpod

Dec 23, 2020 • 1h 9min
EP33: A Deep Dive into the Finances of an EFL Club (Part 1)
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony and Bradford City supporter Philip Ideson give insight on the "Hard Truths" behind the football industry via this weekly podcast 🎙️⚽🏢
On this week's episode...
- COVID outbreak at Peterborough
- From Tier 2 to Tier 4
- Bantams start winning
- Liverpool's title to lose
- Deep dive into the typical income and expenditure of an EFL club
- Plus much more...
Follow Darragh at @DMAC102
Follow Phil at @pideson
Send any questions you want to be answered to the guys via email: contact@hardtruthfootball.com
We’re always grateful for feedback so feel free to post a review via your podcast provider and also follow us via our other media platforms to comment on and also share our content,
Twitter @hardtruthpod
Facebook at /hardtruthpod
Instagram at @hardtruthpod

Dec 16, 2020 • 57min
EP32: You're Fired!
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony and Bradford City supporter Philip Ideson give insight on the "Hard Truths" behind the football industry via this weekly podcast 🎙️⚽🏢
On this weeks episode...
Great to have fans back + insight on all the safety measures, "hoops to jump through"
How to deal with young footballers
Academy sides playing "real football" in the EFL Trophy
Sackings at Barrow and Bradford
Showing confidence, play the game
Appointment of Trevor Birch as CEO of the EFL.
A nice tribute and RIP to former Liverpool manager Gerrard Houllier
Epic rant from Darragh! Frustration of the latest tier changes, businesses being decimated and YOU choose whether you’re #teamapocalypse or #teamrealist 🤔
Celtic and the current toxicity between fans and Neil Lennon
Insight into sacking and replacing the manager. Also reviewing PUFC dismissals under Darragh
Pitch state at Peterborough and sorting that
Loyalty and the grass isn’t always greener on the other sides
Plus much more...
Follow Darragh at @DMAC102
Follow Phil at @pideson
Send any questions you want answered into the guys via @contact@hardtruthfootball.com
We’re always grateful for feedback so feel free to post a review via your podcast provider and also follow us via our other media platforms to comment on and also share our content,
Twitter @hardtruthpod
Facebook at /hardtruthpod
Instagram at @hardtruthpod
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Dec 9, 2020 • 53min
EP31: Bailout, New Overseas Signing Rules, Scouting Setups & Much More...
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony and long-suffering Bradford City supporter Philip Ideson shine a light on the hard truths behind the football industry.
On this week's episode:
Loss of form
Can Sheffield United turn things around?
What is going on at Arsenal?
The bailout has been agreed, but is it enough?
The impact of new overseas player transfer rules
Academies
Jack Marriott
Typical scouting setups
and much more...

Dec 2, 2020 • 58min
EP30: Out of the Cup, Fans are Back, & Much More...
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony and long-suffering Bradford City supporter Philip Ideson shine a light on the hard truths behind the football industry.
On this week's episode:
Barry Fry's COVID Recovery
Back in Dubai
Losing to Chorley
Fixture congestion
Phil Parkinson out
Manager clauses
Advice for aspiring coaches
and much more...

Nov 18, 2020 • 56min
EP29: Greg Clarke & The FA, MPs Debate, Manager of the Month, & Much More...
Peterborough United Chairman Darragh MacAnthony and long-suffering Bradford City supporter Philip Ideson shine a light on the hard truths behind the football industry.
On this week's episode:
- Manager of the month
- Greg Clarke and the FA
- Why is it harder to manage in the Championship than League 2.
- John Sheridan and Nigel Clough getting new jobs
- EFL bailout latest
- Buying Nathan Thompson
- Mental health
- and much more...
To submit a question for a future pod, email contact@hardtruthfootball.com. To listen to our back catalog, go to www.hardtruthfootball.com.

Nov 11, 2020 • 54min
EP28: Player Medicals, FA Cup Wins, Manager Short Lists, Elections, & More...
Peterborough United Co-owner and Chairman Darragh MacAnthony and long-suffering Bradford City supporter Philip Ideson shine a light on the hard truths behind the football industry while providing insights on how to succeed in business.
To submit a question for a future pod, email contact@hardtruthfootball.com. To listen to our back catalog, go to www.hardtruthfootball.com.


