Decision Makers

About Decision Makers

This is the podcast that brings you into the boardroom where all of football's biggest decision are made. Host Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Managing Director at Unique Sports Group Marlon Fleischmann and former Premier League defender Curtis Davies to unpack the biggest topics in football. Over the course of this series you'll hear from current Premier League players on how a transfer is done, senior figures at clubs will tell you how they monitor players' performance, current athletes break down the loan system, and experts simplify the complex issues surrounding Financial Fair Play and Profit & Sustainability Rules. Follow the podcast so you never miss an episode, and you can find videos on our social channels: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs

Publisher

Decision Makers

Category

business · sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Jan 2025

Latest episode

10 Mar 2025

Latest episodes

9 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Mar 2025

   David Ornstein: Football and the Media

   How does a journalist and their reporting affect a transfer deal? How do you separate fact from fan fiction in a world of social media 'In The Knows'? Can a journalist ever switch their phone off?? The Athletic's Football Correspondent, David Ornstein joins this episode of Decision Makers to reveal some of the secrets of the media when it comes to reporting on football. We have plenty more insight into Football's boardrooms coming your way on Decision Makers, so if you enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and follow the show on your podcast app of choice, to be notified when the next episode drops. Follow us on social media: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2. 

   3 Mar 2025

   Jamie Mackie: Career Transitions & Life After Football

   On this episode of Decision Makers, Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Managing Director of Unique Sports Group Marlon Fleischmann, former Premier League defender Curtis Davies, and former Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest forward Jamie Mackie. This episode is all about the decision footballers have to make when they hang up their boots; what's next? Jamie talks about when he knew it was time to retire and how that decision was made easier as his final games were in empty stadiums due to Covid-19 restrictions. We hear about the bits he misses from the game, and the moment post-retirement where he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and realised he needed to get some fitness back! Marlon also talks about managing his players' expectations around retirement, and how in one example, a player refused to believe there were no offers for him. Curtis explains the impact on the player's family when retirement does come around, and the importance of being organised and prepared for the next career. We have plenty more insight into Football's boardrooms coming your way on Decision Makers, so if you enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and follow the show on your podcast app of choice, to be notified when the next episode drops. Follow us on social media: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3. 

   24 Feb 2025

   Matt Murray: The Role of Football Agents

   What does a football agent really do? Find out on this episode of Decision Makers, as Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Managing Director of Unique Sports Group Marlon Fleischmann, former Premier League defender Curtis Davies, and former Wolves goalkeeper turned football agent Matt Murray. This episode is all about demystifying the role of an agent in football. What is the day-to-day responsibilities of an agent? Do they make commission on transfers and if so, how much? How do you manage the expectations of a player? All of these questions are answered, plus we bust a few myths along the way. We have plenty more insight into Football's boardrooms coming your way on Decision Makers, so if you enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and follow the show on your podcast app of choice, to be notified when the next episode drops. Follow us on social media: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4. 

   17 Feb 2025

   Andros Townsend: Loan Ranger

   On this episode of Decision Makers, Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Managing Director of Unique Sports Group, Marlon Fleischmann, former Premier League defender Curtis Davies, and Antalyaspor forward Andros Townsend. This episode is all about the life of a player when they are on loan from their parent club. Andros has had permanent homes at Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Everton and Luton Town, but has had nine temporary moves alongside those. The former England international speaks about how he would be looked at as "the kid from Tottenham" when when he went out on loan. We hear how a senior player grabbed a loan player and said "don't you dare take my spot in this team", and Marlon talks about how he took Harry Kane to Millwall in one of his first loan moves and the reasoning behind that. We have plenty more insight into Football's boardrooms coming your way on Decision Makers, so if you enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and follow the show on your podcast app of choice, to be notified when the next episode drops. Follow us on social media: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5. 

   10 Feb 2025

   Kieran Maguire: The Future of Finances in Football

   With the landscape of football finances changing on a weekly basis, what does the future look like for our favourite game? Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Managing Director of Unique Sports Group Marlon Fleischmann, former Premier League defender Curtis Davies, and football finance expert Kieran Maguire to assess the situation. This episode is all about the current state of play and the future of finances in football. Kieran breaks down the current situation with Manchester City's legal battle with the Premier League and what the implications are for City and the league, whatever the outcome. We also hear why so many clubs are building upon the 'multi-club model' and what the future of player wages and transfer fees look like. We have plenty more insight into Football's boardrooms coming your way on Decision Makers, so if you enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and follow the show on your podcast app of choice, to be notified when the next episode drops. Follow us on social media: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

6. 

   3 Feb 2025

   Steve Hitchen: Scouting & Analytics in Football

   Directors of Football becoming household names, scouting by numbers and 'the eye test'. The world of football recruitment has changed a lot in recent years and we get into the data on this episode of Decision Makers, as Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Managing Director of Unique Sports Group Marlon Fleischmann, former Premier League defender Curtis Davies, and former Director of Technichal Performance at Tottenham Hotspur, Steve Hitchen. This episode is all about the role that data and anayltics play in football, specifically how they're used to recruit and monitor performance. Steve's reveals his experience in data while at Spurs and explains why Tanguy Ndombele is the biggest dissapointment in his time at White Hart Lane. We hear where Manchester United have been going wrong in the transfer market, what happened when Kevin de Bruyne's agents brought his stats to contract renewal negotiations and how players can be signed, monitored and even substituted based on their performance data. We have plenty more insight into Football's boardrooms coming your way on Decision Makers, so if you enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and follow the show on your podcast app of choice, to be notified when the next episode drops. Follow us on social media: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

7. 

   27 Jan 2025

   Miguel Delaney: Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability Rules Explained

   FFP, PSR, APT - what does it all mean?? We explain the landscape of finances in football on this episode of Decision Makers, as Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Managing Director of Unique Sports Group Marlon Fleischmann and journalist for the Independent, Miguel Delaney. This episode is all about Financial Fair Play in football - Miguel has done extensive reporting on this topic and has recently released his book 'States of Play: How Sportswashing Took Over Football". He spoke to us about how the butterfly effect of Roman Abramovic's takeover of Chelsea in 2003 and what the future of the sport looks like with Manchester City's battle in the courts with the Premier League, and a potential independent regulator both on the horizon. We have plenty more insight into Football's boardrooms coming your way on Decision Makers, so if you enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and follow the show on your podcast app of choice, to be notified when the next episode drops. Follow us on social media: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8. 

   20 Jan 2025

   Calvin Bassey: The Anatomy of a Transfer

   Done deals, forced moves and big money! We're talking transfers on this episode of Decision Makers, as Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Managing Director of Unique Sports Group Marlon Fleischmann, former Premier League defender Curtis Davies, and Fulham defender Calvin Bassey. This episode is all about the anatomy of a transfer - how do deals get done and what is that process like for the agent, the club, the player and their family. Curtis talks about how he would be a 'training-wrecker', kicking balls away when a deal he was promised began to look unlikely; Calvin reveals what that moment is like when the champange cork finally pops, and Marlon has some insightful words from the agent's perspective; "In football, you don't get what you deserve... you get what you negotiate." We have plenty more insight into Football's boardrooms coming your way on Decision Makers, so if you enjoyed this episode make sure you subscribe and follow the show on your podcast app of choice, to be notified when the next episode drops. Follow us on social media: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9. 

   10 Jan 2025

   Decision Makers Trailer

   This is the podcast that brings you into the boardroom where all of football's biggest decision are made. Host Hugh Woozencroft is joined by Managing Director at Unique Sports Group Marlon Fleischmann and former Premier League defender Curtis Davies to unpack the biggest topics in football. Over the course of this series you'll hear from current Premier League players on how a transfer is done, senior figures at clubs will tell you how they monitor players' performance, current athletes break down the loan system, and experts simplify the complex issues surrounding Financial Fair Play and Profit & Sustainability Rules. Follow the podcast so you never miss an episode, and you can find videos on our social channels: Follow us on social media: YouTube: DecisionMakersPod Instagram: DecisionMakers TikTok: DecisionMakersPod X: DecisionMakrs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

13,598

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

4.9 / 5

13 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

6

Social presence

91

YouTube

76

Engagement

51

Contact Decision Makers

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.