Jesse Carver
Well-Known Member
Interesting bit on the fall out from the ESL and Newcastle takeover in the Athletic today. Looks like Hoffman's days could be numbered
LINK
Life under new ownership got off to a disappointing start for Newcastle as defeat by Tottenham kept them inside the relegation zone — while in corridors of power across the Premier League the fall-out from their controversial £305 million Saudi Arabia-backed takeover continues to simmer.
The other 19 clubs held an extraordinary meeting last week, where league officials tried to explain the decision to sanction a deal that many of its members vehemently oppose for multiple reasons.
It is believed this did little to placate those who are angry about the buyout and instead reinforced an increasing sense of dissatisfaction within the division towards the English top-flight’s hierarchy.
That dissatisfaction is understood not to relate solely to the Newcastle situation — more a combination of various issues — but events on Tyneside have brought the grievances to a head.
As a result, The Athletic has learned, there is a widespread view among teams that change should occur at leadership level and the person earmarked for removal is chairman Gary Hoffman.
Hoffman was only appointed to the Premier League in April 2020 but is said to have struggled for popularity during a turbulent 18 months, so much so that a desire to see him leave has emerged.
At this point in time a vote of “no confidence” has not taken place — if Hoffman is to exit, sources indicate the matter would most likely be handled without such a course of action being required — but the feelings over his potential departure are thought to be shared by a majority of the sides.
Naturally the strength of sentiment differs throughout the group, however it is not confined to the so-called “big six” of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Spurs.
The proposed European Super League (ESL) brought Hoffman under the spotlight a year into his reign and on subjects like that and Newcastle, a number of executives do not think the investment banker carries the necessary clout from a governance, political and communication perspective.
Communication from the organisation’s summit down to its shareholders is a key complaint around the Newcastle takeover, even though the league insists it was bound by confidentiality.
That confidentiality is said to have slipped in last week’s meeting when, despite the government refusing to reveal what it told the league about the buyout because it could “harm” relations with Saudi Arabia, Hoffman allegedly disclosed it and chief executive Richard Masters had to step in.
The erosion of trust in Hoffman is not known to have been articulated at meetings where Premier League staff were present, rather in separate calls and gatherings involving the clubs alone.
Should Hoffman depart, it will be interesting to see what type of replacement is sought and how much influence the teams who signed up for the collapsed ESL attempt to exert over the process.
The loudest voices in talks regarding Newcastle are believed to have been sides whose chances of success towards the top of the table may be threatened and those whose hopes of survival could diminish at the opposite end. Clubs with female CEOs (Everton, Leicester and West Ham) are claimed to have shown the strongest moral compass, while Burnley have also been vocal.
The Premier League declined to comment.
LINK
Life under new ownership got off to a disappointing start for Newcastle as defeat by Tottenham kept them inside the relegation zone — while in corridors of power across the Premier League the fall-out from their controversial £305 million Saudi Arabia-backed takeover continues to simmer.
The other 19 clubs held an extraordinary meeting last week, where league officials tried to explain the decision to sanction a deal that many of its members vehemently oppose for multiple reasons.
It is believed this did little to placate those who are angry about the buyout and instead reinforced an increasing sense of dissatisfaction within the division towards the English top-flight’s hierarchy.
That dissatisfaction is understood not to relate solely to the Newcastle situation — more a combination of various issues — but events on Tyneside have brought the grievances to a head.
As a result, The Athletic has learned, there is a widespread view among teams that change should occur at leadership level and the person earmarked for removal is chairman Gary Hoffman.
Hoffman was only appointed to the Premier League in April 2020 but is said to have struggled for popularity during a turbulent 18 months, so much so that a desire to see him leave has emerged.
At this point in time a vote of “no confidence” has not taken place — if Hoffman is to exit, sources indicate the matter would most likely be handled without such a course of action being required — but the feelings over his potential departure are thought to be shared by a majority of the sides.
Naturally the strength of sentiment differs throughout the group, however it is not confined to the so-called “big six” of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Spurs.
The proposed European Super League (ESL) brought Hoffman under the spotlight a year into his reign and on subjects like that and Newcastle, a number of executives do not think the investment banker carries the necessary clout from a governance, political and communication perspective.
Communication from the organisation’s summit down to its shareholders is a key complaint around the Newcastle takeover, even though the league insists it was bound by confidentiality.
That confidentiality is said to have slipped in last week’s meeting when, despite the government refusing to reveal what it told the league about the buyout because it could “harm” relations with Saudi Arabia, Hoffman allegedly disclosed it and chief executive Richard Masters had to step in.
The erosion of trust in Hoffman is not known to have been articulated at meetings where Premier League staff were present, rather in separate calls and gatherings involving the clubs alone.
Should Hoffman depart, it will be interesting to see what type of replacement is sought and how much influence the teams who signed up for the collapsed ESL attempt to exert over the process.
The loudest voices in talks regarding Newcastle are believed to have been sides whose chances of success towards the top of the table may be threatened and those whose hopes of survival could diminish at the opposite end. Clubs with female CEOs (Everton, Leicester and West Ham) are claimed to have shown the strongest moral compass, while Burnley have also been vocal.
The Premier League declined to comment.
