Football elite gather for high profile Manchester event

A Manchester law firm has staged a high-profile event which was attended by some of the most powerful players from professional football.

Shoosmiths’ new elite advisory team hosted the event for sporting directors from more than 20 top football clubs from across Europe.

Key issues such as the impact of Brexit on how clubs can sign new players were discussed.

Guests at the two day event for The Association of Sporting Directors, heard from the Football Association’s technical director Dan Ashworth, who took time out to share ideas and the latest technical innovations.

Head of the elite advisory team Haydn Roberts provides a bespoke client-first service to top sports clubs, players and agents.

He devised the event programme alongside Mike Rigg, chairman of the Association of Sporting Directors.

Mr Rigg, a leading football industry professional, who has worked for a number of top clubs including Manchester City, Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers in senior positions, is now a consultant and global football adviser at Sports Recruitment International.

Haydn said: “This was an incredible opportunity for us to both listen and learn from some of the most important executives in sport.

“We discussed key issues such as the latest regulatory changes when signing a player, immigration solutions and player and agent tax liability, which of course impacts clubs, agents and players and were able to talk about how we can help them address these pain points.

“We believe we are ahead of the game with our elite advisory offering and look forward to developing close relationships with these individuals and their clubs.”

“It was an absolute privilege to welcome Dan Ashworth and to hear his strategic insights on the evolution of football, and we obviously wish him and the England team at the World Cup.

“We were proud too to welcome the Association of Sporting Directors. It is rare for these busy, high-pressure executives to gather in such an environment to learn from one another.”

Sporting directors from leading English clubs including Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Burnley, Scottish champions Celtic, the Scottish Football Association and FC Copenhagen from Denmark and German club Red Bull Leipzig, attended the two day event hosted at Shoosmiths’ cutting edge office, located in Spinningfields’ XYZ building.

Mike Rigg added: “The meeting in Manchester was a huge success. We are very pleased to be working with Shoosmiths, a firm offering great professional advice and adding significant value to organisations such as ours. The launch of their Elite Advisory team is excellent news and I am sure we will work with Haydn and the team again.”