For far too long now, those who make up the executive boards of football clubs have been content to take a short-term view on what’s needed to make them a success both on and off the pitch.
Championship clubs have been known to demand immediate promotion from new incumbents in the managerial hot-seat and quite often without coming close to giving them the tools or the time they require to do the job.
It’s worth reiterating that business men or women don’t always make good judges of what works on a football pitch, and in certain cases they’d do well to listen to the experts rather than massaging their own egos.
One such expert is ex-Manchester United player, coach and assistant manager, Mike Phelan.
Working under Sir Alex Ferguson is as good a developing ground as any, both personally and professionally, and lest we forget that it took the Scot a number of years to get the Red Devils shaped as he wanted.
What followed was an unprecedented era of success, which Phelan played a full part in, but it simply wouldn’t have happened if, as now, the owners wanted a lightning-quick return on their investment at the expense of nurturing and growing the football side of the business.
Phelan is rather unique in that he has played for the club, coached at all levels of it and finally became assistant manager of one of the world’s most successful and intricate football operations in Manchester United.
Not to mention the success he had en route, winning trophies and titles in various roles at Burnley, Norwich and Hull along the way. With 26 major honours across a variety of positions, it’s fair to say Mike Phelan knows how to win and from a multitude of perspectives.
With Jose Mourinho currently swimming against the tide at Old Trafford, the likes of Ed Woodward, Gary Neville and others in the media have suggested that a director of football is perhaps the way to go.
Phelan is just a phone call away and has been keeping himself busy since leaving the red half of Manchester.
His sojourns in football are well documented, but less well known is his involvement with Sensible Soccer, a company with two different but synergistic aspects to it.
One quite simply supplies football training equipment through an online retail store. That is; goals, balls, cones, hurdles, general training equipment and a best in class website. As the company grows, a foundation will be set up which will allow grassroots clubs to apply for funding and/or equipment to assist with sports provision, coaching and equipment.
The other side of the company is more education orientated, delivering master classes, coach education, executive education, talent development and elite performance evidence-based insight into universities, football clubs and business.
To date the company have delivered in grassroots community clubs and universities and colleges such as Liverpool John Moores, Peterborough and The University College of Football Business . They’re also currently in early stage negotiations with institutions in The Far East and Asian Markets with their partners GB8.
In the meantime, Phelan is in Australia looking to develop the Central Coast Mariners, a task where his expertise perfectly aligns with the progressive model that owner, Mike Charlesworth, aspires his club to be.
In a short space of time as Consultant Sporting Director, Phelan’s tenure has seen a total re-structuring of the on-field finances and budget, engagement with the community and the appointment of a new manager in Mike Mulvey.
Mulvey has already won The A League and through the ex-Manchester United man’s extensive network, has made key signings with Premier League and international experience, such as Ross McCormack (Aston Villa), Aiden O Neill (Burnley), Kalifa Cisse (Reading) and Tommy Oar (Ipswich Town).
Add to that one other thing which has certainly has made the world take notice; the arrival of Usain Bolt and his audacious attempt at becoming a footballer. Quite possibly a shot in the arm for sponsorship and marketing opportunities but who knows?
When pressed on the matter Phelan commented; “whether he makes a football player or not is irrelevant at this stage, but what is apparent is that an infiltration of sheer professionalism and the psychology of having one of the world’s greatest ever athletes in your midst is an infection you wouldn’t want to remove from any sporting environment.”
On the field it’s so far so good, as The Mariners pre-season appears to be going rather swimmingly. Five wins and a draw and 24 goals in the process is some turnaround for a club that had finished bottom in their previous two seasons.
The Mike Phelan effect is certainly evident and alive, and could well be something Manchester United may want to re-introduce into their midst sooner rather than later.
However, United may have to move quickly.
Phelan has been seen in the director's box at Turf Moor, Burnley, over recent weeks and Sky Sports News reported that they too are to appoint a sporting director in the very near future.
With The FA also looking to replace Dan Ashworth who joined Brighton last week, Phelan’s 26 major honours, an unprecedented record for blooding youth at every club he has been at and a global network of scouts and advisors, his credentials would be rather difficult for any ambitious operation to ignore.
A winner at every level, engaged in higher education and cutting-edge business ideas, and a man with worldwide success and experience to boot… isn’t that what Manchester United used to be?
Watch this space, we may not have seen the last of the man who rode trusted shotgun to Sir Alex Ferguson for many a successful campaign.
