What a weekend of sport it was last week. Rory’s Masters triumph, Grand National bashing for the bookies, Premier League blown wide open, and Championship relegation heating up with the Scottish title race. Dialling in, it’s Arsenal who are in the sights this week, and I knew they would be at 2:30pm on Saturday when they were booed off the pitch while 9 points clear in the Prem having lost 2-1 to Bournemouth. Is it a fair reaction to a club threatening to blow the achievement this project has strived for for 6 years or a lack of respect for the job those on the performance and business side have undertaken to put the club here in the first place. Add to that a look at the rapid growth of women’s rugby and how it compares to women’s football and we have ourselves a Breakdown!

Disclaimer:

The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at charlie@20vc.com and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

Dagenham & Redbridge has been all over the footballing news in recent weeks. A takeover fronted by John Grabowski and Happy Fan Group saw KSI come on board as a minority owner while Andy Carroll has been enjoying his time both on the pitch and in the dugout. Therefore this was never going to be your normal football club conversation.

Non-League football in the UK is highly competitive. There is also some great business to be had. But of course, there are challenges to overcome. What does it take for Dagenham to put the excitement and media buzz that comes with high profile ownership into results on the pitch that ultimately leads to what really matters: winning. John takes us through the takeover story, football club’s challenges when talking about money, getting KSI on board, and how they plan to take the club back to the football league. We’re delighted to welcome John to the business of sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:

Gemini

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

Navan

Save BIG with Navan’s Business Travel Management https://navan.com/uk/sign-up/home

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at

bos@20vc.com

Today it’s the turn of Italian football to take the spotlight. To say it has been a disappointing week for Italy would be an understatement. Missing out on their third World Cup in a row is quite incredible for the four time champions. But why is this happening? What is the root cause? Because this is now more than a blip. Add to this a dive back into horse racing ahead of Grand National weekend and look at whether the race has lost its magic, and yet more record losses for Chelsea, and we have ourselves a breakdown.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only. All financial analysis, commentary, and forecasts are based on publicly available information and/or permitted confidential sources. These represent our personal opinions, not professional financial, legal, or investment advice. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed. Nothing said should be taken as a statement of fact about any individual, club, or organisation's financial position or future prospects. We are not responsible for any actions taken based on our commentary.

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at

bos@20vc.com

I’m so pleased to have finally got this guest in studio with us. When we first recorded with the PFA CEO Maheta Molango, it as over broken wifi at a conference in South Africa two and half years ago. Despite that, it was one of the best shows we have done. We wanted to bring this to properly though, and therefore we all agreed it was time to get the man that is in charge of the interests of all current and former professional footballers in this country to talk us through the state of play from the players perspective, from unsustainable calendar requirements to adapting to the demands on and off pitch which come with being a footballer in 2026. As you will hear, this ends up being far more of a discussion than an interview, and in my opinion it makes it only more powerful. We’re delighted to welcome Maheta back to the Business of Sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth

https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at bos@20vc.com

We come in this week with both some fresh material and some topics, well one in particular, we just can’t stay away from. For the fresh takes, it’s a look at the bubbling story engulfing the boxing world as Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren take on Dana White and his Saudi backed Zuffa boxing. It’s then the turn of the most mental business model in sport and we break down the Masters millions that they both generate and leave on the table. To round it off, it’s of course Spurs, and the sacking of Igor Tudor. However, throwing a spanner into the conversation, the appointment of Roberto De Zerbi happened when we were recording this show, so you get a bit of our prospective musings at the possibility of his appointment followed by some immediate thoughts of what it really means for Spurs. Let’s get stuck into another big week.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only. All financial analysis, commentary, and forecasts are based on publicly available information and/or permitted confidential sources. These represent our personal opinions, not professional financial, legal, or investment advice. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed. Nothing said should be taken as a statement of fact about any individual, club, or organisation's financial position or future prospects. We are not responsible for any actions taken based on our commentary.

Motorsport, you can’t escape it (well it certainly feels like that at the moment). But what about the newest addition to the global calendar. What do you know about Formula E, the fully electric powered racing championship? With F1’s new hybrid regulations coming into play this year, combining the traditional combustion engine with an electric power unit, the talk round electric racing has never been more prominent and of more interest.

Jeff Dodds is the CEO of Formula E, and joins us to talk through the unique nature of the Championship, what sets it apart from other forms of racing but also where it can and has taken from established formats to develop the sport. This is a look into a world you may not know about, but holds huge importance to the future of motorsport and the technology that will develop it. I’m delighted to welcome Jeff to the Business of Sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth

https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/

I feel like we have a month’s worth of news that has happened since we last recorded. Mo Salah’s departure announcement, yet more Chelsea punishment, Brendon McCullum’s continuation as England Head Coach, Spurs going deeper into the relegation pit; where do we even start. Don’t worry, we’ll be taking a look at all of this in some capacity, but the Mo Salah news and what it tells us about Liverpool’s current situation, alongside the ECB’s decision to stick with the leadership that oversaw such a depressing winter for English cricket will lead from the front in this week’s episode of ‘The Breakdown’.

Disclaimer:

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are for informational and entertainment purposes only. All financial analysis, commentary, and forecasts are based on publicly available information and/or permitted confidential sources. These represent our personal opinions, not professional financial, legal, or investment advice. We make no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information discussed. Nothing said should be taken as a statement of fact about any individual, club, or organisation's financial position or future prospects. We are not responsible for any actions taken based on our commentary.

One of the Business of Sport greats returns. It was too painful to do this just after the Ashes, but with time the ever effective healer, and with the IPL kicking off this week, what better moment to get Pat Cummins back in the seat.

When Pat first came on before the 2023 Ashes, the conversation ranged from how they’d deal with the new style of cricket England were bringing to the test scene, while also looking at the impact of an increasingly packed calendar, and how the players manage their priorities. This time round, the less we talk about England the better, but with the IPL fronting the calendar for the next few weeks, we take a proper look at what that tournament has done for the global game. This is another quality insight into the world of cricket at the highest level from one of the game’s great players. We’re delighted to welcome Pat to the Business of Sport.

The Ashes & Leadership

• What it’s really like captaining Australia during an Ashes series

• How Australia handled England’s “Bazball” approach

• The role of individuality vs system in elite team performance

  
  

The IPL & The Business of Cricket

• Inside the IPL: pressure, money and global attention

• How IPL exposure unlocks sponsorships and business opportunities

• Why cricket is facing a growing tension between leagues and international duty

  
  

The Evolution of Cricket

• Why T20 cricket is becoming more aggressive than ever

• The rise of 250+ scores and how teams are built to dominate

• How rule changes like the “impact player” are reshaping the game

  
  

Life Beyond Cricket

• Why Cummins doesn’t define himself purely as a cricketer

• His approach to investing, AI and business interests

• Balancing elite performance with family, curiosity and long-term thinking

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show:

Gemini Sports

We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth https://geminisports.ai/

Slate

The complete content creation platform for social teams https://slateteams.com/