Obviously we’re not yet Manchester United but we are something that may come to rival them

Obviously we’re not yet Manchester United, but we are something that may come to rival them in times ahead. But all our revenue streams are centred around making the club work. Really I admire every single one of the 19 chairmen because they’re chairmen of the best league in the world.Adam PearsonCommercial DirectorLeeds United Football ClubOUR REVENUE really isn’t just football, we’re involved in travel, financial services, IT training, all sorts. I also relish the fact that I can contribute to making life better for the fans.

Within the industry people like Martin Edwards (chairman of Manchester United), Ken Bates (Chelsea’s chairman) and Alan Sugar stand out as being real successes They are shaping the business in a positive way They have vision and focus and will listen. I myself enjoy the ability to build up a business and successful club and manage it. I think we up the ante a little.David RichardsChairman of Sheffield Wednesdayand the Premier LeagueWORKING IN this business is a great challenge and one in which you really have to love football if you want to do well. But I have to be objective, the mad Tottenham fans tend to be of no use You need someone who wants to do the job. It’s perhaps a little sycophantic, but I do feel that Alan Sugar our chairman is a leader in his field. He is constantly looking ahead, trying to modernise the game. I also think it’s important to have an outsider in charge rather than someone who was once a player Businessmen have a different perspective on the business.

In particular, there’s a buzz here right now as we’re hoping Tottenham is going to do well next year I think football hasn’t nearly fulfilled its potential. What you do have to be able to do is keep football in perspective. Obviously I get excited about the game but at the end of the day, I’ve got a business to run. For every job that I need done at Tottenham I get about 20 applicants. Their clubs’ successes are down, in no small way, to their contributions and I hope my contribution will affect Everton in the same way.John SedgwickFinancial DirectorTottenham Hotspur Football ClubFOOTBALL IS really exciting at the moment and is zooming forward at a rate of knots. There are a couple of people who shine for me: Ken Friar, managing director at Arsenal, and Peter Robinson at Liverpool They are both very good and experienced It really does take years of experience to be good at this. Now that football is such big business other commercial areas are emerging for us to explore which is extremely exciting.

You also have to be a good communicator, supporters are very demanding about receiving information. The supporters are the most important sponsors of any football club and it is important to keep them on side Financial acumen is a prerequisite. Early on, though, I realised that you have to be thoroughly professional – emotion cannot get in the way. I don’t think there are really any great businessmen out there at the moment. Although, I would say that I do admire Peter Reid, our manager.Michael DunfordClub SecretaryEverton Football ClubSHORT OF playing in the team, this has to be the best job in football.

It is also a great leveller – we’ve got the out-of-work fans, children fans and very wealthy individuals who are fans but everyone gets the same buzz out of their team winning. You do have to remember that it isn’t just a business operation, it has a key social role. To succeed you have to realise the impact of football on the fans and you have to listen to them but make sure that your heart doesn’t rule your head. I particularly enjoy the fact that football is so important to lots of people … fans are profoundly affected by the performance of their team.