Summary
Overview
Work history
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic

Neill Blake

Dubai

Summary

A seasoned leader with extensive experience in guiding and motivating large teams across various departments, adept at appointing and managing coaches and senior performance staff. Demonstrates exceptional communication skills, confidently delivering boardroom presentations and handling media duties. Brings professionalism, enthusiasm, and dedication to every role, with a strong self-motivation to continually develop and identify new trends. Possesses significant budgetary and financial acumen, expertly controlling multi-million pound budgets to maximise organisational resources. Forward-thinking and quick to adapt to new innovations in a dynamic market environment.

Overview

18
18
years of professional experience

Work history

Football consultant/advisor

ApexSport Advisory
Dubai
09.2024 - Current
  • Advisor to Black Knight Football Club (BKFC) who own a portfolio of football teams across Europe.
  • BKFC currently owns 100% shareholding of AFC Bournemouth in the English Premier League, 70% shareholding of Moreirense FC in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, 40% shareholding of FC Lorient in Ligue 1 France and 25% shareholding of Hibernian who compete in the Scottish Premiership.
  • Responsible to help oversee and advise on football operations within all clubs within BKFC.


Director

AFC Bournemouth
06.2009 - Current
  • Attend scheduled and periodic board meetings.
  • Contribute on all board decisions.


Chief executive officer

AFC Bournemouth
Bournemouth
06.2009 - 09.2024
  • Over a 16 year period as Chief executive officer helped oversee 3 promotions in the football league pyramid in 6 seasons in which the club achieved promotion to the Premier League for the first time in their history.
  • Responsible for all day-to-day operations at the club.
  • Led and motivated a large team of staff, ensuring a culture of positivity and togetherness throughout the different departments.
  • Responsible for all First Team matters including key areas such as head coach appointments and contracts (including coaching staff), player contract negotiations, player acquisitions and player sales, liaising and negotiating with agents, academy and youth teams and woman's team.
  • Negotiated the largest outgoing transfer, Dominic Solanke to Tottenham Hotspur for a club record fee of £65 million.
  • Supervised finances/budgets and reporting to the board of directors and ownership.
  • Responsible for business development, sales and marketing, ticket sales and sponsorship contracts.
  • Responsible for all liaisons with football authorities including the Premier League, Football League and FA.
  • Supervised a large media department.
  • Implemented operational efficiencies to streamline workflow processes.
  • Led successful merger and acquisition negotiations.
  • Oversaw planning and development of a new £40 million training ground for the first team and academy.

Operations director

Dorcehster Town Football Club
Dorchester
03.2007 - 06.2009
  • Lead all commercial and business development at the club.
  • Identified, sourced and negotiated new sponsorship deals.
  • Responsible for all first team matters including player contracts, manager contracts, sales and acquisitions.


Skills

  • Leadership: Long experience of leading from the front, keeps calm when working under pressure Vast experience of leading and motivating a large teams across different departments within an organisation Experience of appointing and successfully managing coaches and senior performance staff
  • Communication: Confident and able communicator, proficient in delivering boardroom presentations and in handling media duties
  • Self-motivation: a person who brings professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication to the role
  • Budgetary/Financial acumen: Has a vast experience of controlling and monitoring multi-million pound budgets, ensuring clubs maximise their resources
  • Forward-thinking: Quick to adapt to new innovations, techniques in an ever changing market place Continually self-developing and identifying new trends

References

Richard Hughes: Sporting Director at Liverpool FC


Maxim Demin: 100% owner of AFC Bournemouth 2013-2022






Timeline

Football consultant/advisor

ApexSport Advisory
09.2024 - Current

Director

AFC Bournemouth
06.2009 - Current

Chief executive officer

AFC Bournemouth
06.2009 - 09.2024

Operations director

Dorcehster Town Football Club
03.2007 - 06.2009

Similar Profiles

Create profile
Neill Blake