Francis Lee - Business Career

Business Career

After his playing career, Lee moved into business. His toilet roll manufacturing business once employed famous comedian Peter Kay, who mentions his time there in his autobiography "The Sound Of Laughter".

In 1994, Lee became chairman of Manchester City, ousting Peter Swales from the position by purchasing £3 million of shares at a price of £13.35 per share. Lee was welcomed as a hero by City's supporters, who had formed a movement named Forward With Franny backing his attempt to gain control of the club. Upon becoming chairman, Lee made a series of extravagant claims about his plans for the club, announcing that "This will be the happiest club in the land. The players will be the best paid and we'll drink plenty of champagne, celebrate and sing until we're hoarse". In 1996 he appointed his friend Alan Ball as manager, but the appointment proved unsuccessful and the club were relegated. Lee stepped down in 1998, with the club on the brink of relegation to the third tier of English football, a fate which Lee had dismissed at the previous annual general meeting by saying that he would "jump off the Kippax" if the club were relegated. He was succeeded by David Bernstein. Lee retained a shareholding after leaving the board of directors but later sold all his shares to Thaksin Shinawatra.]

In addition to his business ventures, Lee also had a career as a racehorse trainer. Notable horses trained by Lee include Sir Harry Hardman, Allwight Then and Young Jason. Lee gave the trade up in 2001 to pursue his business commitments.

Before becoming a professional footballer Lee showed promise at cricket, representing the Horwich and Westhoughton Schools FA Team in 1958. When his football career came to an end he briefly returned to cricket, playing for Westhoughton's first XI in 1977 as a medium-fast bowler and middle to lower order batsman.

On 4 June 2005, Lee was arrested following an argument with a policeman. It is understood a row broke out after Lee's wife, Gill, was stopped and breathalysed as she drove home in the early hours of the morning. Lee was given an adult caution.(http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/161/161307_francis_lee_arrested.html)

On 5 January 2009, Permaplay Limited (owned by Lee) went into Members' Voluntary Liquidation (http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk/issues/58946/pages/377).