A university is helping launch a course aimed at helping the next generation of finance executives working in professional football.
Loughborough University – one of the UK’s top sports universities – has worked with finance expert and former graduate Neill Wood on an online programme providing a broad understanding of football finance using first-hand industry experience. The course is being hosted by Loughborough’s School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences.
It covers areas ranging from the basic principles of financial accounting upwards to help individuals build a foundation culminating in a review of UEFA Financial Fair Play. It has been designed to allow work to be done on demand, and is aimed at anyone from finance and non-finance specialists to current or former players, agents, and even whole football clubs.
Professor Mark King, associate dean for enterprise in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, said: “It has been an honour and pleasure to work with alumnus and Visiting Fellow in Sport & Football Finance Neill Wood on this unique, on-demand digital football finance programme.
“This programme aligns with our strategy to reach out worldwide to deliver high quality sport related content on a digital platform.”
Mr Wood, who graduated from the university with a sports science and maths degree in 2006, said: “I am delighted and honoured to be collaborating with the best sporting educational establishment in the world to bring innovative learning opportunities to ambitious sports professionals using the exciting medium of sport.
"Loughborough University was transformational for me personally and professionally and the experience I gained at the university provided the foundations for me to pursue a career combining my passion for sport with a talent for finance.
“Finance is a life-skill I feel privileged to have learned throughout my career. Now it's time for me to continue my life-long passion for learning, by teaching others, whilst sharing my experience and giving something back to the University which helped me to achieve my sporting dreams, beyond the pitch."
The Football Finance Professionals course launches at the beginning of August.
