Date: 24th April 2019 at 9:22am
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*Spoiler alert* this is not an article about how much we miss John Terry…

Every team needs a leader, right?

Well, yes… obviously (and a John Terry like figure would be perfect). But leadership in any organisation runs deeper than somebody barking orders on the front-line; it sets the culture, the agenda and the strategy. It creates an ideology that everyone can grab hold of, regardless of whether you’re a centre-half, a kit man or a receptionist. In the old days, this might have involved some slightly odd, but weirdly inspiring phrase (sometimes in Latin) which would appear alongside the club crest. In the modern sporting world, this has unfortunately evolved into to something more akin to a brand’s marketing campaign (let’s all pause to laugh at ‘Expect Thrilling’ again… oh the irony).

A club-wide vision is something that has been severely lacking from Chelsea Football Club over the last 12 months. To be clear, this is not a blame game, this is not about Sarri in or Sarri out… this is about a footprint, a plan, anything that might help with future-proofing a football club and allow CFC to navigate through the current situation… (which in case you haven’t been following closely, is a proper bloody mess). Leadership is ultimately the biggest problem. Everything else is really just an outcome of this issue.

If I ask myself what Chelsea currently stands for, I’m not sure that I could answer with any real conviction (and if I could, I’m not sure I’d be happy with the reply). It’s easy and convenient for us to pin it on an exiled owner, departed legendary players or an underperforming manager, but in reality, it runs throughout the ‘business’. I use that word, because it’s no secret that is the way we’re being run.

And as much as my fan (not customer…) viewpoint will always find that a bitter pill to swallow, it’s the correct thing in modern football. It’s probably the only way. There are plenty of examples of other top-flight football clubs who have a clear identity that flows seamlessly from the boardroom to the pitch. Yes, it may seem glitzy, polished and a bit up its own arse, but it creates an environment where leaders can prosper and this, more often than not, translates into success on the field of play.

It’s fair to say that this transition was somewhat inevitable with the volume of long-serving staff leaving the ‘business’ over a short period of time. This obviously hasn’t been helped by an absent owner (who’s own future is hotly debated) and some high profile senior roles that have been left unfilled.

If you applied this scenario to your job or organisation, you’d probably expect similar results. Leadership isn’t just about getting your workforce through to the end of the day, the end of the week, or even the end of the year. It’s about making sure your people are motivated to ensure it continues to grow and be successful for years to come.

This can’t just come from a Captain, it can’t just come from a Director of Football. It needs a unified vision for everyone employed by the Club, to ensure everyone is pulling in the right direction.

Fans, as incredibly important stakeholders in the ‘business’, need to feel part of that. It’s no surprise that I speak to so many people who feel so disconnected from the club at the moment… because ultimately, other than an annual top four finish, nobody has the foggiest idea what our long-term aspirations are. It’s equally unsurprising that fans are confused by what our identity is, because there’s a really good chance that nobody at the club knows either.

The quest to uncover what is the 2019 interpretation of ‘Proper Chels’ is urgent and essential.

But, in the meantime, I feel it’s important to continue to support the team (I’m an eternal Chelsea optimist). Going to the Bridge should always be a highlight of the week, even if things aren’t going right on or off the pitch.

Rant over. Win or lose, up the blues!

KTBFFH.

@nickstroudley

 

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