4.3.9. Players' agents
In France, players' agents suffer of bad reputation, so clubs
communicate as rarely as possible with them. They only request their services
when needed, during the transfer
How stakeholders influence football clubs' strategy ? September
2003
periods (January and the summer). The rest of the season, agents
seek clubs but most ofthem do not even meet them.In Great-Britain, football
clubs keep respectful relationship with the agents and work withthem all year
long. Communication with the agents, although careful and confidential,remains
important to them.
Top managers of the clubs deal directly with the agents and their
players, only when theyare interested in buying a player. Agents are numerous
and clubs do not attach any specialimportance when negotiating with them. They
have an opportunist attitude, like wouldhave recommended Archer (1995).Less
important clubs tried to avoid agents and to deal directly with players, to
save up thecost of an agent's commission. But this era is now over, every
player now has his agent,even some players of ten years old already signed with
agents. Clubs recognize that agents'administrative and negotiating skills are
useful when realizing a player transfer.
4.3.10. Other clubs
Football clubs are in direct contact and confrontation each and
every week at the stadium. Football clubs do not communicate frequently with
each other, excepted when they negotiate players' transfers.
Archer (1995) and Mendelow (1991) recommend football clubs to
make minimum efforts managing their competitors and even to try to find a
compromise with them. A compromise is impossible when clubs' successes depend
on others' failures. But according to the theory, football clubs' managers do
not make efforts to treat their competitors though they try to keep a
respectful and positive attitude towards them.
4.3.11. Interests groups
Considering the clubs of this study, only one is a member of the
G14 association. Liverpool F.C. is an active member of this group and so is
regularly in contact with it. Liverpool F.C. sends one of its most important
managers to the G14's meeting in Brussels
How stakeholders influence football clubs' strategy ? September
2003
twice a season. They also pay a `subscription' to finance this
group which employs five persons to communicate and defend their interests. The
football clubs' interests are united in this group, so management with this
stakeholder's category is enthusiastic.
Concerning the presidents' association, presidents of football
clubs attend these meetings regularly and so are parts of it. In France,
Gervais Martel, R.C. Lens' president is also the president of the U.C.P.F.
4.3.12. Government
Football clubs in both countries are not in direct contact with
the government, the LFP and the Premier League are.
When theorists would make minimum efforts and have an opportunist
attitude with this stakeholder, football clubs are careful about their
behaviour with ministers. They are at the top of the football business'
hierarchy pyramid. In France and England, football clubs invite ministers to
games and are pleased to welcome them at the stadium. British clubs are more
reactive to their government's demand. The example of Stoke City
F.C. putting a `green card' in place to fight violence in its
stadium is a direct response to the government's wishes. Liverpool and F.C. and
Tony Blair's team also work together on community programs.
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