Lord Sugar ‘tackles football’ for BBC Two

April 19, 2011   ·   0 Comments

Lord Sugar is set to tackle the football industry in a new programme for BBC Two. ‘Lord Sugar Tackles Football’ promises to be a revealing documentary into the business side of the beautiful game.

Over the last 20 years, English football has changed beyond recognition with Premier League clubs now making nearly £2bn a year from TV, match day and sponsorship income. However, despite becoming a successful global export beamed into more than 500 million homes around the world, English football is an industry that’s struggling to make ends meet.

Investigating the financial problems facing football, Lord Sugar will interview bosses, owners, agents and players and ask what has gone wrong, who is to blame and what can be done. In his typically forthright fashion, he will deliver his verdict and his own five-point business blueprint designed to help the game he’s followed since childhood.

Lord Sugar says: “For the good of the game – a game that entertains so many people – a game that people look forward to, that’s part of their lives, there needs to be some very, very big actions taken. Football needs a dose of hard business reality.”

Martin Davidson, Commissioning Editor, History and Business, says: “Football is big business and our national game has become a successful global brand, but behind the star players and billionaire owners it’s surprising to hear so many teams are struggling to makes ends meet.

“It’s a fascinating business model to explore and I’m very excited that Lord Sugar will be offering BBC Two viewers his expert business analysis – and I look forward to seeing what surprises he has in store for us.”

Lord Sugar Tackles Football features interviews with: West Ham’s Vice Chairman, Karren Brady; former player and Tottenham Hotspur’s manager Harry Redknapp; Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore; the Premier League’s all-time record goal-scorer Alan Shearer; chairman of Wigan Athletic, Dave Whelan; and President of Uefa Michel Platini.

‘Lord Sugar Tackles Football’ is on BBC Two and BBC HD on Sunday 8th May at 9pm.

Tags: BBC Two, Harry Redknapp, Karren Brady, Lord Sugar