Phelan signed to UCFB board

Former Claret and Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan has been appointed to the board of UCFB WEMBLEY and Burnley.
Mike PhelanMike Phelan
Mike Phelan

The UCFB University College of Football Business, based at Turf Moor and Wembley Stadium, the first dedicated to the business side of football and the sport industry, has appointed Nelson-born Phelan alongside Kelly Simmons MBE, to its board.

Phelan, who previously played for Burnley and Norwich City, has a career spanning 30 years in professional football.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He joined Manchester United as assistant manager in 2008 and worked alongside Sir Alex Ferguson to secure six Premier League titles, an FA Cup, two League Cups, a World Club Challenge and the Champions League title in 2008.

Simmons, who has worked for The FA for more than 20 years, was appointed to oversee the National Game in January.

They join the board at UCFB, chaired by former chief executive of the FA, Brian Barwick, to provide direction to the higher education institution’s academic structure.

Philip Wilson, provost and chief executive, said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming such influential and leading figures from British sport to our team of advisors.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We’re incredibly lucky to have an existing repertoire of forward-thinking advisors supporting us, including Alastair Campbell, Neil Doncaster and Martin Prothero, each of whom brings with them valuable knowledge from all areas of football and sport industries.

“UCFB is now in a stronger position to offer something unique to our current and prospective students – an environment which enables our undergraduates to build knowledge and career prospects, with rare access to industry experts.”

UCFB enables undergraduates to study a traditional academic subject within the context of an industry for which they have a genuine interest. UCFB Burnley launched in 2011 at Turf Moor. UCFB Wembley’s first student intake arrives in September 2014.