Football Dynasty-Chapter 15: Concentration of Power

Richard sat in silence, his mind racing.

'Sheikh Mansour, Thaksin Shinawatra, Francis Lee, David Bernstein... and then Peter Swales.'

He had never been particularly interested in Manchester City. But their meteoric rise under Sheikh Mansour, with Pep Guardiola orchestrating a new era of dominance in European football, had certainly caught his attention—just as it had the rest of the world.

As he studied the club's management structure, something stood out. After Swales, there was no mention of anyone named Alexander. A loophole, perhaps? One that could be exploited?

'Everything should be in order... right?'

The sudden return of a long-forgotten and ailing president reclaiming his seat should have been an impossibility.

Richard had always been pragmatic. In the world of football—just like in business—nothing was ever truly set in stone. Even the most meticulously laid plans had weak points, and the unexpected was always lurking. But high risk often came with high rewards.

If he didn't seize this opportunity now, when would he ever get another chance like this?

The idea of stepping into the boardroom—armed with knowledge of the future, with the power to shape the destiny of one of football's greatest clubs—was both exhilarating and terrifying.

Would his actions trigger a butterfly effect? Perhaps.

But football wasn't like business or politics, where a single decision could send ripples across the world.

Football was entertainment. Politics might occasionally seep into the sport, but it didn't hold the same weight. He wasn't running FIFA—he was running a club.

One thing was certain: whatever happened next, there was no turning back.

"Yes, I'm willing to take the risk."

"Good!"

With that, the board members, from top to bottom, launched into discussion.

Richard, unfamiliar with football management, could only focus on listening and learning. He took careful notes, absorbing every detail.

His attentiveness didn't go unnoticed—many in the room were pleased to see his eagerness. Even Eric, who had initially been skeptical of his involvement, found himself nodding in approval, almost without realizing it.

The next step was to use a vote of no confidence to trigger a board reshuffle, paving the way for new members.

While Richard was stepping into a leadership role, it wouldn't be a direct takeover. Instead, the process would be framed as a natural transition within the club's governance structure.

The key restriction within the covenant lay in its definition of what it meant to "remain" in the club. It mandated that departing directors' shares be distributed only among the remaining signees, effectively preventing outsiders from joining easily.

So, how could the board argue that the covenant's spirit was being upheld while still introducing a new member—especially when no seats were available?

The answer lay in two things: unanimous agreement and legal documentation.

A unanimous vote would ensure there were no objections, while proper legal framing would present the reshuffle as an organic part of the club's restructuring. Everything needed to appear legitimate, aligning with both the letter and spirit of the covenant.

By positioning the reshuffle as a necessary step for the club's governance and future stability, the move would remain within legal boundaries—despite the underlying intention of bypassing restrictions.

It would be presented as a strategic decision made in good faith and in the club's best interests. Richard's nomination would be framed as essential to strengthening the board and addressing internal challenges.

Additionally, it aligned with tradition, maintaining the "nine-plus-one" seat structure. This approach would minimize potential legal or ethical concerns that could arise under scrutiny.

After thorough discussion, the new board panel was finalized, officially welcoming its newest member.

Before:

Chairman: Peter Swales

Vice-Chairman: Simon Cussons

President: Joe Smith, Albert Alexander (Honorary)

Directors: John Humphreys, Sidney Rose, Ian Niven, Chris Muir, Eric Alexander, Robert Harris

After:

Chairman: Peter Swales

Vice-Chairman: Simon Cussons

President: Joe Smith, Albert Alexander (Honorary)

Vice Presidents: Eric Alexander, John Humphreys, Sidney Rose, Chris Muir

Directors: Ian Niven, Robert Harris, Richard Maddox

An additional position was proposed, and after careful discussion, a vice president role was introduced to add further legitimacy to the reshuffle.

This allowed them to frame the restructuring as a way to honor tradition.

They could argue that Eric Alexander, John Humphreys, Sidney Rose, and Chris Muir were key figures in shaping Manchester City's modern management.

Having served on the board since Albert Alexander's leadership, their continued presence would reinforce stability and continuity within the club.

For the next two hours, the discussion continued, with board members debating strategies, weighing potential consequences, and examining every angle of the reshuffle.

Richard listened intently, absorbing every detail. Though he was new to football management, he made sure to ask the right questions, clarifying his future role and responsibilities.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

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At this time, Manchester City was in turmoil, both on and off the pitch. The club had suffered relegation to the Second Division in 1983 after a significant decline in form.

Financial struggles only made matters worse—mounting debt, rising operational costs, and increasing wages were putting immense strain on the club.

'Even if I join the main staff now, it won't make much of a difference.' Richard thought quickly.

So, he chose to start as their youth coach—a strategic first step.

At the end of the day, the main reason he was accepted was his ability to rise through the ranks and make a name for himself—a product of the Sheffield Wednesday academy. That credibility made it easier for the board to justify his inclusion.

Richard wanted to make his stance clear and leave a strong first impression. He was here not just to make a power grab—he understood the game, the hierarchy, and, most importantly, the importance of self-awareness.

When it came to youth development, City, from what Richard saw, was still in the early stages of understanding its importance. Their academy system was nowhere near as structured or well-funded as it would become in later years.

While they focused on developing homegrown talent, their approach lacked consistency. The club wasn't regularly promoting players from its youth ranks, and its setup lagged behind that of its rivals.

The 'A' Team was often overlooked.

It was the club's first youth team, competing in the Lancashire League against reserve and youth teams from other clubs in North West England.

Then there was the 'B' Team. Established in 1955, it consisted of younger players than the 'A' Team and competed in Division Two of the Lancashire League.

Before the introduction of 'Under-19' and 'Under-17' teams in English football, teams were referred to as the 'A' and 'B' teams, respectively.

This was also the case for Manchester City. It highlights just how far behind youth football in England was at the time, especially when Richard saw Manchester City dominate Europe.

After several rounds of discussion, the group finally arrived at a draft that seemed acceptable to all parties. The reshuffling plan was finalized, and Richard's nomination was included as part of the restructuring process.

After a final round of minor edits, the draft was complete. The next step was to present the proposal at the upcoming meeting, where an official announcement would be made. This would ensure that every employee and player at the club was aware of the changes.

After the meeting was complete, the other board members bid farewell, not forgetting to say a few final words:

"Remember, you're part of us now."

"Take care, boy."

"We're counting on you to develop our youth system."

"Kid, be careful on your way home."

Richard nodded, feeling the weight of their words. The mix of warmth and expectation lingered as he left the room, fully aware that things had changed.

Now, as an official director of Manchester City Football Club—even if only on paper—his responsibilities had grown significantly. In addition to his shareholding, he now held fiduciary duties to act in the club's best interests, along with legal obligations under UK company law.

While his role as a shareholder remained mostly passive, his position as a director required far more from him—at least for now.

With his power still fragile, he needed to tread carefully. Delivering results quickly was crucial, not only to solidify his position but also to avoid potential legal pitfalls such as breaching the Company Directors' Disqualification Act or the Insolvency Act.

Normally, as long as he avoided repeated violations of company law or any involvement in fraudulent activities, he would be safe. But with his knowledge of the future and the coming wave of football's globalization, he wasn't taking any chances.

Football was becoming increasingly competitive and expensive. It wouldn't be surprising if boardroom conflicts arose—and if that happened, he would likely be the first scapegoat.

Even if he followed the rules, there was no guarantee they wouldn't use the club's performance against him, twisting the results into a justification for removing him. After all, his appointment as a director was already built on shaky ground.

Still, being a director came with certain advantages. He now had access to the club's management structure, financial reports, and internal operations at a much deeper level.

While browsing through the Articles—the club's internal rulebook outlining powers and responsibilities—his eyes landed on a crucial document: the Register of Members and Directors.

This record listed all top executives, past and present, along with their full names, service addresses, and details of their appointments or resignations.

As he scanned the document, a critical piece of information made him sit up straight.

It revealed just how much power was concentrated at the top. Swales and Cussons alone controlled over 57% of the shares combined.

Richard picked up his draft copy and carefully calculated the numbers, fully aware of how delicate his position was.

The total number of shares amounted to 2,060, distributed as follows:

The top:

- Peter Swales, the Chairman, holds the largest portion with 619 shares, representing (30.05%)

- Simon Cussons, the Vice-Chairman, owns 566 shares, accounting for (27.48%)

- Joe Smith, one of the Presidents, holds 366 shares (17.77%)

- Albert Alexander, the "honorary" President, owns 251 shares (12.18%)

Among the Vice Presidents:

Eric Alexander has 87 shares (4.22%)

John Humphreys holds 46 shares (2.23%)

Sidney Rose has 43 shares (2.09%)

Chris Muir owns 40 shares (1.94%)

Moving to the Directors:

Ian Niven possesses 21 shares (1.02%)

Robert Harris holds 20 shares (0.97%)

Richard Maddox holds only a single share, representing just 0.05% of the total ownership.

Manchester City, at this time, was still a public company—though not a listed one. This meant its shares were privately held by a small group of investors and not traded on the stock exchange.

As a result, power remained tightly controlled within an inner circle, free from the scrutiny and regulations imposed on publicly listed companies.

After finishing his review, Richard shifted his focus to the club's recent performances.

Manchester City had recently competed in the prestigious Colombina Tournament in Huelva, Andalusia. They managed to defeat Barcelona on penalties but then lost the final—also on penalties—to Huelva.

City had started the league season with a promising 3-1 victory over Wimbledon's infamous 'Crazy Gang.'

That was followed by a respectable 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, but then a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Now, after 11 fixtures, Manchester City had won just 1 match, drawn 4, and lost 6—a deeply concerning run of form.

Manager Billy McNeill and Assistant Manager Jimmy Frizzell were under mounting pressure, with performances at Maine Road leaving fans and board members frustrated about the club's direction.