Welcome to
M5 Group
M5 Sports Management Group is a not for profit organisation that helps young people from all backgrounds and cultures improve their lives through sport.

M5 Team

Michael Giles
Chairman
Michael is a Corporate Lawyer and former General Counsel at Arqiva, a £1 billion communications & infrastructure company with clients that include the BBC, ITV, SKY and BT. He is highly qualified to lead on corporate governance and business strategy. His interest in sport includes a spell as a professional footballer for West Bromwich Albion FC. His father John Giles is best known in this sport as a player with Leeds United under Don Revie, and a former manager of the Republic of Ireland.

Roger Newman
CEO
Roger is a Performance Management Consultant in education, business and sport and a former Cricket Manager at Oxford University and Academy Director at Warwickshire CCC. Andy Flower,OBE, former England team director, once said “When we worked together at Warwickshire and Oxford University. Roger’s cricket knowledge and man management skills ensured our success and he will always have a positive influence on teams and individuals he is working with.”

Peter Millichip
Sports Lawyer
A pioneer of Sports Law, he has practised in this area for over 30 years, during which time he has worked with most of the UK governing bodies. His father, Sir Bert Millichip, was a former Chairman of the FA and Peter was also a great friend and adviser to Sir Bobby Robson during his managerial career, including his time as England manager. He still acts for his family to support his legacy charities, including the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and the Sir Bobby Robson golf classic in Portugal.


What we do
Services
For any organisation or individual involved in sport we have the expertise and experience to advise on the following three pillars:

Performance Management
The M5 team have over 30 years experience in performance management in sport. We have the expertise to identify talent and to provide a structure to ensure young people have the best opportunity to realise their potential.

Career
Development
Career development guidance is essential for young people embarking a career in sport. Our expertise is available to ensure individuals maximise their opportunities both during and after their playing careers.

Mental
Wellbeing
The pressure of performing as a professional can sometimes result in mental health issues. Our team of medical professionals are always available to discuss individual concerns and to provide a stratergy to address these.

Projects

South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA)
Research by Tom Brown, a PhD student at Birmingham City University, identified a lack of British South Asian Cricketers progressing into the professional game. The M5 Sports Management Group were instrumental in setting up the South Asian Cricket Aacademy (SACA) to address the problem working with First Class and National Counties and other interested parties. Sir John Crabtree OBE, the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands and Chairman of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Preet Gill, the Shadow Minister for Health, Wasim Khan MBE, General Manager ICC Cricket, Andy Street CBE, Mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority and Moeen Ali OBE, the England and Warwickshire Cricketer have all agreed to become Patrons of this important initiative going forward.

Dementia in Football
Since Nobby Stiles, the former Manchester United and England player, passed away with Dementia, M5 Group Chairman Michael Giles has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of former players who are suffering from this terrible work related illness.The M5 Sports Management Group are pleased to support the Dementia in Football campaign to ensure that the Professional Footballers Association (PCA), the Premier League and the Football Association (FA) meet their duty of care obligations to support these players and their families financially in respect of the care they will need as the illness progresses. The project is lead by The Football Families for Justice set up by Michael Giles and John Stiles.

Bethan James Bursary
The M5 Sports Management Group were pleased to be asked to support the Bethan James Bursary, set up by The Cricket Writers Club, in memory of Bethan, a talented trainee journalist who tragically died at the age of just twenty one. She was the daughter of Steve James, a highly respected sports journalist and former professional cricketer, and the aim of the Bursary is to provide funds for trainee journalists who are unable to take up work experience opportunities through lack of finance. Appropriate funding will be given to suitable candidates, by the Cricket Writers Club, to ensure that talented young sports journalists from all backgrounds are able to follow their chosen professions in the future.

Moeen Ali Cricket Academy
Every week from October through to April over 100 young cricketers from the age of six to sixteen attend the Moeen Ali High Performance Cricket Academy at the state of the art Edgbaston Cricket Centre, home of Warwickshire County Cricket Club. Director of Cricket Munir Ali and his team of highly qualified ECB coaches have designed a progressive player pathway programme which helps these young players to reach their full potential and many move on to represent their Counties at age group level and beyond. Many of the group are from inner city areas of Birmingham and the Midlands and the M5 Group are pleased to support this community initiative to help young people from all backgrounds and cultures improve their lives through cricket, something which Moeen himself believes in passionately. Additional academies are being set up near the M5 in Worcestershire and Devon.

Devon County Cricket Club - Performance Centre
The Devon County Cricket Club performance Centre is based at Bicton College, a beautiful location in East Devon and established to provide a progressive player programme for established and potential players. Devon CCC is recognised as the pinnacle of cricket in the County and many of the players in both the Devon Lions and the senior county side progress into the First Class game and beyond, including Dominic Bess, Ben Green, Charlie Morris,Tom Lammonby and the Overton twins, Jamie and Craig. The facilities at Bicton include an indoor net facility, a gym, a residential block, restaurant, outdoor 3G pitch and excellent lecture theatre. M5 Group are committed to supporting this worthwhile initiative moving forward.

Proposed Masters in the Business of Cricket (MBC)
The global sports market was estimated to be in the region of $440 billion dollars in 2021 with a projection that the market will reach a value of $600 billion dollars by 2025. Despite the growth of the global sports industry there is currently a lack of leaders and administrators with the expertise and experience to take the industry forward in the way that is needed. The objective is to recruit male and female students who have the potential to take up important positions across the ever growing sports industry. A Masters in the Business of Cricket, includes learning objectives, appropriate case studies with 10 modules across a 2 year distance learning programme. It would target male and female professionals transitioning from playing careers, current administrators and other professional executives who may wish to consider a career in sport. An opportunity exists to deliver real value to the sport sector and to provide a pathway for the students to pursue an executive career in the industry.

Waresley Park National Cricket Centre
The proposed Waresley Park National Cricket Centre at Hartlebury Worcestershire will be available to the local community, county clubs, national organisations and international groups. A high quality ground, pavillion and cricket centre will provide a facility for cricket related events, festivals and educational programmes. It will be available to both the recreational and professional game and accessible to young people from all backgrounds and cultures. It is anticipated that the Waresley Park National Cricket Centre will be available to all these groups in the next couple of years.
Everyone has the will to win but few have the will to prepare to win
Lombardi

Testimonials
I have had the privilege of working with Michael for some 10 years . He has great integrity and a considered and patient listening style which allows him to provide wise counsel to solve complicated situations . A fearsome negotiator, collegiate and always a team player

John Cresswell
Former Chief Executive
Arqiva Ltd, ITV and Bibby Group
Peter has an enthusiasm that has remained over the many years he has been practising as a sports lawyer. His passion to improve standards in sport is always evident in the professional way he advises all his clients in the area of sports law from which I have personally benefited.

Richard Callicott OBE
Former CEO
UK Sport
I have known Roger for over 25 years and he has been a valuable friend and adviser over that time. He has years of experience and his views are always worth listening to. He has certainly helped me in my career, as he has many other individuals and sporting organisations he has worked with.

Wasim Khan MBE
General Manager
ICC Cricket
Contact
Contact Roger Newman (CEO M5 Group)
Email: rogerjnewman34@gmail.com
Tel: 073 99 88 7503