Club Chaplain Focus Final Part

In this final article in the series will look at Bruce’s views on the sharing of wealth in football, his involvement with fans and the wider community, plus how long he hopes to retain the position of Chaplain. 

Do you think the 'business' side of football clubs is detracting from the enjoyment of playing and watching football? 

Being a bit controversial here, I would say that a good example of business decisions being detrimental at times is the example of one-year kit deals stemming from business pressures.  Who wants to buy a kit for a Christmas present that only has four months left to run?  There is a balance between decisions made for the benefit of the business and not alienating the fan base.  Close consultation with the fans is vital to achieve this.   

I don’t like the inequalities that force clubs to make very tough business decisions.  We are in a situation now where the rich are getting ever richer at the expensive of the other clubs.  As fans we strive for that fact that our club can win something.  Twenty-five years ago several Midlands Clubs would have been able to have won the league title.  Without the extremely rich investor the best a medium sized club can hope for now is a good cup run.  I personally believe that when taking into account that we no longer operate within a level playing field, what Martin O’Neil achieved with this club was the equivalent to what Brian Clough achieved as a manager all those years ago….

Would your beliefs want you to see a more equitable share of the football wealth in order to preserve lower league and grassroots football? 

Most certainly.  At the heart of the message of Jesus is a commitment to justice and fairness across society, and those principles apply to football, as much as they do to global economics. 

The G14 clubs give me the impression that club football is far more important than international football and that their interests are greater than those of the game.  The Champions League has now become a super league in as much as the big clubs have a very high probability of making the second phase (and its associated riches).  The rich clubs are prospering and continuing to have the lion’s share of the wealth.  I would personally go as far as to say that the power and influence of major clubs is so big now that we are within a generation of losing the world cup as we know it. 

Even in the USA where free market economics are very strong, sport is managed in such a way that ALL clubs have a strong opportunity to succeed.   It is ironic that in days where we have such campaigns as ‘make poverty history’ and we seek a ‘more just’ world, football is moving in the other direction.

How much involvement do you have with the fans and community side of our club? 

I was a member of the Foxes Trust before being appointed as Chaplain and I have a good relationship with the Foxes Trust Board.  I value the Foxes Trust and the role they provide linking the fans and the community to the club.  Getting on my ‘soapbox’ as a Foxes Trust member I also personally wish that more people would put their money where their mouths are and get involved in Foxes Trust. It’s very easy to criticise from the sidelines. Some people have passionate views about how the Trust should influence the club. I have a simple message for those people – get involved. 

In general terms in relation to this question, I officiate at scattering of ashes for fans should this be requested and will involve myself with the fans side of the club where I can and I feel it is right and proper and wanted, but predominantly my role relates to the staff and players at the club. 

How long is your contract and do you envisage being with the club for a long time? 

As stated previously, it is an honorary unpaid role therefore no contract exists.  I would say that whilst I continue to live in the same geographical location and both God and my Church wish me to continue to undertake the role, I will do so for as long as the club still wants to retain my services.

The Trust would like to thank Bruce for giving his time to us to enable fans to get an insight into his role 

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