Dan Plumley

Dr. Dan Plumley

Senior Lecturer in Sport Finance


Summary

My main teaching and research interests are in the finance, economics, and governance of professional team sports. My PhD focused on measuring financial and sporting performance in English professional football. I regularly present at major international sport business conferences and have a number of peer-reviewed publications in the sport business field that focus on various aspects of sport finance. I also contribute to numerous media pieces discussing the finances of football with local, national, and international media outlets including corporations such as the BBC and Sky News.

About

I have been involved in the Sport Business industry since 2006 and have taught at Sheffield Hallam University since 2011. My main teaching and research interests are in the finance, economics and governance of professional team sports and my PhD focused on measuring financial and sporting performance in English professional football. I regularly present at major international sport business conferences and have a number of peer-reviewed publications in the sport business field. I have also co-authored several book chapters that appear in mainstream sport management textbooks linked to my research area. I am an active researcher working with national research councils to deliver projects around the financial aspects of professional team sport and I have experience working on major contracted event projects including the economic impact of major sport events such as the Virgin London Marathon, the ATP World Tour tennis finals, the Women's British Open golf, the British and European Badminton Championships. My experience also extends to contributing to numerous media pieces in recent years discussing the finances of football with local, national and international media outlets including corporations such as the BBC and Sky News. My function here is to provide a detailed, yet user friendly analysis, on the financial implications of a variety of scenarios on sport, and football in particular. This work often bridges the gap between academic practice and the public. I have been in a senior lecturer position since 2015 and I currently teach on all levels of the undergraduate and postgraduate programs. My research interests extends to the financial health of sport organisations; Economic decision making in professional sport; The ownership structure of professional sport teams; Accounting and finance in a sporting context; Performance measurement and organisational performance in professional sport teams; Corporate Social Responsibility in, and through, sport; and Governance in professional team sports. I am a member of the European Association of Sport Management, the European Academy of Management, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Teaching

Department of Finance, Accounting and Business Systems

College of Business, Technology and Engineering

I currently teach on all levels of the undergraduate and postgraduate programmes as well as currently being Collaborative Course Leader for the MSc Sport Business Management delivered in partnership with SHAPE in Hong Kong.

My main teaching areas include the economics and finance of professional team sports, management accounting, financial accounting and research.

Subject Area

Financial Accounting and Management Accounting (FAMA).

Courses

Accounting and Finance for the Sport Industry, Accounting and Finance, Business and Financial Management, LLM International Sport Law.

Modules

Sport Finance, Principles of Business Management in the Sport Industry, Financial Accounting, Management Accounting.

Research

UKRI - United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Counting the costs of COVID-19 on professional football clubs and their communities.

Featured Projects

Link 1: https://www.shu.ac.uk/news/all-articles/latest-news/assess-financial-impact-covid-professional-football-clubs

Relevant projects

  • 1. UKRI - United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Counting the costs of COVID-19 on professional football clubs and their communities.
  • 2. Plumley, D., Serbera, J.P., & Wilson, R. (2020). Too big to fail? Accounting for predictions of financial distress in English professional football clubs. Journal of Applied Accounting Research. (online first).
  • 3. Wilson, R., Plumley, D., Mondal, S., & Parnell, D. (2020). Challenging parachute payments and unmasking English football’s finances. Managing Sport and Leisure (online first).
  • 4. Ramchandani, G., Plumley, D., Preston, H. & Wilson, R. (2019). Does size matter? An investigation of competitive balance in the English Premier League under different sizes. Team Performance Management: An International Journal, 25(3/4), 162-175.
  • 5. Plumley, D., Wilson, R., Millar, R. & Shibli, S. (2019). Howzat? The Financial Health of English Cricket: Not Out, Yet. International Journal of Financial Studies, 7(11), 1-17.
  • 6. Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G. & Wilson, R. (2018). The unintended consequence of Financial Fair Play: An examination of competitive balance across five European football leagues. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal, 9(2), 118-133.

Publications

Ramchandani, G., Plumley, D., Mondal, S., Millar, R., & Wilson, R. (2023). You can look, but don’t touch: competitive balance and dominance in the UEFA Champions League. Soccer and Society. http://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2023.2194512

Ramchandani, G., Plumley, D., Davis, A., & Wilson, R. (2023). A review of competitive balance in European football leagues before and after Financial Fair Play regulations. Sustainability, 15 (5). http://doi.org/10.3390/su15054284

Golding, A., Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2023). Introducing a model of business sustainability in English professional rugby union. Managing Sport and Leisure. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2023.2171903

Davis, L., Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2023). For the love of 'sportswashing'; LIV Golf and Saudi Arabia's push for legitimacy in elite sport. Managing Sport and Leisure. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2022.2162953

Millar, R., Plumley, D., Wilson, R., & Dickson, G. (2022). Federated networks in England and Australia cricket: a model of economic dependency and financial insecurity. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal. http://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-09-2021-0100

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., Mondal, S., & Wilson, R. (2022). Looking forward, glancing back; competitive balance and the EPL. Soccer & Society. http://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2022.2059855

Mondal, S., Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2022). The other ISL: Analysing the finances of the Indian Super League (football) and its franchisees. Managing Sport and Leisure. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2022.2055625

Manoli, A.E., Anagnostopoulos, C., Ahonen, A., Bolton, N., Bowes, A., Brown, C., ... Winand, M. (2022). Managing sport and leisure in the era of Covid-19. Managing Sport and Leisure, 27 (1-2), 1-6. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2022.2035963

Zhang, F., Liu, D., Plumley, D., & Chai, M. (2022). Psychic income associated with Shanghai tennis masters and residents’ attitude. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. http://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.666777

Francois, A., Dermit-Richard, N., Plumley, D., Wilson, R., & Heutte, N. (2021). The effectiveness of UEFA Financial Fair-Play: Evidence from England and France, 2008-2018. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal. http://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-03-2021-0024

Mondal, S., Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2021). The Evolution of Competitive Balance in Men's International Cricket. Managing Sport and Leisure. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2021.1938175

Plumley, D., Serbera, J.-.P., & Wilson, R. (2020). Too big to fail? Accounting for Predictions of Financial Distress in English Professional Football Clubs. Journal of Applied Accounting Research. http://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-05-2020-0095

Bond, A.J., Cockayne, D., Ludvigsen, J.A.L., Maguire, K., Parnell, D., Plumley, D., ... Wilson, R. (2020). COVID-19: the return of football fans. Managing Sport and Leisure. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1841449

Wilson, R., Plumley, D., Mondal, S., & Parnell, D. (2020). Challenging parachute payments and unmasking English football’s finances. Managing Sport and Leisure. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2020.1792745

Plumley, D., Mondal, S., Wilson, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2020). Rising stars: competitive balance in five Asian football leagues. Journal of Global Sport Management. http://doi.org/10.1080/24704067.2020.1765700

Wilson, R., Plumley, D., & Flint, S. (2019). Making sense of the sack race: the impact of managerial change in the English Football League. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal. http://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-10-2018-0079

Ramchandani, G., Plumley, D., Preston, H., & Wilson, R. (2019). Does size matter? An investigation of competitive balance in the English Premier League under different league sizes. Team performance management. http://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-10-2018-0064

Liu, D., Wilson, R., Plumley, D., & Chen, X. (2019). Perceived corporate social responsibility performance in professional football and its impact on fan-based patronage intentions: An example from Chinese football. International journal of sports marketing and sponsorship. http://doi.org/10.1108/ijsms-06-2018-0059

Plumley, D., Wilson, R., Millar, R., & Shibli, S. (2019). Howzat? The Financial Health of English Cricket: Not Out, Yet. International Journal of Financial Studies, 7 (1), 11. http://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs7010011

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, R. (2018). The unintended consequence of Financial Fair Play: An examination of competitive balance across five European football leagues. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal. http://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-03-2018-0025

Ramchandani, G., Plumley, D., Boyes, S., & Wilson, R. (2018). A longitudinal and comparative analysis of competitive balance in five European football leagues. Team Performance Management, 24 (5/6), 265-282. http://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-09-2017-0055

Plumley, D.J., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, R. (2018). Mind the gap: an analysis of competitive balance in the English football league system. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing (IJSMM), 18 (5), 357-375. http://doi.org/10.1504/IJSMM.2018.094344

Bachmaier, B., Lammert, J., Plumley, D., Wilson, R., & Hovemann, G. (2018). Regulatory intensity in English and German professional football: A comparative analysis of national requirements for ensuring financial stability. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal, 8 (3), 276-297. http://doi.org/10.1108/sbm-02-2017-0012

Wilson, R., Ramchandani, G., & Plumley, D.J. (2018). Parachute payments in English football: Softening the landing or distorting the balance? Journal of Global Sport Management, 3 (4), 351-368. http://doi.org/10.1080/24704067.2018.1441740

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D.J. (2017). Different shaped ball, same financial problems? A holistic performance assessment of English Rugby Union (2006-2015). Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal, 7 (2). http://doi.org/10.1108/SBM-10-2016-0063

Plumley, D.J., Wilson, R., & Shibli, S. (2017). A holistic performance assessment of English Premier League football clubs 1992-2013. Journal of Applied Sport Management, 9 (1). http://doi.org/10.18666/JASM-2017-V9-I1-7353

Flint, S., Plumley, D.J., & Wilson, R. (2015). Managerial sacking : ethical considerations. Marketing Intelligence & Planning. http://www.emeraldinsight.com/loi/mip

Wilson, R., Plumley, D.J., & Barrett, D. (2015). Staring into the abyss? : the state of UK rugby's Super League. Managing Sport and Leisure, 20 (6), 293-310. http://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2016.1141367

Plumley, D.J., & Flint, S. (2015). The UEFA Champions League : maintaining the status quo? Team Performance Management, 21 (5/6), 247-258. http://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-01-2015-0003

Flint, S., Peake, R., Plumley, D.J., Polyakova, O., Reale, S., Wilson, R., ... Pheonix, F. (2015). The impact of athlete endorsement on estimates of nutritional content of food meals. Appetite, 87, 395. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2014.12.174

Flint, S., Plumley, D.J., & Wilson, R. (2014). You don't know what you're doing! The impact of managerial change on club performance in the English Premier League. Managing Leisure, 19 (6), 390-399. http://doi.org/10.1080/13606719.2014.910000

Flint, S., Plumley, D.J., Peake, R., & Polyakova, O. (2014). Using sport as a tool to market unhealthy food. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 2 (12), 15-25. http://www.ejbss.com/volume-2-number-12-2014.aspx

Plumley, D.J., Wilson, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2014). Towards a model for measuring holistic performance of professional Football clubs. Soccer and Society, 18 (1), 16-29. http://doi.org/10.1080/14660970.2014.980737

Plumley, D. (2014). Sports Fundraising: Dynamic Methods for Schools, Universities and Youth Sport Organizations. Managing Leisure, 19 (5), 377-379. http://doi.org/10.1080/13606719.2014.931512

Wilson, R., Plumley, D.J., & Ramchandani, G. (2013). The relationship between ownership structure and club performance in the English Premier League. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal, 3 (1), 19-36. http://doi.org/10.1108/20426781311316889

Flint, S., Warman, L., & Plumley, D.J. (n.d.). Males' exposure to the muscular body. Health Psychology Research.

Conference papers

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2023). Navigating investment in English and Scottish football [abstract only]. In European Association for Sport Management, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 12 September 2023 - 15 September 2023 (pp. 349-350). EASM: https://easm2023.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/EASM-Belfast-2023-Conference-Abstracts-31-10-2023-With-Logos.pdf

Ratz, M., Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2023). Private Equity, football and the German Bundelisga – an opportunity too good to miss? [abstract only]. In European Association for Sport Management 2023, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 12 September 2023 - 15 September 2023 (pp. 351-352). EASM: https://easm2023.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/EASM-Belfast-2023-Conference-Abstracts-31-10-2023-With-Logos.pdf

Mondal, S., Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2023). Conceptualising a model to measure good governance in professional football clubs: a case study of Asia [abstract only]. In EASM 2023 Conference proceedings: book of abstracts, (pp. 464-465). EASM: https://easm2023.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/EASM-Belfast-2023-Conference-Abstracts-31-10-2023-With-Logos.pdf

Plumley, D., Wilson, R., Millar, R., Coleman, R., & Davies, A. (2022). Counting the cost of Covid-19 on professional football clubs (Abstract). In EASM 2022, 30th European Sport Management Conference. Bridging Sport, Tourism & Leisure Management, Innsbruck, Austria, 5 September 2022 - 8 September 2022. https://easm2022.com/

Millar, R., Plumley, D., Wilson, R., Coleman, R., & Davies, A. (2022). Counting The Cost Of Covid-19 On Professional Football Clubs and Their Communities (Abstract). In EASM 2022, 30th European Sport Management Conference. Bridging Sport, Tourism & Leisure Management, Innsbruck, Austria, 5 September 2022 - 8 September 2022. https://easm2022.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/EASM2022_Innsbruck_Book_of_Abstracts.pdf

Plumley, D., Wilson, R., & Warren, C. (2021). Competitive Balance and the Emergence of "Big Clubs" in Major League Soccer [Abstract only]. In 2021 North American Society for Sport Management Conference (NASSM 2021), Online, 3 June 2021 - 5 June 2021. https://www.nassm.org/files/conf_abstracts/2021-175.pdf

Millar, R., Plumley, D., Wilson, R., & Dickson, G. (2020). Cricket’s financial Ashes: A model of economic dependency [abstract only]. In SMAANZ Week 2020 Program, 30 November 2020 - 2020. https://smaanz.files.wordpress.com/2020/11/ali_a_abstract-merged-1.pdf

Sela, O., Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2020). Examining athletes’ leadership skills development and transfer from sport to business [abstract only]. In SMAANZ Week 2020 Program, 30 November 2020 - 2020. https://smaanz.wordpress.com/smaanzweekprogram/

Plumley, D., Wilson, R., Millar, R., & Shibli, S. (2019). Howzat? The Financial Health of English Cricket: Not Out, Yet [abstract only]. In European Association for Sport Management, (pp. 43-45). EASM

Plumley, D., Mondal, S., Wilson, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2019). Rising stars. Competitive balance in five Asian football leagues [abstract only]. In Breitbarth, T., Bodet, G., Luna, Á.F., Naranjo, P.B., & Bielons, G. (Eds.) European Association for Sport Management, (pp. 41). European Association for Sport Management: https://easm2019.com/BOAEASM2019.pdf

Catlin, E., Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2019). Competitive balance in professional team sports: A systematic review [abstract only]. In Breitbarth, T., Bodet, G., Luna, Á.F., Naranjo, P.B., & Bielons, G. (Eds.) European Association for Sport Management, (pp. 208-209). EASM: https://easm2019.com/BOAEASM2019.pdf

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., Wilson, R., & Preston, H. (2018). Does size matter? An investigation of competitive balance under different league sizes. In European Academy of Management.

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. (2018). The unintended consequence of Financial Fair Play: An examination of competitive balance across five European leagues [abstract only]. In EASM 2018, Malmö, Sweden, 5 September 2018 - 8 September 2018. https://www.easm.net/download/2018/The-Unintended-Consequence-of-Financial-Fair-Play-An-Examination-of-Competitive-Balance-across-Five-European-Football-Leagues-.pdf

Ramchandani, G., Plumley, D., Boyes, S., & Wilson, R. (2018). A longitudinal and comparative analysis of competitive balance in five European football leagues [abstract only]. In EASM 2018, Malmo, Sweden, 5 September 2018 - 8 September 2018. https://www.easm.net/download/2018/A-Longitudinal-and-Comparative-Analysis-of-Competitive-Balance-in-Five-European-Football-Leagues-.pdf

Wilson, R., Plumley, D., & Ramchandani, G. (2017). Parachute payments in English football; softening the landing or distorting the balance? [abstract only]. In EASM 2017, Bern and Magglingen, Switzerland, 2 September 2017 - 8 September 2017. https://www.easm.net/download/2017/Parachute-Payments-In-English-Football-Softening-The-Landing-Or-Distorting-The-Balance.pdf

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2017). Making Sense of the Sack Race; The Impact of Managerial Change in the English Football League [abstract only]. In EASM 2017, Bern and Magglingen, Switzerland, 2 September 2017 - 8 September 2017. https://www.easm.net/download/2017/EASM2017_BookofAbstracts-135-136.pdf

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. (2015). Breaking the code; a financial comparison of rugby union and rugby league in England. In 23rd EASM conference 2015, Dublin, Ireland, 9 September 2015 - 12 September 2015. https://www.easm.net/download/2015/easm2EASM-2015-104-619.pdf

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2015). Different shaped ball, same financial concerns: the financial health of rugby union in England [abstract only]. In 23rd EASM conference 2015, Dublin, Ireland, 9 September 2015 - 12 September 2015. https://www.easm.net/download/2015/easm2EASM-2015-105-620.pdf

Wilson, R., Plumley, D., & Barrett, D. (2014). Staring at the abyss; the state of the Super League [abstract only]. In 22nd EASM conference 2014, 09-12 Sep 2014. https://www.easm.net/download/2014/260-Accept-oral-presentation-Wilson-STARING-INTO-THE-ABYSS-THE-STATE-OF-THE-SUPER-LEA.pdf

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2014). The English Premier League at 20; economic crisis or financial power? [abstract only]. In 22nd EASM conference 2014, 09-12 Sep 2014. https://www.easm.net/download/2014/128-Accept-oral-presentation-Plumley-THE-ENGLISH-PREMIER-LEAGUE-AT-20-ECONOMIC-CRISIS-.pdf

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. (2013). The establishment of a model to measure financial and sporting performance in professional team sports [abstract only]. In 21st EASM conference 2013, Istanbul, Turkey, 11 September 2013 - 15 September 2013. https://www.easm.net/download/2013/THE%20ESTABLISHMENT%20OF%20A%20MODEL%20TO%20MEASURE%20FINANCIAL%20AND%20SPORTING%20PERFORMANCE%20IN%20PROFESSIONAL%20TEAM%20SPORTS.pdf

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2013). The establishment and utilisation of a model to examine financial and sporting performance in the English Premier League since its inception in 1992 [abstract only]. In 21st EASM conference 2013, Istanbul, Turkey, 11 September 2013 - 15 September 2013.

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. (2012). Problems ahead? UEFA Financial Fair Play and the English Premier League. In 20th EASM conference 2012, Aalborg, Denmark, 18 September 2012 - 21 September 2012. https://www.easm.net/download/2012/a660c7a79f350f94bea35d8850d7c823.pdf

Plumley, D., Wilson, R., & Ramchandani, G. (2012). Where next for FFP? Towards a model for measuring financial performance and financial sustainability in the English Premier League [abstract only]. In 20th EASM conference 2012, Aalborg, Denmark, 18 September 2012 - 21 September 2012. https://www.easm.net/download/2012/4032c4b0c8131f4183cd4eac16ab023d.pdf

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. (2011). Ownership structure and financial crisis in the English Premier League [abstract only]. In 19th EASM conference 2011, 2011. https://www.easm.net/download/2011/8855f43a203ad8922699549605b8e1cc.pdf

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. (2010). The Premier League of Nations; foreign owned or English owned, does it really make that much financial difference? [abstract only]. In 18th EASM conference 2010, 2010. https://www.easm.net/download/2010/14c9c7ce54b62c2d18ec37b1849067b3.pdf

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. (2009). Is foreign investment in English football really worth it? [abstract only]. In 17th EASM conference 2009, 2009. https://www.easm.net/download/2009/361b7fbaef95780a7ce8ae70c749eb84.pdf

Book chapters

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2022). COVID-19 and Professional Sporting Leagues: European Football. In Routledge Handbook of Sport and COVID-19. Taylor & Francis: https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-Sport-and-COVID-19/Frawley-Schulenkorf/p/book/9781032009070

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2022). Finance of the FIFA World Cup. In The Business of the FIFA World Cup. Routledge

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2019). Corporate Ownership in Sport. In Who Owns Sport?. Routledge

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. (2018). Finance and Accounting in Football. In Chadwick, S., Parnell, D., Widdop, P., & Anagnostopoulos, C. (Eds.) Routledge Handbook of Football Business and Management. (pp. 186-198). Routledge: https://www.routledge.com/Routledge-Handbook-of-Football-Business-and-Management-1st-Edition/Chadwick-Parnell-Widdop-Anagnostopoulos/p/book/9781138579071

Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. (2018). Finance and budgeting for community sport and physical activity. In Wilson, R., & Platts, C. (Eds.) Managing and Developing Community Sport. (pp. 161-179). London: Taylor and Francis: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781317201106

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2018). Corporate social responsibility in community sport management. In Wilson, R., & Platts, C. (Eds.) Managing and Developing Community Sport. (pp. 81-92). London: Routledge: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781317201106

Books

Wilson, R., Platts, C., & Plumley, D. (2022). Torkildsen's Sport and Leisure Management.

Plumley, D., & Wilson, R. (2022). The Economics and Finance of Professional Team Sports. Routledge.

Theses / Dissertations

Catlin, E.J. (2022). Professionalisation and competitive balance in English men’s elite rugby union 1995-2021. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00551

Catlin, E.J. (2022). Professionalisation and competitive balance in English men’s elite rugby union 1995-2021. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Wilson, R., & Plumley, D. http://doi.org/10.7190/shu-thesis-00551

Plumley, D.J. (2014). Alternative approaches to financial and sportingperformance measurement in English professional football. (Doctoral thesis). Supervised by Shibli, S., & Wilson, R.

Internet Publications

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, R. (2019). Editorial: Performance management in professional team sport. http://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-07-2019-0067

Plumley, D., Ramchandani, G., & Wilson, R. (2019). Guest editorial. http://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-06-2019-080

Other activities

Editorial Board (Managing Sport and Leisure Journal), Member (Football Collective), External Advisory Board (Sheffield Wednesday Supporters Trust).

Postgraduate supervision

5 PhD/DBA students in the areas of sport finance, economics and governance.

Cancel event

Are you sure you want to cancel your place on Saturday 12 November?

}