New Bristol City CEO Phil Alexander has spoken of his hands-on role during the January transfer window including coming into a baptism of fire following a hectic transfer deadline day.
Alexander's official start date was February 1, replacing Richard Gould who departed to become the new Chief Executive of the ECB. However, he got down to business a week prior as City's transfer window picked up in intensity.
The 60-year-old played his part in City's productive window, helping secure deals for Wycombe Wanderer's Anis Mehmeti and Luton striker Harry Cornick on deadline day. Prior to joining City, Alexander was Senior Adviser with Wycombe following 26 years as the CEO at Crystal Palace.
The deal to sign Mehmeti was widely seen a transfer coup with manager Nigel Pearson confirming an opportunity arose to land the 22-year-old winger. City activated a release clause in his contract to get the move over the line while moves for AFC Wimbledon left-back Jack Currie and Palace's central defender Jake O'Brien proved unsuccessful.
In his first interview since joining City, Alexander spoke to Robins TV about his first week at the club including his excitement about being involved in a side that continues to progress both on and off the pitch.
He said: "I can’t believe it’s been four weeks – it feels a bit longer. It was a bit of a baptism of fire, if you’d like, at the end of the transfer window but I’ve enjoyed it.
“I joined on January 23rd, and I had already been talking to Richard quite a bit prior to that. Richard was concluding the Bournemouth deal for Antoine (Semenyo) which made sense and I picked up the pieces thereafter.
“We did some trading, which was good. We got a couple of young players in, sent a couple of players out on loan, and settled a few contracts so it was a busy period.
"Whilst I'd done that before, doing it at a new club was a baptism of fire but if you look back at the window overall it was a good trading period for us. We missed out on one or two targets which would have been the icing on the cake. It went as probably as well as it could do.
"We looked at the makeup of the squad and quickly assessed what needs to be done to import in younger, hungrier players. Some players who left had been here and while and we felt it was a good time for them to move on.
"But I think in terms of the structure of the squad, the age of the squad, the depth and indeed the younger players coming through from the academy. To see it taking shape on the park is great to see.
“Even now, we’re looking at the summer and what we’re going to be doing. It’s an exciting place to be and an exciting time to be a Bristol City fan.”
Alexander also praised Pearson and the City coaching staff including assistant Curtis Fleming and first-team coach Jason Euell with the side continuing to maintain a fine run of form. The Robins are among four teams unbeaten in 2023 in the top four tiers of English football alongside Brentford, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby.
With City on a run of 11 games undefeated, he added of the opportunity: "I’m enjoying watching the team, I’m enjoying the energy that’s out there. Full credit must go to Nigel, Curtis and Jason and all the first team coaching staff – they’re doing a super job and long may it continue.
"I was at Crystal Palace for 26 years, a long time at one club although it felt like different clubs with different ownership groups over a certain period of time but I had a great time at Palace. The time was right to stand down last May and since then I'd done a bit more consultancy with Palace.
“The opportunity came up at City and I followed up on it with conversations during visits with both Gavin Marshall and Richard Scudamore, who is very much involved here as well. I very quickly bought into the dream and vision of Steve, Maggie and Jon Lansdown of trying to make Bristol into a sporting hub.
"You can see the investment that's gone in, it's really very impressive and to me, it's a really good challenge and one that I brought into very quickly.”
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