accessory Posted 8 July 2011 Posted 8 July 2011 From the Leicester Mercury I want to make matchdays at Leicester City as exciting as I can Susan Whelan is the woman entrusted by Leicester City’s owners to prepare the club for the Premier League as its new chief executive. Chief football correspondent Rob Tanner meets the 47-year-old Dubliner. What has been your career path to reach the King Power Stadium? It has been predominantly in commercial strategy and retail in the Middle East and Russia, via Thailand and a number of other countries. I have been involved in these areas for over 20 years and have worked for King Power for 12 years so far. I have been very lucky to be part of the growth and development of the company. I have been on the board since December and they asked me to step in as CEO. I feel very honoured to have this opportunity. I am motivated to develop all the facilities and the services for the fans. Do you think your gender has any significance? I think it is irrelevant. It is about trying to do the job the best you can regardless of your gender. It is not an issue. What have you learned about the differences between the football business and the retail business? It is very different as a business model but there is still a business at the heart of the club. My expertise is in retail development, but we have a world class manager in Sven-Goran Eriksson and Andrew Neville as football director, and they are there to advise the owners on the football strategy. My job is optimising the revenue coming into the club, and delivering and showcasing the Leicester City brand. Are you a football fan? I am and I went to a lot of the games last season. I am not an expert but I love it and love the feeling on matchdays. There is nothing more magical than walking into that stadium and the buzz before the game. I will be there with everyone else cheering for them at every game this season. Part of my job will be to make the whole matchday experience for fans as exciting as possible. The club has been making a year-on-year loss and the owners want the club to become self-sufficient. How do you plan to do that? Like lots of other clubs it has been making a loss. It is a challenge and it won't happen overnight, but I think we are moving quickly to a situation where we have examined each of the areas of the revenue streams, looked at areas we could be doing better and making sure we optimise all the potential revenue areas. I am a firm believer that if you offer something extraordinary then people will respond and want to be part of what we are doing. And that does not mean we will be charging more for tickets. Nothing like that. If we do need to increase prices in isolated areas, we will ensure that we deliver a better product to the fans. So what are your plans? There are lots of plans in place but the obvious one is to optimise the non-matchday side. You have 23 home games, but there all the other days when there is the opportunity to do something there. We want to get more people here to the stadium on non-matchdays and we are looking at developing a museum, stadium tours, putting on family events and making the stadium the venue of choice for many. We want people to want to be associated with the club and feel part of it. How long can the owners sustain their investment? The owners can do it for a long time. They didn't go into this considering the business case and without planning. There are no concerns about the funding on that side. Of course there is emotion involved in football, but Vichai (Raksriaksorn) is a big businessman and he examines the whole situation and is committed to the club for a long time. You know them a lot better than many, so what are the Raksriaksorns like to work for? A They are fantastic, very hard working and very straight-forward. They are also very generous to work for and to the community. I have been very honoured to work for them for such a long time, and when they asked me to work here at the club I was honoured to accept this responsibility and to relish the task ahead. Can you guarantee that the burden of the extra revenue you want to generate won't come from the supporters? The burden won't fall on the supporters. You can see from the season-ticket prices there was only a minimal increase and we absorbed the VAT on that. If there are any situations where there is a year-on-year increase we will ensure to explain why it has happened and deliver back to people for that addition. Even the new kit this year did not go up in price, but costs and VAT did. We absorbed that. It is more important to us that people are in the stands wearing that shirt. It is more about people being able to show support for the team and the club. The stadium has been re-branded the King Power Stadium. How significant is that? It demonstrates the owners are here for the long term and their commitment to Leicester City is long term. Walkers understand the rationale behind the change. They have been associated with the club for nearly 25 years and they are a big employer in the community. They are very important to the club and they want to stay committed as our Legacy Partner for the long term. The Great Hall is going to be re-named the Walkers Hall. Quite pleased with what she's said. Let'ss hope she can also walk the walk during her time at the club.
Guest Mee-9 Posted 8 July 2011 Posted 8 July 2011 Q Do you think your gender has any significance?A I think it is irrelevant. It is about trying to do the job the best you can regardless of your gender. It is not an issue. Jesus. What a woeful question.
John Matrix Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 would have liked them to probe more on improving matchdays..atmosphere, flags, standing, supporter consultation etc.
ajthefox Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 Too fvcking right they "took the hit" on shirts, they're ridiculously expensive as it is.
MPH Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 Jesus. What a woeful question. I know.... the 2nd question aswell..... *cringe* At least the ladies will get some cooking pots and pans with the club logo on out of it all....
thybluefox Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 Jesus. What a woeful question. Agreed, what a moronic thing to ask. Good old Mockery.
KFS Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 They absorbed the costs and VAT on producing the shirts? So instead of being made for 50p, they were produced for £1? How nice of them to do that! You still charge £40 for (majority) shit shirts.
MPH Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 They absorbed the costs and VAT on producing the shirts? So instead of being made for 50p, they were produced for £1? How nice of them to do that! You still charge £40 for (majority) shit shirts. well i was joking in my previous comment and i sincerely hope you are too but i suspect not. is nothing good enough? what are you expecting? This world of £5 championship match day tickets and shirts that cost us £8 does not exist....
KFS Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 well i was joking in my previous comment and i sincerely hope you are too but i suspect not. is nothing good enough? what are you expecting? This world of £5 championship match day tickets and shirts that cost us £8 does not exist.... Obviously that isn't what I expect from a football club of our stature. It just doesn't seem right that she proudly talks about absorbing costs, when the difference in selling price would be minimal, but still extortionate. I mean, what's an extra £10 when you're passionate for your club? People would still pay it. The underlying issue would be, and in some cases, it currently is an issue, the quality of the shirts are not warrenting the price they are given, so they need to improve, and keep the same price (which I hope is likely). It wasn't meant to be completely malicious, as it seems to have been interpreted. I apologise if I came across that way.
sphericalfox Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 Obviously that isn't what I expect from a football club of our stature. It just doesn't seem right that she proudly talks about absorbing costs, when the difference in selling price would be minimal, but still extortionate. I mean, what's an extra £10 when you're passionate for your club? People would still pay it. The underlying issue would be, and in some cases, it currently is an issue, the quality of the shirts are not warrenting the price they are given, so they need to improve, and keep the same price (which I hope is likely). It wasn't meant to be completely malicious, as it seems to have been interpreted. I apologise if I came across that way. I suspect in the longer term, given more success and worldwide media coverage, we will be able to attract and command better deals for sponsorship, and perhaps a better manufacturer for our kit/merchandise. I think that is what she is inferring in the interview.
KFS Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 I suspect in the longer term, given more success and worldwide media coverage, we will be able to attract and command better deals for sponsorship, and perhaps a better manufacturer for our kit/merchandise. I think that is what she is inferring in the interview. Okay, maybe she is aware of the quality and covering the club before the complaints arise?
sphericalfox Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 Okay, maybe she is aware of the quality and covering the club before the complaints arise? I don't understand the problem. Anything usually can be improved. She is stating that things that can, will be, without any great additional costs passed on, but that the difference to the customer will be better. Christ just look at the players that are going to be soon on our pitch for proof.
One Arm Babba Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 Utterly embarrassing question about gender. I'm surprised he didn't ask her about potatoes and Guinness, seeing as though she is Irish. What an idiot.
Thracian Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 It's nice to read something from the top that you can actually believe because I never felt convinced by anything Mandaric said. So far, from inside as well as outside the club, I've heard nothing but praise for our owners and they also seem to have the vision and commitment that has been so lacking at Leicester for no reasons that I could ever understand. When a clearly capable and talented SEO works for a company for 12 years that says something in itself and, yes, I do believe the name change makes a long term statement. The club museum has long been needed. Many aspects of the club's long history are fascinating and absolutely brilliant for all sorts of schools/educational and organisation visits, as well as putting another notch on our City's tourist belt which ought to attract coach outings. VIP days out are already good value but they can be considerably improved from my experience and so can use of the non-matchday facilities at the ground in lots of ways. I am ever more encouraged on and off the pitch and it seems significant that we are at long last preparing properly for a new season. No, I don't make any assumptions about where we'll finish because that also depends on what others do, but I am sure that our club is finally giving itself a proper chance. Promotion might still elude us but we are laying the right foundations and I don't feel that Sven should be put under exceessive pressure. We've had quite enough management changes in recent years. We need to build soundly. Our team is being improved, of that there seems little doubt, but if we still fall short, we need to build some more not have a complete footballing reorganisation again. Sven might have his faults but so do other managers. But, unlike Pearson, our football was mostly decent to watch last season and there's every chance of it being better this year. I don't think we'll fall short on goals and believe we'll not concede so many so that surely popints to an improved performance. That, in itself, would be pretty good in the time taken so far and considering the many other changes that have been going on and the number of players who have had to resettle. It all poiints in the right direction to me and I wouldn't want any panic buttons pressed if we don't get everything our on way on the pitch. The less fear there is the more chance we have.
Alexikokopops Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 would have liked them to probe more on improving matchdays..atmosphere, flags, standing, supporter consultation etc. It's a superbly misleading headline isn't it?
Zingari Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 she's subtly admitted that she doesn't understand the off side rule
broughtonblue Posted 9 July 2011 Posted 9 July 2011 It's nice to read something from the top that you can actually believe because I never felt convinced by anything Mandaric said. So far, from inside as well as outside the club, I've heard nothing but praise for our owners and they also seem to have the vision and commitment that has been so lacking at Leicester for no reasons that I could ever understand. When a clearly capable and talented SEO works for a company for 12 years that says something in itself and, yes, I do believe the name change makes a long term statement. The club museum has long been needed. Many aspects of the club's long history are fascinating and absolutely brilliant for all sorts of schools/educational and organisation visits, as well as putting another notch on our City's tourist belt which ought to attract coach outings. VIP days out are already good value but they can be considerably improved from my experience and so can use of the non-matchday facilities at the ground in lots of ways. I am ever more encouraged on and off the pitch and it seems significant that we are at long last preparing properly for a new season. No, I don't make any assumptions about where we'll finish because that also depends on what others do, but I am sure that our club is finally giving itself a proper chance. Promotion might still elude us but we are laying the right foundations and I don't feel that Sven should be put under exceessive pressure. We've had quite enough management changes in recent years. We need to build soundly. Our team is being improved, of that there seems little doubt, but if we still fall short, we need to build some more not have a complete footballing reorganisation again. Sven might have his faults but so do other managers. But, unlike Pearson, our football was mostly decent to watch last season and there's every chance of it being better this year. I don't think we'll fall short on goals and believe we'll not concede so many so that surely popints to an improved performance. That, in itself, would be pretty good in the time taken so far and considering the many other changes that have been going on and the number of players who have had to resettle. It all poiints in the right direction to me and I wouldn't want any panic buttons pressed if we don't get everything our on way on the pitch. The less fear there is the more chance we have. Excellent post, agree entirely. Even if we don't hit the ground running I feel there won't be any panicking from inside the club, so I hope we the supporters won't either
Nath Posted 10 July 2011 Posted 10 July 2011 This woman speaks a lot of sense. Let's just see if she sticks to the 'Making matchdays as exciting as i can'
MC Prussian Posted 10 July 2011 Posted 10 July 2011 Ah, finally. Wholehearted sympathy towards the new owners and SGE. Encouraging words coming from Thracian, Mr.Sceptic himself. Peace and harmony all around. My mission is accomplished. Off to Heaven now.
leicesterseddon Posted 10 July 2011 Posted 10 July 2011 Urgh. A little part of me dies when I hear the phrase 'matchday experience'. Another person at the club with no knowledge of or genuine passion for football. Obviously she's been appointed to look at the business side of things, and I'm sure she'll do well at it, but I don't have much hope for progress in areas of supporter concern (standing, atmosphere, flags, etc.), to be honest. But can't be much worse than her predeccesor, so good luck to her, etc.
accessory Posted 10 July 2011 Author Posted 10 July 2011 Urgh. A little part of me dies when I hear the phrase 'matchday experience'. Another person at the club with no knowledge of or genuine passion for football. Obviously she's been appointed to look at the business side of things, and I'm sure she'll do well at it, but I don't have much hope for progress in areas of supporter concern (standing, atmosphere, flags, etc.), to be honest. But can't be much worse than her predeccesor, so good luck to her, etc. At least she's shown a willingness to engage with fan groups, like the Foxes Trust. Hope she also talks to community groups and businesses. There are some fences to be mended after the Mandaric/Hoos years.
Dan Posted 10 July 2011 Posted 10 July 2011 I'm all for this - dependant on what her idea of "exciting matchday experience" is. For all I respect she's helping and she's made a good start, who knows what she has in mind to make it a better experience. It'll be interesting to hear her take on the Fosse Boys too, I'm 99% sure she'll give them more positive feedback than Hoos, but not taking anything said for granted. Then again - she's definitely got her head screwed on for me, hope her and Top and co improve keep up their superb work.
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