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BARRY HEARN has outlined ambitious strategies for Brentwood Town following a pivotal new sponsorship deal with his local club.
Matchroom Sport will serve as the front-of-shirt sponsor for The Blues for the next five years, with Hearn setting lofty goals in pursuit of multiple promotions AND a new stadium.
The 78-year-old darts and snooker magnate remarked that he “can’t afford to wait” and emphasized, “life is about dreaming big… if you lack dreams and ambition, what’s the point?”
Earlier this year, Matchroom reached a valuation of over £1BILLION. While it may be unlikely for Brentwood Town to compete with giants like Arsenal or Manchester United in the near future, significant investment is anticipated, spanning from grassroots initiatives to the first team and facilities.
At Brentwood’s 1,000-seat venue, The Brentwood Centre Arena, Hearn told SunSport: “It’s not about my livelihood. I’m focused on giving back.”
While he isn’t expected to manage the day-to-day operations of the club, he insists, “I wouldn’t take on new projects if I couldn’t fully commit.”
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In their first season in the Isthmian Premier Division, Brentwood exceeded expectations, finishing fifth and advancing to the playoff final.
They came agonizingly close to earning a spot in the National League South, conceding a last-minute winner to local rivals Billericay Town.
Hearn’s plans during this partnership are both grand and straightforward.
Clubs at this level typically don’t secure deals longer than a few years, offering Brentwood – which had an average attendance of 700 last season – stability and a chance for medium-term planning.
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He stated: “We needed stability, and we have a strategy. We can’t afford to deplete our funds midway through the process.”
“Part of this involves establishing a financial structure that ensures we’re prepared for upcoming challenges while maintaining sustainability.”
“Our objective is to create a sustainable club. However, sustainability doesn’t guarantee success.”
“We’re laying the groundwork, but will there be funds available to facilitate further progress? Absolutely, but it will be a long journey.”
Hearn acknowledges a crucial and immediate challenge over the next five years – the stadium ownership, which currently belongs to the local council.
“My main goal is to secure this stadium from the council. We need the backing of everyone.”
“I am limited without the stadium because, while I value the club and our aspirations, we need justification to pursue growth and enhance facilities.”
“We will need to adapt as the club evolves. It’s akin to driving a car while your passenger has the handbrake engaged.”
“We will be addressing this and interacting with the council in the upcoming weeks as part of our plan.”
Hearn cites the successes of clubs like Bromley (who achieved two promotions in three seasons to reach League One) and Hornchurch (who gained two promotions leading to the National League), expressing that his goal for the upcoming campaign is “Promotion, promotion, promotion.”
He fully understands that a club’s success will be “determined by results.”
While the intention is clearly to attain first-team success and promotions – ultimately to the football league – Hearn is also determined to see the club flourish in a manner that benefits the local community and cultivates a talent pipeline for the first team.
“Part of our vision is to enhance Brentwood’s profile,” he explains.
“This ideally brings further investment into the area, fostering pride among residents in the community they represent.”
“Given that this is an affluent area, I see no reason we couldn’t attract crowds of 2,000.”
“You need to dream.”
“We aren’t only chasing short-term achievements. We won’t merely buy players.”
“We prefer to operate as a legitimate business.”
“Yes, we will require experienced players, but our aim is to cultivate a talent pipeline, ensuring that there’s always a reliable replacement ready to go.”
With the new agreement extending to 2032, Hearn and Matchroom have ample opportunities to make their mark on Brentwood Town.
When asked what an ideal scenario for the next five years would look like, he responded: “Brentwood Town features a 3,000 to 4,000-seat stadium.”
“Our goal will be to reach League Two or League One – it’s a blank slate.”
“Anything can happen, and numerous factors need to fall into place.”
“The key is to cherish the journey, especially since this is our origin.”
“I believe we can establish an identity and significantly support the region.”
“At the same time, we aspire to build something that will endure beyond my lifetime.”
“Every club must start somewhere, but that might have been 150 years ago, so we need to make up for lost time.”
