It has been a fine few days for Bohemian FC moving to within four points of the top of the SSE Airtricity Premier League Bohemian FC and confirming the appointment of Daniel Lambert as the club’s new Chief Operating Officer.
On the pitch, the win over Finn Harps was the third on the bounce since the resumption of games.
In the back office, Lambert, who has served as a volunteer board member of the club for most of the last decade, will commence employment in his new role on September 1.
The decision was taken during the lockdown period that the stretch on volunteers exclusively running the member-owned club was unsustainable and the appointment of a full time Chief Operating Officer was needed.
The position was advertised and 28 applicants went through an independently managed recruitment process.
READ MORE: Our Exclusive Interview with Daniel Lambert from January 2020.
Lambert has been a key driver of Bohemian’s success over recent years, serving on the board and in a number of capacities within the club.
He is also a successful businessman in the local area involved in a café, a music business and a design and marketing agency, Push Pull Media.
“As a club, we have experienced huge growth in all areas in recent years and because of this, we simply cannot rely solely on volunteers to run our operations as we have been doing,” said Club President Chris Brien.
“Both our volunteers and existing staff are overstretched, unsustainably so. Collectively as members, we have got the club back on very solid ground but we now need the support of full-time staff if we are to consolidate that and grow ourselves further.”
“We are reviewing all areas with the aim of maximising the club’s potential, while at the same time easing the ever-increasing burden on the volunteer board and other volunteers so crucial in the day-to-day running of the club.”
“Daniel is a successful businessman in his own right, and his experience and success as commercial and marketing director played a huge role in his appointment.”
“Under his watch, our commercial income has grown year-on-year and we now have committed commercial partners who are not just sponsors, but long-term social partners who buy into the ethos of what we are trying to achieve as a club embedded in our community.
“On the marketing side, he along with the help of a dedicated team of volunteers has seen the club reach new heights. Marketing has played a big role in increasing our crowds over the past couple of seasons which, pre-Covid, were the highest they have been in generations, while the success of our merchandise operations, now by far and away the best in the league, continues to amaze.”
READ MORE: Bohemians Sign Four Year Sponsorship Deal
“Personally, and on behalf of the club, I wish to welcome Daniel to his new role and congratulate him on his appointment. I have no doubt that he will help us move forward to a different level.”
In accordance with the club’s constitution, Lambert will vacate his position on the board, at the upcoming AGM, before assuming his new position.
It is expected that he will retain his position on the Commercial Committee of the FAI though that is one of the committees yet to get fully up and running yet with the disruption caused by governance issues and Covid.
“To focus on growing the club in a full-time capacity, moving from a decade of volunteerism on the board, is a huge personal honour and something I will give every ounce of my efforts to,” said Lambert.
“To me, this is a club like no other. A fully members-owned club that is operated sustainably, profitably, democratically and with a big net positive impact on society.”
“The Bohemian Football Club was highly innovative and progressive when established 130 years ago. We are quickly returning to these qualities and I want to help us build upon the positive momentum of the turnaround of the past decade and truly realise our full potential.”
