This Is Moneyball

It is 2019 – and yet we still haven't managed to kick racism out of football. We had the England vs Montenegro incident last month, distasteful incidents in Italy - and this weekend, closer to home, in the Championship. England international Danny Rose says he can't wait to 'get out' of the game altogether – what can be done?  Assistant editor Lee Boyce and broadcaster Georgie Frost are joined in the studio this week by former Chelsea, Manchester City and England winger Shaun Wright Phillips for his views.  Are players given enough support by clubs, do clubs and fans need to do more to finally stamp it out and can the Premier League really tackle the matter in house by throwing cash at the problem? Shaun also gives his views on football agents after it was revealed £211m was spent on agent fees between February 2017 and January 2018, while expert Darren Bailey explains their role.  He also lifts the lid on what life was like at two clubs who saw investment pour in when he played for them – Chel

The county cricket season gets underway this week – but there is a new format of the game on the cards ruffling a few feathers. This week, broadcaster Georgie Frost and assistant editor Lee Boyce are joined by cricketer and author Isabelle Duncan, to talk about The Hundred, which is set to launch next year and what it could do for the game (and its finances).  How do the 18 county clubs feel about the move, who will be involved, is it all about the money, can a draft system work and can it help encourage the next generation of cricketers to get involved?  Elsewhere in the world of cricket, they talk Mankading, grassroots level, whether the old format will die off, why the game is booming in… Germany and what football can learn from the way women's cricket has boomed. Also on the show, Tottenham Hotspur finally move into their new ground this week with a game against Crystal Palace.  We speak to broadcaster and Spurs supporter David Levene who has visited the new stadium about his first impressions – and

The new F1 season is underway and with it, the release of a ten-part documentary series on Netflix – Drive to Survive – which gives an under the bonnet look at the multi-billion pound sport. Assistant editor Lee Boyce and broadcaster Georgie Frost are joined by Mail Online deputy motoring editor Rob Hull, to talk about the show – and what it could do for the sport.  We talk through the money needed for manufacturers to compete and how drivers also need to have heavy backing to get a seat on the fiercely competitive grid.  One millionaire invested in a team and gave his son a drive – and there is a similar situation in MotoGP, is that fair? Plus as Team Sky becomes Team Ineos, we take a look at what that deal means for the future of cycling – and will its billionaire founder, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, really buy Chelsea too? We also look at trouble brewing in the English Football Leagues, with Birmingham docked points, Bolton in the mire and Lee and Rob spotting a protest from their Kensington office w

How do you go from life in the City to working as a football manager? That is what ex-Brentford, Rangers and Nottingham Forest manager – and former city trader - Mark Warburton did. He joins broadcaster Georgie Frost and assistant editor Lee Boyce to reveal how he made a leap from a 20-year career in London's financial world to football management at 40. Mark also talks about the top sporting money stories, including his views on the six English teams through to the quarter finals of Europe's two top competitions. He also discusses how there are no Brexit plans for English Premier League in Europe, whether the global power balance is shifting, and what this means financially for football in the UK. Mark lifts the lid on his time in football management, what his next move is and what he brought into the game from his finance background.  Meanwhile, after an exhilarating weekend of rugby – mainly for the Welsh and Scottish fans - the future of the Six Nations and indeed the sport itself appear

Premiership rugby champions Saracens deny they breached salary cap regulations after recent allegations, while Manchester City are in the Uefa spotlight over Financial Fair Play. On the latest This is Moneyball podcast, assistant editor Lee Boyce and co-host Georgie Frost take a look at salary caps and whether they work in sport – with many top US sporting leagues having them.  Christopher Stoner QC is our guest this week, as he helps navigate through the maze – and also helps take a look at what the FFP is, and whether it is working.  Sir David Crausby, MP for Bolton North East joins us to tell us what is going on at the Trotters, with the future of the historic club in limbo – have the new potential owners been vetted enough? Elsewhere, we talk about the weekend of bad football 'fan' behaviour at grounds in England and Scotland, with Jack Grealish being punched in the Aston Villa vs Birmingham game – can more be done to protect players?  The United States women's soccer team files a gender di

The football managerial sack race is well and truly on. Claude Puel has left Leicester, Claudio Ranieri departed Fulham – while long-standing Rochdale boss Keith Hill has been axed. This week, assistant editor Lee Boyce and co-host Georgie Frost talk about the bizarre world of football management - there aren't many jobs you go into knowing you're going to get sacked, probably within three years. We all think we'd do the job well – probably from days wasted playing computer game Football Manager – but is that the reality? We also reveal what happens with compensation, with specialist employment lawyer Victoria Mitchell from Farleys lifting the lid. Elsewhere, we chat through the multi-million pound Manchester City/Puma deal with sports sponsorship expert Nigel Currie. Wrestling on your honeymoon? We talk to Wrestling Travel founder Lee McAteer who set up a holiday business specialising in the billion-dollar industry. Paypal offers sports teams an easier payment method, is the World Rugby Lea

How important is being able communicate effectively and calmly as a leader?  Ask Maurizio Sarri, the Chelsea manager, after extraordinary scenes in the League Cup Final and Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino who lost his cool against Burnley. Sarri was left fuming after keeper Kepa appeared to refuse being substituted before the penalty shootout, while Poch wasn't less than pleased with referee Mike Dean.  This is Money assistant editor Lee Boyce and broadcaster Georgie Frost have Steve Sallis, founder of Solutions Mindset, in the studio this week for secrets on how to give team talks and man manage troublesome 'star' players.  The former inner city teacher, who was also assistant manager under Jimmy Bullard, academy manager at Millwall and who now supports players with mental conditioning support, reveals all. Elsewhere, Nike saw more than a billion dollars wiped of its value after new Duke College basketball star Zion Williamson – dubbed the new LeBron – saw his shoe 'explode' just 30-odd secon

Welcome to the new This is Moneyball podcast, where money and sports collide. Co-hosts Lee Boyce, assistant editor at This is Money and broadcaster Georgie Frost in the debut episode discuss the important of sport to the economy. We cover figures showing the true value of sport to the UK economy and ask: should sports stars be entitled to a tax break, as per comments from rugby ace James Haskell? Elsewhere, how much as the equine flu outbreak that rocked horse racing cost the economy? With Aaron Ramsey heading to Juventus on a bumper contract, we talk about the future of the Bosman ruling and if he really will be earning £400,000 per week. MP Vicky Foxcroft is calling for equal pay for men and women's FA Cup – we talk through whether that would be a fair move. Can you tackle the first of our tricky sports maths questions involving three legends - Eric Cantona, Andy Murray and Ronnie O'Sullivan? And finally: if you received a giant windfall, would you buy a sports club?