The Football Boardroom

Over the years, I have served in various capacities within football clubs across the UK, including board member, advisor, consultant, and other related positions. Through these experiences, I have observed a recurring pattern of inexperience and lack of structure in many clubs. In several instances, this fragmented decision-making has led to the dramatic decline or even demise of clubs.

An old saying goes, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.” This adage resonates deeply with my observations of boardroom dynamics. Successful boards require a diversity of experience, knowledge, and a robust decision-making process to mitigate risks associated with impactful decisions. Unfortunately, leadership can often be either lacking or overly abundant without the necessary structure to facilitate effective decision-making. This lack of cohesion can lead to a “do nothing” approach, resulting in an impasse that is detrimental in the long run.

Reflecting on various situations, I have often wondered how different or more structured decisions could have changed outcomes. Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing. However, one certainty is that the dramatic drop from leagues, decreased income, and in some cases, the disappearance of clubs as functioning entities, is never a positive outcome for anyone involved in boardroom decisions. Regret over certain decisions is inevitable, but impactful decisions require a deliberate and structured process.

This realisation was the impetus for founding Performance Goal. Our mission is to leverage our extensive experience to provide a structured framework that helps organisations improve performance at the board level. As a virtual board member, we offer independent, neutral insights, experience, knowledge, and direction to facilitate better decision-making and performance.

Our services include leadership guidance and the implementation of best practices, laying a foundation for clubs to develop a cohesive philosophy and culture. We help clubs create a blueprint, roadmap, and identity that fosters long-term success and stability.

By partnering with Performance Goal, clubs can benefit from a wealth of experience and a structured approach to governance and decision-making, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern football landscape.

This Article Was Written by David Caldwell.