<![CDATA[Sport, Structured]]>1a28b654-08cc-5268-b7a7-3e9cc20a7a5cMon, 10 Aug 2026 08:45:19 +0000Captivate.fmLeonard Curtishttps://artwork.captivate.fm/b5ce8be5-2620-4559-9743-abde4bedd479/Show-Cover.pngSport, StructuredLeonard CurtisLeonard CurtisThe Business of Sport podcast from Leonard Curtis With expert insight and data-led discussion, Sport, Structured demystifies the financial, commercial and structural forces shaping professional sport today. From the financial health of your club, to new investment trends, ownership challenges, and the growth of women's sport, we provide a fresh look at the sporting landscape in the UK and beyond at a time when money does more of the talking than ever. Diving deep into the very latest developments across football, cricket, rugby, golf and many other sports, this new podcast draws on the Business of Sport series of reports from Leonard Curtis, a professional services firm specialising in restructuring and advisory.https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sportfalseserialnopodcastWho will be the winners and losers in English cricket's big reset?Who will be the winners and losers in English cricket's big reset?The fourth episode of the Sport, Structured podcast, hosted by James Cooper, puts English domestic cricket in the spotlight, with three Leonard Curtis directors joining the discussion: Iain Nairn MBE, former captain of the England Physical Disability cricket team, David Brown, who played county cricket for Gloucestershire and Glamorgan, and Alex Cadwallader, a former rugby union player and the Leonard Curtis Business of Sport lead.

With county cricket at a crossroads amid the growing prominence of global franchise competitions, and a £520m windfall from sales of equity in The Hundred’s eight teams, this episode examines the opportunities and challenges facing the domestic game.

Drawing on some of the key findings from the first edition of the Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report, the discussion also assesses how disability cricket, women’s cricket and university cricket are set to evolve in the coming years.

------------------------------

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction & meet the guests

2:16 – State of the game: rating cricket & the player-to-business shift

4:15 – Cricket vs rugby: governance and Rob Andrew at the ECB6:01 – Is this the golden age for players? The Hundred's winners and losers

8:32 – The treadmill: schedule congestion, burnout & player freedom11:23 – Loyalty, money & inside the Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report

13:33 – The 'haves' and 'have nots', demutualisation and club membership

21:12 – Governance lessons & how counties will spend The Hundred windfall

25:10 – The £520m question: what does success look like?

28:13 – Grassroots cricket and the university pathway

33:08 – State schools and disability cricket: widening access

38:52 – Women's cricket: investment, impact & comparisons with rugby

45:01 – Cricket in 10 years: predictions and the future of The Hundred

49:24 – What's in it for investors? Closing thoughts

------------------------------

Read our sports finance reports here: https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sport-structured-ep3&utm_content=business-of-sport

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/

Follow David Brown on LinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/in/david-brown-106b4070

Follow Iain Nairn MBE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-nairn-mbe-9552675

Follow Alex Cadwallader on LinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/in/alex-cadwallader-84952228

Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207

------------------------------

Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ Manchester Podcast Studio

------------------------------

Thank you to our UCFB student production team:

Rowan MacLellan, Editor

Calum Spiller, Autocue

Evie Malcom, Production assistant

Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting

Louis Jones, Audio

------------------------------

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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

]]>The fourth episode of the Sport, Structured podcast, hosted by James Cooper, puts English domestic cricket in the spotlight, with three Leonard Curtis directors joining the discussion: Iain Nairn MBE, former captain of the England Physical Disability cricket team, David Brown, who played county cricket for Gloucestershire and Glamorgan, and Alex Cadwallader, a former rugby union player and the Leonard Curtis Business of Sport lead.

With county cricket at a crossroads amid the growing prominence of global franchise competitions, and a £520m windfall from sales of equity in The Hundred’s eight teams, this episode examines the opportunities and challenges facing the domestic game.

Drawing on some of the key findings from the first edition of the Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report, the discussion also assesses how disability cricket, women’s cricket and university cricket are set to evolve in the coming years.

------------------------------

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction & meet the guests

2:16 – State of the game: rating cricket & the player-to-business shift

4:15 – Cricket vs rugby: governance and Rob Andrew at the ECB6:01 – Is this the golden age for players? The Hundred's winners and losers

8:32 – The treadmill: schedule congestion, burnout & player freedom11:23 – Loyalty, money & inside the Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report

13:33 – The 'haves' and 'have nots', demutualisation and club membership

21:12 – Governance lessons & how counties will spend The Hundred windfall

25:10 – The £520m question: what does success look like?

28:13 – Grassroots cricket and the university pathway

33:08 – State schools and disability cricket: widening access

38:52 – Women's cricket: investment, impact & comparisons with rugby

45:01 – Cricket in 10 years: predictions and the future of The Hundred

49:24 – What's in it for investors? Closing thoughts

------------------------------

Read our sports finance reports here: https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sport-structured-ep3&utm_content=business-of-sport

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/

Follow David Brown on LinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/in/david-brown-106b4070

Follow Iain Nairn MBE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-nairn-mbe-9552675

Follow Alex Cadwallader on LinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/in/alex-cadwallader-84952228

Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn:https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207

------------------------------

Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ Manchester Podcast Studio

------------------------------

Thank you to our UCFB student production team:

Rowan MacLellan, Editor

Calum Spiller, Autocue

Evie Malcom, Production assistant

Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting

Louis Jones, Audio

------------------------------

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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

]]>cd450e65-f36d-44cb-b98e-03ab14f8c5eeMon, 10 Aug 2026 09:45:00 +010050:25falsefull44What does the future hold for English county cricket?What does the future hold for English county cricket?Episode three of the Sport, Structured podcast welcomes former Ashes-winning England captain Michael Vaughan to the studio as we turn our attention to the future for English county cricket. Hosted by James Cooper, the conversation unpacks the key findings of the newly launched Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report 2026. Vaughan, who wrote the report’s foreword, shares his views on how counties can work together and develop stronger player pathways. He is joined by another ex-England skipper - Leonard Curtis director Iain Nairn MBE, who led the England Physical Disability team - and Prof Rob Wilson, co-author of the report.

------------------------------

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction & meet the panel

2:02 – Report headlines: The widening financial gap

5:24 – Rating county cricket

7:31 – Yorkshire, demutualisation & outside investment

9:48 – ECB funding, collaboration & smaller counties' success stories

12:02 – Youth development: Playtime, burnout & pathways

16:27 – The £520 million question: Debt, Durham's hotel & smart spending

18:34 – Will The Hundred Survive? Lalit Modi's prediction & the calendar squeeze

21:41 – The 2028 broadcast deal & expanding The Hundred

23:04 – Sussex, Covid resets & the case for new franchises

24:56 – Grassroots engagement: The Barclays scheme & state school cricket

27:25 – Player digital footprints & social media revenue

29:36 – Could cricket have its own 'Drive to Survive'?

32:38 – Closing thoughts

------------------------------

Read our sports finance reports here: https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sport-structured-ep3&utm_content=business-of-sport

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/

Follow Iain Nairn MBE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-nairn-mbe-9552675/

Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428

Follow Michael Vaughan on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/michael-vaughan-7ba4641a1/

Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207

------------------------------

Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ (UCFB) Manchester Podcast Studio

------------------------------

Thank you to our UCFB student production team:

Rowan MacLellan, Editor

Calum Spiller, Autocue

Evie Malcom, Production assistant

Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting

Louis Jones, Audio

------------------------------

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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

]]>Episode three of the Sport, Structured podcast welcomes former Ashes-winning England captain Michael Vaughan to the studio as we turn our attention to the future for English county cricket. Hosted by James Cooper, the conversation unpacks the key findings of the newly launched Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report 2026. Vaughan, who wrote the report’s foreword, shares his views on how counties can work together and develop stronger player pathways. He is joined by another ex-England skipper - Leonard Curtis director Iain Nairn MBE, who led the England Physical Disability team - and Prof Rob Wilson, co-author of the report.

------------------------------

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction & meet the panel

2:02 – Report headlines: The widening financial gap

5:24 – Rating county cricket

7:31 – Yorkshire, demutualisation & outside investment

9:48 – ECB funding, collaboration & smaller counties' success stories

12:02 – Youth development: Playtime, burnout & pathways

16:27 – The £520 million question: Debt, Durham's hotel & smart spending

18:34 – Will The Hundred Survive? Lalit Modi's prediction & the calendar squeeze

21:41 – The 2028 broadcast deal & expanding The Hundred

23:04 – Sussex, Covid resets & the case for new franchises

24:56 – Grassroots engagement: The Barclays scheme & state school cricket

27:25 – Player digital footprints & social media revenue

29:36 – Could cricket have its own 'Drive to Survive'?

32:38 – Closing thoughts

------------------------------

Read our sports finance reports here: https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sport-structured-ep3&utm_content=business-of-sport

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/

Follow Iain Nairn MBE on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-nairn-mbe-9552675/

Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428

Follow Michael Vaughan on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/michael-vaughan-7ba4641a1/

Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207

------------------------------

Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ (UCFB) Manchester Podcast Studio

------------------------------

Thank you to our UCFB student production team:

Rowan MacLellan, Editor

Calum Spiller, Autocue

Evie Malcom, Production assistant

Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting

Louis Jones, Audio

------------------------------

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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

]]>7f3eeaf0-51fd-4ec2-8c54-0b738e84f9eeFri, 24 Jul 2026 15:15:00 +010033:04falsefull33What next for golf’s battle between tradition and disruption?What next for golf’s battle between tradition and disruption?In episode two of the Sport, Structured podcast, host James Cooper is joined by Leonard Curtis director Alex Cadwallader, sports finance expert Prof Rob Wilson and Sky Sports Golf analyst Simon Holmes to discuss the findings of the first Leonard Curtis Golf Finance Report.

The conversation examines the future for the professional game following the decision by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF to end its funding for LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season.

The episode considers the potential impact of the latest developments on player earnings, the PGA Tour’s financial dominance, and the wider golf ecosystem, from fans and sponsors to women’s golf.

------------------------------

Read our sports finance reports:

https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport

Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/

Follow Alex Cadwallader on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/alex-cadwallader-84952228

Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428

Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207

Follow Simon Holmes on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/simonholmes1

------------------------------

Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ Manchester Podcast Studio

------------------------------

Thank you to our UCFB student production team:

Rowan MacLellan, Editor

Calum Spiller, Autocue

Evie Malcom, Production assistant

Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting

Louis Jones, Audio

------------------------------

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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

]]>In episode two of the Sport, Structured podcast, host James Cooper is joined by Leonard Curtis director Alex Cadwallader, sports finance expert Prof Rob Wilson and Sky Sports Golf analyst Simon Holmes to discuss the findings of the first Leonard Curtis Golf Finance Report.

The conversation examines the future for the professional game following the decision by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF to end its funding for LIV Golf at the end of the 2026 season.

The episode considers the potential impact of the latest developments on player earnings, the PGA Tour’s financial dominance, and the wider golf ecosystem, from fans and sponsors to women’s golf.

------------------------------

Read our sports finance reports:

https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport

Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/

Follow Alex Cadwallader on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/alex-cadwallader-84952228

Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428

Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207

Follow Simon Holmes on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/simonholmes1

------------------------------

Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ Manchester Podcast Studio

------------------------------

Thank you to our UCFB student production team:

Rowan MacLellan, Editor

Calum Spiller, Autocue

Evie Malcom, Production assistant

Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting

Louis Jones, Audio

------------------------------

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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

]]>ef3c8206-5a4b-4626-bcbd-7d76f7c46daaWed, 17 Jun 2026 17:00:00 +010050:24falsefull22Is it time for professional sport to grow up?Is it time for professional sport to grow up?In the first episode of the Leonard Curtis Business of Sport Podcast, host James Cooper is joined by Leonard Curtis Director Alex Cadwallader and sports finance expert Prof Rob Wilson to explore one of the biggest questions facing the industry today: is professional sport operating on a sustainable financial footing?

Drawing on insights from the Leonard Curtis Business of Sport report series, the discussion examines why so many clubs and governing bodies continue to face financial pressure despite growing revenues. The episode covers governance, ownership, regulation, competitive balance and the structural challenges affecting rugby, football, cricket and other sports.

Whether you work in sport, invest in the sector or simply want to understand the business forces shaping the games we love, this episode provides a clear and insightful introduction to the financial issues at the heart of modern sport.

------------------------------

Read our sports finance reports:

https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport

Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/

Follow Alex Cadwallader on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/alex-cadwallader-84952228

Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428

Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207

------------------------------

Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ Manchester Podcast Studio

------------------------------

Thank you to our UCFB student production team:

Rowan MacLellan, Editor

Calum Spiller, Autocue

Evie Malcom, Production assistant

Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting

Louis Jones, Audio

------------------------------

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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

]]>In the first episode of the Leonard Curtis Business of Sport Podcast, host James Cooper is joined by Leonard Curtis Director Alex Cadwallader and sports finance expert Prof Rob Wilson to explore one of the biggest questions facing the industry today: is professional sport operating on a sustainable financial footing?

Drawing on insights from the Leonard Curtis Business of Sport report series, the discussion examines why so many clubs and governing bodies continue to face financial pressure despite growing revenues. The episode covers governance, ownership, regulation, competitive balance and the structural challenges affecting rugby, football, cricket and other sports.

Whether you work in sport, invest in the sector or simply want to understand the business forces shaping the games we love, this episode provides a clear and insightful introduction to the financial issues at the heart of modern sport.

------------------------------

Read our sports finance reports:

https://www.leonardcurtis.co.uk/business-of-sport

Follow us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/lcbusinessofsport/

Follow Alex Cadwallader on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/alex-cadwallader-84952228

Follow Prof Rob Wilson on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/prof-rob-wilson-a8501428

Follow James Cooper on LinkedIn:

https://linkedin.com/in/jamescooper207

------------------------------

Filmed at University Campus of Football Business’ Manchester Podcast Studio

------------------------------

Thank you to our UCFB student production team:

Rowan MacLellan, Editor

Calum Spiller, Autocue

Evie Malcom, Production assistant

Ella Mazurke, Camera and lighting

Louis Jones, Audio

------------------------------

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 rob.venables@leonardcurtis.co.uk and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

]]>870ed2ed-d275-46a7-8a02-ad5b12001d6fWed, 17 Jun 2026 16:45:00 +010056:38falsefull11