Unfit and Improper Persons: An Idiot's Guide to Owning a Football Club FROM THE PRICE OF FOOTBALL PODCAST

The Price of Football podcast team starts a (fictional) football club and discovers whats really going on behind the scenes of the beautiful game. They face challenges such as finding a shirt sponsor, paying the womens team the same as the mens team, and getting Messi to the Kleanwell Stadium next season. The book is informed, funny, and exclusive interviews with those who've been there, done that, and lays bare the labyrinthine world of football finance.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

A hilarious book that delves into serious football issues, Gary Lineker praises it as witty and wise. Clare Balding describes it as brilliant, revealing the truth about football. Alan Davies praises it as hilarious, detailed, and insightful.

Ever dreamed of setting up your own football club? Join the team behind The Price of Football podcast as they embark on a (fictional) journey of starting a football club and uncovering the behind-the-scenes realities of the beautiful game.

Buying a football club may come with a hefty price tag, but you also need to pass the stringent 'fit and proper persons test' set by the Premier League and EFL. For the team behind the award-winning podcast, The Price of Football, this process seems like a bit of a hassle. So, acclaimed comedy writer Kevin Day, football finance expert Kieran Maguire, and producer Guy Kilty decide to take a different route.

In Unfit and Improper Persons, they take on the role of West Park Rovers, a fictional football club, and guide them through a hilarious journey from the lowest level of the FA pyramid to the English Football League, the Premier League, and, if luck smiles upon them, even into the heart of Europe. Of course, their journey is not without its challenges.

They must navigate the complexities of finding a shirt sponsor, deciding on a mascot (is a dog named Rover too obvious?), ensuring equal pay for the women's team as the men's team (spoiler alert: hardly anyone else does), and securing the presence of soccer superstar Messi at the Kleanwell Stadium next season, as promised to the fans.

Owning a football club is not just about enjoying prawn sandwiches and sipping champagne in the directors' box. It involves managing various aspects, such as roofing over the toilets, paying electric bills for the floodlights, implementing salary caps, dealing with parachute payments, and avoiding bankruptcy, not to mention relegation.

Unfit and Improper Persons is a captivating and informative book that sheds light on the intricacies of football club ownership. It is packed with humor, thanks to the witty writing of Kevin Day, and is enriched with exclusive interviews with individuals who have firsthand experience in the world of football. Through these interviews, the book provides a deep understanding of the challenges, joys, and complexities that come with being a football club owner.

Whether you are a football enthusiast, a business professional, or simply someone interested in the inner workings of the sports industry, Unfit and Improper Persons is a must-read. It offers a hilarious and insightful perspective on the world of football club ownership, leaving you with a newfound appreciation for the people and processes that shape the beautiful game.

Weight: 412g
Dimension: 223 x 145 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781399407540