Well Adam Pearson eh love him or hate him he’s been around a long time, saved the Club, made some baffling decisions and also gave us the best day of our lives!! But for what it’s worth here is my own take on him!
I knew Adam way back when he was running Hull City from a portercabin on the front of Boothferry Park and visited him there workwise on many occasions.
I worked with him on behalf of my previous employers on the opening of the KCCom, on the stadiums community interface and indeed was there when he signed up with Richo to share the Stadium, something that had to be in place before the Government would release the Capital allocation and allow the City Council to release the funds, (to start work), from their profits after the sale of Kingston Communications.
I was also party to the creation of the SMC and as Pearson was the only person who wanted to run the Stadium, he dictated the terms including its tying into the Football club which in the end came back to seriously bite him. Richo was only interested in three things back then, getting the FC into a bigger Stadium, getting the RL sweetener for merging and getting back to Aus.
Subsequently Adam sold up and left for pastures new and Mid Kath era I wrote to him wishing him well and saying if he ever wanted to buy a RL club We’d be the one. He replied that aint ever gonna happen,
but after a few years of being involved with Leeds and Derby County and having to work with Directors etc. that diluted his power, so next up, conned somewhat by Kath and Co, he bought us. Subsequently he has insisted until this year that he was the sole ‘owner’ and had if you like ‘all the power’. He said he was open to investors but many thought that he only really paid lip service to that. That’s his style he likes to be in control and I guess you can’t knock it.
He built the club whilst making a few mistakes and then took us to the two greatest days of our supporting lives but then his health faultered, he struggled to continue to invest in the team whilst diminishing Sky funds and dropping income made for tough times which when Covid came knocking became even tougher.
He made sure everyone got paid during all that (probably including himself) but in so doing he ran up a massive government loan that some reckon was in the region of £2m the bulk of which had to be paid back this year. Year on year since 2017 we have lost good players and appointed not so good ones as hardship bit and Covid and that loan were the last straw. But he over saw all that and must have realised what was happening in fact his only possibly option was to oversee that happening.
His daughters interest fired him up for a while but perhaps he’s lost interest, perhaps his health is a struggle, or perhaps he’s just got older and wants to get out and enjoy life, but for whatever reason it’s my belief that of late his heart hasn’t been in it.
But then again, the game is failing in this country its relegated as a sport as far as media interest is concerned there are few personalities in it, games are boring, loop fixtures make it even more boring and nationally its profile has declined, and this last weekend proves that interest even in the most dedicated is waning.
I know that Adam, honestly wants to ensure the heritage of a great club continues and I’d defend that belief against any on here, but who in any case would want to be remembered by the fact that they oversaw the FC go under? But the lease on the Stadium, spiralling off field costs, the cack television deal we have, the administrators at the top of the game, the lack of quality players around and the draw of the NRL (and an inability to attract the quality players from there anymore), has all transpired to see us where we are. Yes, it’s the same for all clubs, but our current demise financially has seen it impact particularly heavily on us.
As for this season well the players know they can’t go down and be out of work, so just like the last 6 or 7 campaigns once they are safe, they don’t give a toss and that’s the single biggest historical issue conundrum and mystery at our club. For as Shaun McCrae once said, all those years ago in 2003 it runs through our club like a cancer.
For me, for so many reasons, it's time for Adam to go, no doubt! but he has to hand on to someone else.
All this Pearson out stuff is short sighted for if he were to walk (and I believe he would never do that without Guaranteeing the continuation of the club) we would fold, so be careful what you wish for. The only reason this season he is actively seeking a financial backer is because I believe (and its only my thoughts) that he is tired and looking at the great up’s and the countless downs of his tenure who can blame him. If you choose to be the sole arbitor at the top, it might be nice and powerful, but it’s a lonely old place at times (like now!).
But don’t be too hard or vociferous at castigating him because he is a decent guy faults and all and we need someone else in place before he goes. We are a great club with a fabulous band of supporters and a proper history of great times (some even in our recent history) so we all just have to hold the line support Adam until he moves on (for at least I think he’s trying to do that) and keep hoping and believing. It’s going to be a long haul and these are as low a point as I can remember. Wigan at the weekend is a nightmare! But, a new coach and hopefully (after many times of asking) an answer to that ‘cancer’. It reminds me of giving a guy 5 loaves and three fishes and asking him to make a 4 course meal for 5000 people. Adams OK so let’s just see what the next few weeks bring!
