Darragh MacAnthony book: From Hobby To Obsession is out now

Darragh’s book From Hobby To Obsession has outsold its competition – namely ‘mummy porn’ success story Fifty Shades Of Grey, becoming the top seller.

His book signing at the Bridge Street store saw hundreds of fans queue up for a copy eager to read the inside track from the Posh’s intriguing main man.

Avid Posh fan, Stuart Towell 23, from Bourne was one of the hundreds getting his booked signed and told me – “Darragh’s a genuine guy in the book and in person. I’m not normally a big book reader but I bought the book yesterday and I’m half way through it already! I have a new found respect for him.”

I try not to make up my mind about people without meeting them myself; however, somehow Darragh MacAnthony wasn’t what I was expecting at all and he’s well aware of what his image can be perceived as.

“Some people would perceive me as arrogant, ruthless, cocky and if you read Google, you might see some bad things that some trolls have written about the property business, however when people meet me they think I’m charming, charismatic, fun and driven.”

I didn’t know if it was the Irish accent, his jovial nature or his twinkly blue eyes that had my attention but overall it was a very enjoyable interview.

What prompted you to buy a football club?

“I was on a timeline – I wanted to buy a football club that summer. I’d done a deal for two other clubs, the deals had fallen apart and I got a call at the last minute to say that Barry Fry needed money so I saw an opportunity here. I flew in and met them, liked what I saw, loved the ground and basically wanted the club. Not forgetting the fans – but at this point I didn’t know the fans, but they’re great. I’ve had a lot of support from them over the years.
“With the deal though, it felt right, the deal was right and the deal was done. That’s what I’m like though, I see something that I want and I want to go and get it. Like a child at Christmas. It’s just the way I am – some people say it’s OTT but you know we all have our quirks.
“It’s a thrill ride, it’s enjoyable. I’m very fortunate to own a football club, many fans would love to be in this position – I can’t complain.”

What are your ambitions in football?

“To make a name for us – be very respected in the leagues that we’re in whether Championship or Champions League. To be a football club which has between 13,000 and 15,000 fans attend every week and build from there. Have a nice new modern stadium, whether that is in the club where we are and refurbished or a brand new one. To hand the club to my son when he’s 25 [who wouldn’t like a gift like that] and say ‘now it’s your turn’.”

What are your predictions for next season?

“Not making any predictions at the moment for next season. When we’ve got our full squad and we’re in pre-season, I will let people know what we expect for next season. We’re not getting carried away, it’s one of the toughest leagues in the world, and we’ve got to be respectful of it. The main thing I want us to do is play nice football again and get away from that whole perception of ‘they’re punching above their weight’ or ‘always favourites for relegation’ – I just want people to look at us as a football club and say ‘yeah they’re a good club’.”

Are there any players you have your eye on for next season?

“We’ve always got our eye on a few players. I wouldn’t name names because we decided on a transfer blackout but we’ve got a few targets in mind and there’ll be more recruits before the end of the window.”

Can you clarify rumours on Darren Ferguson being linked to Notts Forrest?

“He’s one of the best young Managers in the game. It’s flattering that a club like Forrest, European Cup winners and now they have some wealthy people behind them and now they want Darren Ferguson. He doesn’t want to go to Notts Forrest.

Get your copy of From Hobby To Obsession at Waterstone’s on Bridge Street in Peterborough priced £14.99, also available on Kindle or buy it here

Read the article here

Posh Chairman Darragh MacAnthony is pushed for answers as he is fired questions by the media

The Big Interview: Peterborough Telegraph fires fans’ questions at Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony:

Of your many achievements as Posh chairman/owner is keeping Barry Fry quiet during the transfer speculation window one of your biggest?

“Ha, yes I am pretty proud that we have kept the transfer silence for so long.
“Baz has been as good as gold and it was the gaffer who broke cover and spoke about (Danny) Swanson and Paul Jones so I will have to remind him of that as he was the one who asked for the gagging order!”

What emotion best summed you up when you heard Jones had signed for a League One club rather than Posh?

“Let’s make something clear, Paul Jones didn’t choose Crawley over us at all.
“His agent was on non-stop telling us he would sign, but wanted to look at other options.
“If we had really wanted Jonesey a deal was there to be done.”

Has the transfer silence helped the club in their negotiations with prospective new players?

“Definitely. We have a great record of unearthing gems and if targets get out it makes life difficult for us.
“That’s why I didn’t like the ET article about Swanson as it gave agents leverage we didn’t need them to have.”

The bookies have Posh as favourites to be relegated. Where do you think we will finish?

“I don’t pay any attention to bookies.
“I’ll let the gaffer know our targets and objectives when we meet at the Portugal training camp and when we have our 22-man squad ready to go.
“We will be looking to improve top to bottom for sure.”

If money was no object who would you sign for your club?

“That list would be long!
“But I’d still not sign players on 20-30k per week as I don’t think it’s right for a Championship club to do that, especially with the new financial rules coming in.
“ I love our policy and I wouldn’t swap it for any other club’s.”

Are there any contract extension discussions going on with current Posh players?

“Yes we will be sitting down with three players who deserve new deals. No names sorry.”
Can you reveal the ‘unavoidable’ reason behind the change of home kit for next season?
“A mixture of reasons. Supplier stopped making the other one and the sponsor’s logo changed.
“I apologised to fans through my app as it was something I said wouldn’t happen every year.
“ I hold my hand up to getting that wrong.”

Can you say when the building work on the Moy’s End stand will start?
“Best speak to Bob Symns about the Moy’s.
“I don’t want to create drama if I start talking about the stadium right now.”

Can you at this moment in time ever see yourself leaving a) Posh b) football.
“Leaving Posh: Yes. Leaving football: No.
“I love owning a football club and would buy another one in a heartbeat.
“The only reason I’d leave Posh would be if I felt unwelcome or if I’d done all I can do.
“I adore and love owning Posh and only want good things for the club and the city, but at times I need help and for the city to want what I want regarding the stadium and training facilities so our club can get better and bigger.
“And it would help to bring more income into the city itself, while helping to put the city on the map.”

And the best Posh-related decision you have made?

“Bringing Fergie back!”

What Posh result did you most enjoy?

“The play-off final last year for sure.”

What was the motivation for your forthcoming autobiography and your well-received app?

“The book was just a way to recap an exciting period in my life. It’s a mixture of all good and bad that’s happened since I bought the club, plus some things you guys never really knew about.
“I also thought it was a good idea allowing Barry Fry and the gaffer to give their side of things which they do in their own chapters.
“The app was an idea form Neil Gilby at the club and it’s a good fun way of inter-acting with football fans everywhere.”

The DMAC App is available now on iTunes.

Darragh MacAnthony’s book From Hobby To Obsession is available by clciking here.

Read the article here

Darragh MacAnthony author and Irish entrepreneur says if Liverpool FC come calling, you answer

As Brendan Rodgers dumps Swans, Liverpool FC has hired their new manager and by all accounts like the Mounties, they have got their man. Brendan Rodgers has signed a 3-year contract to take over from King Kenny in what is what some see as a toxic job.

I will be brutally honest with everyone when I say that I was astonished to first hear that Brendan had in fact turned down the opportunity to speak to the Liverpool owners a couple of weeks ago. I actually saw it as a sign of a lack of ambition on his part and maybe some tentative fear of competing with many other ‘names’ that were in the frame for the job.

“This is Anfield; this is Liverpool Football Club; one of the biggest brands in the football world”

I appreciate there are those who say that it’s not the job it used to be; that following King Kenny would be an impossible task; that it’s become almost a poisoned chalice; that it needs a bigger name then a Rodgers, a Martinez or a Lambert.

As a Liverpool fan, as a football fan, as a chairman of a football club my response to the above would be a blunt: “Are you kidding me?”

This is Anfield; this is Liverpool Football Club; one of the biggest brands in the football world; a club with more league titles then any other English club bar Manchester United, a club with more European Cups than United and Barcelona. I don’t care who you are, if Liverpool come calling, you answer the phone and you take the meeting unless you are Jose Mourinho or Sir Alex Ferguson.

“By playing hard to get, he seems to have secured the job on his terms”

If Liverpool had approached me about Darren Ferguson and paid his hefty ransom – sorry release clause – I would have driven him to Miami myself to meet with their owner without giving it a second thought! This doesn’t mean I want to lose my manager, but at the same time I am not naïve enough to expect my gaffer to turn down that kind of opportunity.

Now back to Brendan and what I suspect was a form of kidology on his part when first turning the chance down to talk with Liverpool.

He was obviously making it clear that he was not going to be one of ten people up for the job and by playing hard to get, he seems to have secured the job on his terms from the get go. For me he is a perfect fit for this once dominant force in world football.

“I, for one, am very happy that a young British manager is to be given the chance to manage an historically great club like Liverpool”

He is young, British/Irish; has incredible pedigree on the coaching front; plays the game in what I call ‘The Old Liverpool way’ as demonstrated by Swansea’s style of play which graced the Premier League season just gone; has worked his way up by starting in one of the toughest leagues in Europe – the Championship; and above all has produced these extraordinary results on a shoe-string budget compared to the one facing him at Anfield.

I, for one, am very happy that a young British manager is to be given the chance to manage an historically great club like Liverpool as opposed to another Spanish, French or indeed Portuguese manager as has happened far too many times in the past. I have met Brendan Rodgers and have had a drink in my office with him and have to say that Liverpool Football Club could not have hired a more genuine, down to earth, intelligent, classy character then their new gaffer.

Enjoy the ride Brendan!!

One last thing, the owners of Liverpool should forget about all those names in that hat for a ‘sporting director role or director of football’ and break the bank to bring in Graham Carr from Newcastle immediately. Now that would be the signing of the summer for sure!

http://www.free-press-release.com/news-darragh-macanthony-irish-entrepreneur-author-and-chairman-of-peterborough-unitied-says-that-if-liverpool-fc-come-calling-you-answer-1346151139.html

Chairman Darragh MacAnthony Interviewed By BBC Radio Cambridgeshire About Ferguson

Darren Ferguson has been named manager of Peterborough United on a four-and-a-half-year contract, just 14 months after leaving by mutual consent.

 

The Scot, who led Peterborough United from League Two to the Championship during his previous three-year spell with the club, was sacked by Preston two weeks ago.

 

He held talks on Tuesday with chairman Darragh MacAnthony and watched the 2-1 League One win against Brentford.

 

“I’ve actually missed the place,” Ferguson told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire.

 

“I had a hard 12 months at Preston and I’m glad to be back.

 

“I don’t know if I’ve lost the trust of the fans, we’ll find out, but the fans enjoyed it [his last spell].

 

“People say you never go back, I don’t believe in that. We’re ambitious and we want to get into the Championship.”

 

Ferguson, son of Manchester United boss Sir Alex, left London Road in November 2009.

 

But both parties insisted that any problems had been put behind them.

 

Darragh MacAnthony said: “We were probably naive and made mistakes and we both held our hands up to that.

 

“It was actually great meeting each other again, when he came to the house and he walked in the door we had a bit of a hug. It was a tender moment, a bit of a tear jerker,” Darragh MacAnthony confessed.

 

“We had a real warts and all meeting, talking about everything about each other that maybe irritated each other at one stage, any problems we may have had and they were never massive problems,” stated Darragh MacAnthony.

 

Ferguson added: “There was no falling out, we’re young, we’re ambitious.

 

“Maybe towards the end I got, not carried away, but you can get a little bit complacent with the success we had.

 

“But we never fell out about it, I think we both agree we’ve learned a lot in the last 12 months and probably were a little bit naive going into the Championship.

 

“And when we get back into the Championship we’ll learn from that.”

 

After ending his previous spell at the club Ferguson was out of work for almost two months before taking over at Preston in January 2010.

 

But his memories of Peterborough United, who he joined as player-manager in January 2007, will be predominantly good ones.

 

After leading Peterborough United to promotion from League Two in is his first full season in charge, he repeated the feat a year later to secure a place in the Championship, and departed having won 73 of his 145 games at the helm.

 

Darragh MacAnthony And Peterborough United Part Ways With Gary Johnson But Not Without Reason

Gary Johnson has left Peterborough United by mutual consent.

 

Surprising or not?

 

For those outside of Peterborough it may seem so. However, each of Darragh MacAnthony’s sackings have been justified and this Gary Johnson one also is not without reason.

 

So why exactly does it seem that the manager who Darragh MacAnthony publically backed in a Q+A on London Road.net – “We of course cannot continue to be beaten so badly by our title rivals and our manager understand this as well but you will not be getting a knee jerk reaction from me this season. I said at start that we have to give our manager time to get things right and I still feel he will. We are 4 unbeaten now and I feel ready for a nice run of wins.” – has left the club? Officially the decision was made by mutual consent. The club and Johnson could not see eye to eye on transfer policy. That was all the official statement outlined. Brief and to the point. Let’s focus on the reasons that Gary Johnson’s departure is a good thing for Peterborough United football club rather than the way the sacking was conducted.

 

Transfer Policy

 

The reason for Johnson’s sacking was this, officially. It is the natural place to start. Since Johnson’s arrival Peterborough United have spent more than ever before in the hope of gaining promotion to the Championship. Previously the club was commended for its forward-thinking in signing “young and hungry players” and giving them a chance. They were thrown straight into the first team. It was a case of “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough”. It worked. Two back-to-back promotions led Peterborough United to the Championship and the club felt like it was going somewhere. Sadly, the 2009-2010 season was an awful one in Peterborough United history. Peterborough United slumped to relegation, finishing bottom of the Championship.

 

It seemed the policy had ended when players like Grant McCann, Arron Davies and James Wesolowski joined in the summer. All were well reputed players with good track records. They didn’t come cheap either. Peterborough United, as a result of all the summer spending – Boyd signed on a large contract and 10 players were brought in over the summer – the club were now spending 50% more in wages than they were when the club reached the Championship. It didn’t make any real business sense. Yet, such was Darragh MacAnthony’s insistence on getting the club back into the Championship he backed the manager. This was Gary Johnson’s idea – it is clear that Darragh MacAnthony wanted to stick to the policy that had got the club into this position from anybody that has paid any interest in Peterborough United this season.

 

Initially things were good but all of a sudden it went down-hill for Peterborough United as they slumped down from the top of the league into a mid-table spot following some poor performances. Player’s attitudes were questioned – Grant McCann, one of the top earners, was heavily critisised by some Peterborough United fans. In-fact the only summer signing that was impressing over the time was Lee Tomlin. A player brought in from Rushden and thrown into the first team. Sound familiar? This was Darragh MacAnthony’s idea. A blast from the past and it seemed as much justification as Darragh MacAnthony needed. Perhaps this answer – Darragh MacAnthony was asked about his opinion on recent signings -, again from a recent Q+A, hinted at something:

 

“Mixed to be fair with some great acquisitions and some really poor ones as well which have since left the club. We moved away from policy I had in place out of panic and worrying about others opinions. We also brought in far too many loan players who were crap and cost us money we shouldn’t have spent. This isn’t going to happen again and my original Policy is firmly in place and nobody is going to sway me on it or change it. If people don’t like it, that’s their problem! I will do what I feel is right for our club in the long term.”

 

The fact that Darragh MacAnthony alludes to loan signings in his answer is interesting. Gary Johnson stated that he didn’t like to use the loan market in his initial statement after joining the club. Although it seems, that he has used it far too regularly and to very little effect. After McLean’s departure he was replaced by two loan signings (Kieran Agard and Jonathan Obika) – taking the total to 6 loan signings for the season – and it meant that Darragh MacAnthony’s opinion on this had again been undermined. Of the loan signings only two have had a positive impact so far; Adam Clayton, from Leeds, has been a calming influence in central midfield and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, from Wolves, seems to be a decent impact sub. The signings of Lewin Nyatanga and Marcus Williams were disastrous though. Signed to plug a defence that leaks goals, they did the opposite and cost the club what Darragh MacAnthony called “Championship wages”.

 

Defensive Weaknesses

 

Although not outlined in the club’s statement this must have been a worry for those in the higher echelons of the club. Time after time Peterborough United’s defensive weaknesses have been exposed this season and perhaps the six goals the club conceded against Fulham this weekend was the final straw for Darragh MacAnthony. After-all the current defence has cost over a £1,000,000 in transfer fees and therefore should be perfectly able to compete at this level. Yet, the only defender that can claim to have can claim to have performed to any sort of creditable standard this season is Gabriel Zakuani, a player who was initially out of favour with Johnson.

 

Peterborough United have suffered heavy defeats to promotion rivals this season on a regular basis. Charlton (5-1), Brighton (3-0), Bournemouth (5-1) and Southampton (4-1) have been notable beneficiaries of Posh’s defensive woes. In-fact in 29 games Peterborough United have only managed 3 clean-sheets. Hardly good enough for a team chasing promotion, especially when many of the goals conceded have been fairly basic ones to stop.

 

The Return of Fergie?

 

Well, it may just be possible. Have a look at his from Darragh MacAnthony when asked whether he would have Ferguson back at Peterborough United: “Yes, as we had a lot of good times and I am the forgiving kind and don’t hold grudges”. It seems as if there is a certain section of fan support for Ferguson to return too. Already a Facebook group has been set-up in favour of a return for Ferguson.

 

Personally, I’d love to see him back. He provided the two best seasons that the club have had in recent history, perhaps ever and even though he has faltered in the Championship it doesn’t meant that he is unable to manage at that level. He has made mistakes but he has learnt from them and at this level he excelled. There once was a time when he was known as “the brightest young manager in English football” and heralded at Peterborough United.

 

However, if there is to be a return of Ferguson it will signal a new era. They say never go back but perhaps it could be the best thing that ever happened if Ferguson does come back to where it all began. Whoever it is they are going to have a mighty hard job on their hands, they are going to have to agree with Darragh MacAnthony, the Chairman’s policy, and this appointment may just be the most important in Peterborough United history.

 

Darragh MacAnthony Officially Confirms that Peterborough United Has Accepted Hull City’s Bid For Aaron McLean

Hull City manager Nigel Pearson launched a £2m double raid for Peterborough United strikers Aaron Mclean and Craig Mackail-Smith after failing with a bid for Swindon Town’s Charlie Austin.

The move came less than a week after East Yorkshire businessmen Assem and Ehab Allam completed a £40m takeover at the KC Stadium and sends a clear statement of intent to the rest of the Championship.

The Tigers are also set to extend the loan of Manchester United striker Cameron Stewart until the summer while moves to keep Liverpool defender Daniel Ayala and Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone, both currently on loan, are also in the pipeline.

Pearson had been chasing Leicester striker Matty Fryatt but may now have solved his attacking problems. Any moves cannot be completed until New Year’s Day.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony confirmed that Hull had been granted permission to speak to Mclean. It is understood that Hull’s bid for Mackail-Smith is still on the table. On Mclean, Darragh MacAnthony said: “Hull put a firm offer in, it was rejected and then they put an offer in that was accepted. It’s a sad day to see him go but he’s done us proud and now he gets to move on and have a chance to have a go at the Premier League if they get promoted this season.”

Swindon chairman Andrew Fitton said: “Hull City made an offer for Charlie Austin 48 hours ago and it was immediately rejected. Charlie Austin is not for sale.”

Darragh MacAnthony Will Ultimately Decide If Other Peterborough United Players Will Be For Sale

Director of football Barry Fry has refused to rule out the sale of any more Peterborough United’s star players.

Striker Aaron Mclean will join Championship side Hull City for a fee believed to be close to a club record £1 million once he has passed a medical at the KC Stadium.

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony insists the deal was an excellent one for the Peterborough United football club and for Mclean, and revealed that several other Peterborough United players have been the subject of substantial bids.

Darragh MacAnthony also confirmed that some of the money from Mclean’s sale, and any other sales during the January transfer window, would be made available for squad-strengthening by Peterborough United boss Gary Johnson.

Fry said: “We are getting bids for Craig Mackail-Smith, George Boyd, Joe Lewis and others from left, right and centre. I didn’t realise there was that much money out there.

“It’s up to the manager and the chairman Darragh MacAnthony whether or not we accept the bids and sell anyone else, but we are already talking with the manager about bringing new players in.

“Hull were initially after Mackail-Smith, but he was probably a bit out of their price range and they have been impressed by Aaron when watching him recently.

“We turned down verbal and written offers for Aaron from Hull, but we have now accepted a very fair bid. Gary and chairman Darragh MacAnthony both agreed that we should not stand in the way of a player who has been a great servant to the club.

“He’s had some bad advice in his time here, but he owes the club nothing and we wish him all the best.

“I have to praise Gary Johnson for the work he has done on Aaron as well. When Gary arrived at the club, Aaron was down in the dumps, his chin was on the floor.

“But Gary’s man management of Aaron has been magnificent. He has been back to his best on the pitch and he’s been walking around with a smile on his face off it.”

Mclean’s move to Hull will be confirmed on January 1. He will not play for Peterborough United again before then.

Mclean leaves Peterborough United as the fourth highest goalscorer in the club’s Football League history with 84 goals in 187 appearances.

Darragh MacAnthony Chairman Of Peterborough United Searches For A Replacement For Aaron McLean

The search for the next Aaron Mclean has started.

 

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony has confirmed that the majority of the proceeds from the £1.3 million sale of Mclean to Hull will be ploughed back into the club.

 

Darragh MacAnthony has also allayed fears among Peterborough fans that the departure of Mclean could be the start of a firesale of the best club talent.

 

Darragh MacAnthony said: “I don’t know where headlines stating ‘Posh players for sale’ came from. Aaron is the first major talent I’ve sold in my four years at the club and there were good reasons for that.

 

“Aaron has been on the transfer list for a year and he would not be signing a new contract when his current deal runs out in 15 months.

 

“He’d also be 28 then so the package we have received is a good one for the club. Hull finally got close to the figure I wanted and Aaron goes with all our best wishes.

 

Darragh MacAnthony stated “We got four great years from him and we will miss him on the pitch. We will also miss his great personality in the dressing room.

 

“But we have already had meetings about finding the next Aaron Mclean. The money from Hull is being paid in stages, but the majority will go back into the club.

 

“We want to find some more good young players who we can develop into better ones who will eventually sign for bigger clubs after helping us to success.”

 

And Darragh MacAnthony is confident he will witness more success on the playing front. He will certainly make sure he does his bit behind the scenes.

 

Darragh MacAnthony added: “I can promise Posh fans that I will do all I can to bring success to the club again. I will do everything in my power to make 2011 a lovely one for Posh and the fans.

 

“I want us to start winning regularly again and that will increase the gates.”

 

Peterborough United boss Gary Johnson admitted that he has a January transfer window shopping list of nine or 10 players. Peterborough United were linked with 31 year-old MK Dons striker Aaron Wilbraham, but he is also reportedly a target for Championship promotion-chasers Norwich City.

 

Mclean is expected to make a January 1 debut for Hull against Leicester City at the KC Stadium.

 

Mclean has agreed personal terms after the club’s agreed a Peterborough United record transfer fee of £1.3 million for the 27 year-old. He is now understood to have sailed through a thorough medical check.

 

Hull manager Nigel Pearson would only admit that ‘we are nearly there’ when asked about Mclean’s arrival. Mclean is expected to formally sign a three-and-a-half year contract when the January transfer window opens on Saturday.

 

Mclean is yet to speak publicly about his move, but has aired his brief views on his personal Twitter account.

 

Mclean said: “I’ve loved my time at Peterborough, but I’m now ready for a new challenge at Hull. I would like to thank the Posh fans for their support.”

 

Mclean scored 14 goals for Peterborough United this season. He moved to Peterborough United for just £150,000 from Grays in January 2007 having spent the previous three months on loan at London Road.

 

The transfer fee is the biggest to involve a Peterborough United player moving in or out of London Road. There are no sell-on fees for Grays, but Peterborough United could gain an extra £300,000 from Hull depending on the success of the club and player.

 

Darragh MacAnthony Will Not Stand In The Way of Any Peterborough United Players Who Want To Move On

Chairman Darragh MacAnthony has reassured Peterborough United fans that there is no financial need to sell a star player during the January transfer window.

 

Darragh MacAnthony did however reveal that he would not stand in the way of any player who has the opportunity to better himself.

 

Darragh MacAnthony also believes it may be time for those players who have given Peterborough United great service in the past few seasons to move on.

 

Darragh MacAnthony was reacting to comments made by Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry in The Evening Telegraph.

 

“We certainly do not need to sell anyone as cash flow is in place for this season, and need to return to our original policy of running the club prudently while still ensuring we have a good, young team capable of challenging for honours.

 

“Our biggest issue is clubs from above coming in for our best assets and making good offers, for the club and for the player, as I promised our best players in the summer that I wouldn’t stand in their way should the right opportunity come up.

 

“I refuse to make the previous mistake of keeping an unhappy player as it doesn’t help Posh.

 

Darragh MacAnthony added “We have had many of the current players for four years and maybe it’s time for them to move on once we are back in the Championship.

 

“We as a club also need to start looking for the next generation of youngsters to buy at the 18-21 level so that if any current older players leave it doesn’t weaken us and we have replacements ready to step up.

 

“Posh need to uncover and invest in more Lee Tomlins of this world and if they all cost a couple of hundred grand each then so be it as it’s money in the bank so to speak!

 

“I want to reduce debts, run the club prudently, make it more affordable for fans to support us but still at the same time back the manager so he has a squad competitive enough to compete for honours and to progress every season.

 

Darragh MacAnthony concludes with “This season will be a great one and I’m loving it again big time. I will not stop until we get back to the Championship.”

 

Darragh MacAnthony Present For The Official Opening Of A Local Peterborough Disabled Education Centre

Peterborough United chairman Darragh MacAnthony brought the Peterborough United squad with him to open a pioneering training centre for disabled adults.

Darragh MacAnthony, who stumped up £250,000 to get the Helping Hands Group off the ground, cut the ribbon with help from the Mayor of Peterborough councilor Keith Sharp at the official opening of the centre.

 

The centre at Charford House, in Padholme Road East, Fengate, is the brainchild of disability carer Suzanne Gilby.

 

It will offer further education courses, workplace training, therapy sessions and activities for disabled adults with the aim of giving them the skills to be able to live a more independent life.

 

Suzanne thanked Darragh MacAnthony for his backing and praised the support of her husband Neil, friends and family throughout the three-year process to set up the group.

 

She said: “I was worried about how things would go with the opening but people seem to love it now that they have been inside. It’s really put my mind at ease.

 

“My husband has been fantastic and getting Darragh MacAnthony involved really made everything happen.”

 

Darragh MacAnthony found out about the project in June from Suzanne’s husband Neil, who is Peterborough United’s website producer.

 

Darragh MacAnthony immediately took an interest and within two months had helped finalise their business plan.

 

Six months and £250,000 of funding later, Darragh MacAnthony was alongside Suzanne to officially open the centre.

 

Suzanne added: “It’s been a stressful and exciting process. It’s been a steep learning curve because it’s a business as well.

 

“We showed Darragh MacAnthony our business plan, and it wasn’t perfect, but he jumped right on board.

 

“We have worked so hard to get to this point and it’s great to see so many smiling faces here today.”

 

The centre has places for 35 adults who will get the full benefit from experienced staff and modern facilities and can learn in their own time, without a curriculum or timetable.

 

While the building and start-up costs have been funded by Darragh MacAnthony, the places on the courses are funded by Peterborough City Council’s social services.

 

The centre will be open from 9.30am to 4pm, five days a week for 45 weeks a year. Peterborough United will continue to remain involved in the project as the centre’s users will be able to watch Posh games for free.

 

Suzanne hopes the combination of training and education will offer disabled people more opportunities in life.

 

She said: “You’ve got to get the balance right of providing what’s needed. We’re trying to make people’s lives as normal as possible and give them the same options as everyone else.”

 

Cllr Sharp praised the efforts of everyone involved in the project. He said: “We need to bridge gaps and show that there is not an ‘us and them’ mentality. People with disabilities have the right to the same quality of life as anyone else.”

 

Darragh MacAnthony’s help

 

Darragh MacAnthony gave Suzanne Gilby a helping hand of his own when he invested £250,000 in the Helping Hands Group.

 

With the centre now open, Darragh MacAnthony hopes it will become a big asset to the community.

 

Darragh MacAnthony said: “The place is fabulous and the facilities will make a real big difference. The staff are excellent as well. Suzanne put so much work in.”

 

The interest shown in the new centre already suggests there could be potential to roll the project out nationwide.

 

Darragh MacAnthony said: “The interest in this project tells me there’s a need for more services like this in communities across the country.

 

“This kind of help and service is second to none.”

 

Peterborough United’s director of football Barry Fry added: “Ever since Darragh MacAnthony bought the club he has helped hundreds of people in the city. He’s a breath of fresh air.”

 

Factfile on the centre

 

The Helping Hands Group centre has been three years in the making, costing a quarter of a million pounds to complete.

 

The centre itself features seven main teaching rooms as well as a common room, a garden area, a sensory room and a relaxation room.

 

Users will have full access to a range of vocational training from two experienced staff.