Business of Sport
Charlie and Harry Stebbings
The show that takes you behind the scenes with the industry’s leading owners, operators, and athletes; it’s the game behind the game.
BOS takes two forms: a weekly interview with leading figures from the world of sport, and ‘The Breakdown’, the news show hosted by Charlie Stebbings & Charlie Methven, ensuring you don’t miss a minute of what’s happening in the world of sports business.
For greater access and insight, come and join us on Substack to access bonus shows, articles, giveaways, and events.
https://businessofsport.substack.com/
BOS takes two forms: a weekly interview with leading figures from the world of sport, and ‘The Breakdown’, the news show hosted by Charlie Stebbings & Charlie Methven, ensuring you don’t miss a minute of what’s happening in the world of sports business.
For greater access and insight, come and join us on Substack to access bonus shows, articles, giveaways, and events.
https://businessofsport.substack.com/
Episodes
Mentioned books
30 snips
Nov 6, 2026 • 1h 33min
THE BREAKDOWN | Manchester United Special: How It All Went Wrong (E44)
Jamie Bajwa, a football finance specialist and former Goldman Sachs analyst, joins a deep dive into Manchester United’s unraveling. They trace the Ferguson-era financial blueprint, the Glazers’ leveraged takeover, years of costly underperformance, and Ratcliffe’s limited reset. The conversation explores debt, transfer liabilities, Old Trafford’s future, potential ownership changes, and the financial fallout of relegation.
Nov 3, 2026 • 1h 27min
ATP Chair on Why Tennis Is Leaving Billions on the Table | Andrea Gaudenzi (Ep144)
Andrea Gaudenzi, a former world No. 18 player, lawyer, and ATP Chair, explores tennis’s untapped commercial potential. He discusses fragmented governance, unifying media and sponsorship rights, player-tournament trust, the complex calendar, financial pathways for lower-ranked players, Saudi competition, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and the case for bringing men’s and women’s tennis closer together.
12 snips
Oct 30, 2026 • 1h 27min
THE BREAKDOWN: Man United’s Doom Spiral, Burnley on the Brink, & The WSL’s Reality Check (E43)
Manchester United’s ownership turmoil, player unrest, and managerial pressure take center stage. Burnley’s leveraged buyout, mounting debt, and relegation risk raise troubling questions about survival. The discussion then turns to falling WSL attendances, shaky growth claims, costly investment, and whether women’s rugby offers a more convincing model for building demand.
Oct 27, 2026 • 1h 23min
Carlos Brathwaite: How do you Save West Indies Cricket (Ep143)
Carlos Brathwaite, the Barbadian star behind four iconic sixes in the 2016 T20 World Cup final, revisits that unforgettable triumph. He explores cricket’s role as the Caribbean’s cultural connector, the rise of franchise leagues, and the forces pulling players from international cricket. Brathwaite also discusses player pathways, private investment, fan ownership, and practical ways to rebuild West Indies cricket.
12 snips
Oct 23, 2026 • 1h 20min
THE BREAKDOWN: The Premier League Is Eating Europe, Rahm Walks Away From $100m, & Infantino Rises Again (E42)
The Premier League and Champions League are pulling media money away from France and Italy, reshaping European football. The WTA faces a cash crunch while defending equal prize money. LIV Golf’s next phase hangs on funding, player commitments, and a risky equity pitch. Meanwhile, Gianni Infantino tightens his grip on FIFA as UEFA considers legal action.
Oct 20, 2026 • 1h 11min
Stuart Cain: Why Domestic Cricket Critics Are Missing the Bigger Picture (Ep142)
Stuart Cain, CEO of championship-winning Warwickshire and a veteran of football and rugby operations, makes the case for English domestic cricket. He discusses member-owned clubs, Edgbaston’s role, and the pathway from The Hundred to the Blast and County Championship. The conversation explores squad building, women’s cricket, Birmingham’s sporting ecosystem, and cricket’s wider economic and community impact.
20 snips
Oct 16, 2026 • 1h 29min
THE BREAKDOWN: Football Regulator’s Warning Shot, Pantomime Premier League, Fury vs AJ & F1 Lands in Africa (E41)
A new football regulator aims to force clubs toward financial resilience as Manchester City’s legal case casts a shadow over Premier League competition. The discussion also covers promoted clubs’ spending, fragile lower-league finances, Formula One’s planned return to Africa and slipping US ratings, plus the long-awaited Fury versus Joshua blockbuster and boxing’s chaotic structure.
11 snips
Oct 13, 2026 • 1h 19min
We had 10 Days to Rescue the Football Club | The Torquay United Story with Michael Westcott & Mark Bowes-Cavanagh (Ep141)
Michael Westcott, a media and business executive, and Mark Bowes-Cavanagh, a laboratory entrepreneur, recount rescuing Torquay United from administration in just ten days. They discuss fan-led ownership, rebuilding trust, smart recruitment, financial discipline, youth development and revenue growth. The conversation also explores Neil Warnock’s advisory role, football’s community identity and the ambition to return Torquay to the EFL.
11 snips
Oct 9, 2026 • 1h 16min
THE BREAKDOWN: Man City’s Etihad Problem, More Chaos at Celtic, LA Clippers Sanctioned, & LIV 2.0 $100m Franchises (E40)
A packed week in sports business takes on Manchester City’s shaky appeal and the Premier League’s landmark verdict. The LA Clippers face major NBA sanctions over salary-cap circumvention. Celtic supporters revolt amid governance concerns, while LIV Golf pitches $100 million franchises and players weigh equity against uncertain payments. The WTA’s push for equal prize money raises fresh questions about financial sustainability.
Oct 6, 2026 • 1h 27min
Eddie Pepperell: The Real Finances of a Pro Golfer, LIV Golf & Why He’d Turn Down the PGA Tour (Ep140)
Eddie Pepperell, an English professional golfer, British Masters winner and sharp golf commentator, opens up about life on tour. He recalls the brutal road back through Q School, the hidden costs of professional golf and the pressure behind major championships. He shares why he opposed LIV, how golf’s fractured ecosystem might heal, and why he’d likely turn down a PGA Tour card for Europe’s variety and heritage.
