IMO the only “failure” of Sheikh Mansour’s ownership has been a very naive approach to vitriolic media coverage and not building a positive public image of the club. Once Garry Cook departed, we had a senior leadership team who were outsiders to the local media scene and the tight networks of pundits, “journalists” and commentators - who were skilfully mobilised against us by our rivals. We stood aloof focusing on our plan while they systematically trashed our reputation. Everything else the club has done has been superb, but this has been a clear mistake.
It’s not too late, a good PR agency and media relations/public image team could repair most of the damage done. The point when we are cleared of these ridiculous charges would be the perfect place to start the turn-around.
That's a great post with strong analysis and I also once felt the same way, that the biggest mistake was not investing in the media.
However, in hindsight I don't think it would have made a blind bit of difference if we would have developed a robust PR and bought a media outlet.
Why? Because Sheikh Mansour is all about the long game. His vision was to create the best football team on the planet (which by default would be the best in Europe and Britain) with the most stable and dynamic infrastructure in world football.
MCFC were never going to get away from the scrutiny and attention of the British Press and the broadcasting media. Remember how they laughed at "the project" and mocked our academy. It was almost tongue in cheek to begin with and once the Pisscan started to reference "the noisy neighbours" things started to change.
The signs were there for all to see and the project was developing at pace which created a sea change within the media where the mocking was replaced with synisism and caution.
This was no laughing matter and the historical top four were in danger of being nudged out.
MCFC were essentially up against the full force of the English Premier League and their lackey mouthpieces in the media.
We were never going to compete with that and the good news is we don't have to.
They will despise our success and cry foul. They will call us cheats and say we're moraly bankrupt in the hope that sticks and stones will halt our progress.
However, the disparity between our continued success and their vitriol opinions will be plain for all to see and highlight their increased heresy.
Eventually the dust will settle and a new dawn will bring a fresh cohort of opinion with a more organic brand of journalism.