

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

Nov 4, 2020 • 57min
EP27: Top of the League, Managing the Manager, Lockdown, and 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.

Oct 28, 2020 • 1h 5min
EP26: "There's No Big Money TV Deals in Football Without the Big 6"
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:
- Thoughts on the Premier League table
- Peterborough United's start to the season
- Is behind closed doors diminishing home advantage?
- Why football needs the Big 6
- Sporting GOATs
- Co-ownership considerations
- Is there ever a right time to start a business?
- 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.

Oct 21, 2020 • 1h 3min
EP25: Are All Football Clubs for Sale?
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:
- Trouble for Liverpool
- Keeping tabs on Ivan Toney
- Rejected proposals
- Private equity investing in the EFL?
- Free agents
- International breaks
- How do you value a football club?
- 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.

Oct 14, 2020 • 52min
EP24: Project Big Picture
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:
- Football in the community
- Salford City
- Project Big Picture
- The impact of promotion to the Championship
- Women's football
- Almost buying Orlando City
- 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.

Oct 7, 2020 • 1h 2min
EP23: Deadline Day Realities
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:
- Crazy results
- Ollie Watkins
- Bury AFC
- Coming together to get fans back
- Doing business on deadline day
- Agent fees
- Republic of Ireland
- Pitching business ideas
- 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.

Sep 30, 2020 • 59min
EP22: "Football Needs Help"
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:
- COVID testing saga
- Fans out for up to 6 more months
- Funding football over the rest of the season
- Cancelling games
- Sacking managers
- and much, 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.

Sep 23, 2020 • 1h 17min
EP21: Injury Time, Taking a Knee, and 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:
- Winning in injury time
- Verbals and making up with Joey Barton
- Macclesfield Town's debts
- QPR and taking a knee
- Can managers also be controversial pundits?
- The first meeting with a transfer target
- Advice on preparing for the next 12-24 months.
- and much, 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.

Sep 16, 2020 • 57min
EP20: "F*ck Football"
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:
- Posh players test positive for COVID-19
- Why players need to create their own bubble
- Boris Johnson's rule of 6
- Sammy Szmodics signs!
- Financing big transfers
- Players speaking out about their club's transfer policy
- and much, 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.

Sep 9, 2020 • 1h 17min
EP19: Fans Forum Special - 20/21 Season Preview
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:
- Behind closed doors stadium protocols
- Twitter trolls are back
- Clock ticking for unattached players
- Special fans forum: we speak with supporters of Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City, AFC Wimbledon, Rochdale, Ipswich Town, Preston North End, and Leeds United to look ahead to their 20/21 seasons.
To submit a question for a future pod, email contact@hardtruthfootball.com. To listen to our back catalog, go to www.hardtruthfootball.com.

Sep 2, 2020 • 1h 9min
EP18: Big Transfers! / Posh Supporters Forum
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:
- Sold! The inside story on Ivan Toney's big-money transfer to Brentford
- Bought! Jonson Clarke-Harris returns to Peterborough
- Considerations when setting season ticket prices
- Stopping players from leaving against the Manager's wishes
- The motivations of silent owners
- A special look ahead to the new season with 4 Peterborough United supporters in a new fans forum section of the pod.
To submit a question for a future pod, email contact@hardtruthfootball.com. To listen to our back catalog, go to www.hardtruthfootball.com.


