Roberts appointed Chief Executive at Scunthorpe and sets sights on ‘social value through success’
Written by
Simon Austin
November 5, 2024
Broadcaster Matt Roberts has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Scunthorpe United and has vowed to build “a responsible, sustainable community asset that creates social value through success.”
Roberts has more than two decades of experience as a sports broadcaster with the BBC, ITV, Eurosport and Discovery+. More recently he graduated with a Masters in Sports Directorship from Manchester Metropolitan University and then gained further qualifications in executive leadership coaching.focuses
This has enabled him to take on a number of advisory and consultancy roles for leading executives in professional football, including becoming Governance Engagement Lead for Fair Game UK, collaborating with and supporting CEOs to create sustainable club strategies.
Roberts is also well known to followers of TGG, having chaired the popular Sporting Director panel at our TGG Live Conference for the last two years, as well as writing an excellent article about ‘Conscious leadership in the role of Sporting Director’.
“I am very proud to be joining Scunthorpe United at such an exciting time in the long history of the club,” Roberts said. “What has been achieved here over the past 12 months by Michelle, Ian, George and Roj – not to mention the fans, sponsors, and the local business community – is truly inspiring and now the challenge is to embrace the Iron spirit that runs through this town and build a new era of success.
“Our owners want to give the fans the football club they deserve: a responsible, sustainable community asset that creates social value through success both on and off the pitch. Obviously this role is a new challenge for me but I think I can bring a fresh perspective on how we can achieve this vision together, as well as a strong network of contacts within football and beyond.
“Fundamentally I believe in the power of football as a force for good, and I am so excited by the opportunity to help make that happen here.”
Matt Roberts hosting the Sporting Director Panel at TGG Live 2024
Chair and co-owner Michelle Harness added: “We welcome Matt to the club as CEO with immediate effect and, as a Board, we are looking forward to him bringing his fresh ideas and his experience to the football club.
“As has been documented over the months, through interviews and our recent Fans’ Forum, we have been actively looking to recruit a Chief Executive – a role which I have assumed along with Chair over recent months – and this will give me the opportunity to take a step back on the day-to-day operations at the club.
“Matt brings a wealth of experience through his past work, his studies and his consultancy roles within football clubs, and we’re really excited to be embarking on the next chapter of our history as we continue our milestone year.”
Scunthorpe were described as “a club dying in plain sight” before the takeover by Harness in October 2023. Under their previous owner, David Hilton, staff wages had been unpaid, the team were facing eviction from their Glanford Park Stadium and the club had been relegated to the National League North.
Harness bought 92% of the club’s shares and has subsequently split them between herself, Ian Sharp, Ron Rahman and George Aitkenhead, 20% each. The new ownership have put the club on a more sustainable footing and vowed to make the community a core focus of what they do.
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