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Phil Hay joins Dan Moylan, Michael Normanton and Daniel Chapman (Moscowhite) for episode 144, fresh from his move to The Athletic after nearly 13 years at the Yorkshire Evening Post. He talks about the transition from the YEP’s daily breaking news and immediate match reporting to the long-form feature journalism The Athletic commissioned him for — more time, more flexibility, and a pace of work that is sustainable at 38 in a way it was not in his mid-twenties. He draws a natural parallel with TSB’s own subscription model: both depend on an audience willing to pay directly for the work, and he expresses genuine support for the industry moving that way.
The two most recent results are covered in depth. Against Salford City in the Carabao Cup second round, Hay had been in the away end after a late ticket became available via Twitter. He had not found the atmosphere convincing — it felt manufactured, Sky’s coverage seemed more interested in promoting the Class of 92 documentary than the football, and the project struck him as more vanity exercise than sustainable football club. Berardi’s first competitive goal — celebrated with a panicked sprint toward the centre circle — and Nketiah’s debut goal are both enjoyed. The Wigan 2-0 is covered in more detail, with Hay identifying Adam Forshaw as having produced one of his better performances of the season, and Stuart Dallas as a player substantially improved by two consecutive seasons under the same manager.
Transfer business gets a full debrief. Hay explains the shift from Ryan Kent to Eddie Nketiah: Roofe’s departure to Anderlecht left a gap for a striker rather than another winger, and Victor Orta went to London Colney with PowerPoint slides to pitch Arsenal’s coaching staff on exactly how Nketiah would be used in the team. Hay considers it the right call. Both Michael and Hay still wish a centre-back had also been signed.
The Daniel James story is revisited at length, with Hay providing firsthand detail. James was at Thorp Arch with his medical complete and contract signed, twenty minutes from completion, when Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins stopped answering his phone. Nobody saw it coming; Hay had reports written for the following day’s paper and was in a frantic scramble before print. The loan fee structure — Leeds trying to defer half to the summer — is identified as the final sticking point. A wide discussion of Championship financial sustainability follows: Bolton, Bury, FFP loopholes, and Leeds’ wage bill of over £30 million against losses of around £50 million a year. Brentford midweek and Stoke City at the weekend are previewed.
Heroes and Villains: Villain to Sky for their Salford City presentation; Hero to Eddie Nketiah, with Berardi’s goal noted for occurring exactly five years to the day after his League Cup kung fu incident.
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