Transforming Club Strategy from Pitch to Boardroom

The Human Challenge

Those unfamiliar with the Larne FC story have risen from a struggling amateur club to back-to-back Northern Ireland Danske Bank Premiership winners, with their Champions League dream realised in 2024. The next challenge was to professionalise their off-pitch operations to match their on-pitch success.

Context and Stakes

Working with CEO Niall Curneen, we identified three critical development areas:

• Commercial strategy refinement
• Operational gap identification
• Senior team development

The Turning Point

After a comprehensive Discovery Clinic to analyse the club’s current state, we developed a strategy that increased senior leadership team accountability and created more operational flexibility in the dynamic football environment.

Implementation & Lasting Impact

Over 12 months, we achieved significant transformations:

• Elevated operational performance standards
• Created strategic business partnership opportunities
• Implemented a scientific approach to asset valuation, driving higher sponsorship revenue

In Their Words

Niall Curneen, CEO: “As a ‘silent guide’ to a CEO operating in an industry he has never worked in, I have found this support to be game-changing. His calm and simple approach navigates to a positive outcome in every situation I have worked with him in.

His emotional intelligence gives him the ability to unlock hidden potential that exists way below the surface. He just has the ability to see things in such a simple way.

I am privileged to be able to have Ben within my personal and professional network and he has extended many new opportunities towards both my business and me personally through his own powerful network of contacts and professionals.”

 

Kenny Bruce MBE, Investor and Director: “Ben has carried out a piece of work for us at Larne Football Club over the last 12 months with great success. His drive to deliver an outstanding job and his attention to detail stood out to me, and I can’t thank him enough for the impact he has had.

I will work with Ben again on other projects within different companies and would be delighted to recommend him and his services to any entrepreneur or company within my network. Ben brings significant experience, adding valuable knowledge and expertise to any project or mentorship of a senior leader within a company.”

You can visit the club’s website here; https://larnefc.com 

You can read more about Larne’s rise here on the BBC; https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce8dyky5j6yo