Profile picture of Nicolas Scelles

Dr Nicolas Scelles

Reader

My profile

Biography

A French citizen from Honfleur in Normandy formerly working in Stirling in Scotland and now in Manchester.

External examiner roles

1. Ezzeddine, M. (2020). Pricing football transfers: Determinants, inflation, sustainability, and market impact: Football finance, economics & machine learning approaches. PhD supervised by Pradier P.C., University Paris 1. External examiners: Andreff, W. (University Paris 1), Arrondel, L. (Paris School of Economics), Garcia, E. (Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA), Scelles, N. (Reviewer, MMU) and Simmons, R. (Reviewer, Lancaster University). Viva on 17 December.

2. Moulard, J. (2018). Mobilisation de compétences dans la programmation et l’exploitation d’une nouvelle ressource : Le cas des nouveaux stades de l’écosystème d’affaires du football francais [Skill mobilisation in the programming and utilisation of a new resource: The case of the new stadia in the French football business ecosystem]. PhD supervised by Dermit-Richard, N., University of Rouen, Durand, C., University of Caen, and Sirost, O., University of Rouen. External examiners: Andreff, W. (University Paris 1), Honta, M. (Reviewer, University of Bordeaux) and Scelles, N. (Reviewer, MMU). Viva on 19 November.

Expert reviewer for external funding bodies

Reviewing (259)

Journal Articles (194 in 65 Journals):

Outstanding Reviewer in the 2020 Emerald Literati Awards for Excellence, Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal

1. Applied Artificial Intelligence (1)

2. Applied Economics (5)

3. Applied Economics Letters (1)

4. Bulletin of Economic Research (1)

5. Children (1)

6. Cogent Social Sciences (1)

7. Contemporary Economic Policy (1)

8. Economic Inquiry (3)

9. Economics (1)

10. Economics and Business Letters (1)

11. Economics Bulletin (3)

12. Economics of Governance (1)

13. Economies (2)

14. Entropy (1)

15. European Economic Review (1)

16. European Journal of Finance (1)

17. European Journal of Operational Research (3)

18. European Management Review (1)

19. European Sport Management Quarterly (22)

20. Frontiers in Psychology (1)

21. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living (4)

22. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research (1)

23. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (1)

24. International Journal of Financial Studies (2)

25. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology (1)

26. International Journal of Sport Finance (10)

27. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing (5)

28. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics (14)

29. International Journal of Sports Marketing and Sponsorship (16)

30. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization (1)

31. Journal of Physical Education and Sport Management (1)

32. Journal of Sport Management (3)

33. Journal of Sports Economics (9)

34. Journal of Sports Sciences (1)

35. Loisir et Société / Society and Leisure (1)

36. Management et Organisations du Sport (2)

37. Management and Decision Economics (1)

38. Managing Sport and Leisure (20)

39. Mathematics (1)

40. Movement & Sport Sciences - Science & Motricité (2)

41. Perceptual & Motor Skills (1)

42. Physical Culture and Sport. Studies and Research (1)

43. Plos One (2)

44. Renewable Energy (1)

45. Review of Industrial Organization (1)

46. Revista Iberoamericana de Psicología del Ejercicio y el Deporte (1)

47. Revue d’Economie Politique (1)

48. Revue Economique (1)

49. Revue Européenne de Management du Sport (1)

50. Routledge Resources Online - Sports Studies

51. Sciences Sociales et Sport (2)

52. Scientific Reports (1)

53. Soccer & Society (4)

54. Social Science Quarterly (1)

55. Sociology of Sport Journal (1)

56. South African Journal of Economics (1)

57. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal (13)

58. Sport in Society (2)

59. Sport Management Review (1)

60. Sports (1)

61. Sports Economics Review (1)

62. Staps (3)

63. Sustainability (2)

64. Team Performance Management: An International Journal (1)

65. Technological Forecasting & Social Change (1)

Book Projects (5):

1. Edward Elgar (1)

2. Lexington Books (1, full book)

3. Palgrave Macmillan (1)

4. Peter Lang (1)

5. Routledge (1)

Book Chapters (2):

1. In Pike, E. (2021) (Ed.), Research handbook on sports and society. Cheltenham, UK / Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar.

2. In Dosseville, F., & Laborde, S. (2011) (Eds.), Les facettes de l’arbitrage : Problématiques et recherches actuelles. Paris: Publibook.

Conferences (51 for 7 conferences):

1. European Academy of Management (9, full papers)

2. European Association for Sport Management (19)

3. Football by and for women: State of play and perspectives (2)

4. French Speaking Association of Researchers in Physical and Sporting Activities (ACAPS) (5)

5. French Speaking Learned Society of Sport Management (S2MS) (1)

6. International Society for Sports Sciences in the Arab World (I3SAW) (10)

7. World Association for Sport Management (WASM) (5)

Grants (2):

1. Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme (1)

2. Leverhulme (1)

Prizes from Non-Academic Organisation (3):

PhD (2) & Master dissertation (1) for the Observatory of the Sports Economy, French Ministry of Sports

Reviews for REF Preparation (2):

1. MMU (1, internal)

2. University of Stirling (1, external)

Consultancy and advisory roles

Advisory Panel, Social Return on Investment (SROI), Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

Practitioner roles

N/A

Community, charity and NGO links

N/A

Government and industry links

1. City Football Group / Manchester City FC

2. Observatory of the Sports Economy, French Ministry of Sports

3. International Olympic Committee (IOC)

4. Rugby Football League (RFL)

5. Saudi Sports for All (SFA)

6. Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

Prizes and awards

1. Scelles, N. (2010). 2009 UCPF Research Grand Prix (for PhD).

2. Scelles, N. (2008). 2008 RSPDL (Research & Sport in Pays De la Loire) award (for posted communication at the Conference “Relations between research and sport”).

Other distinctions

N/A

Expert reviewer for external funding bodies

1. Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme

2. Leverhulme

Visiting and honorary positions

Tutor

Executive Master in Sport Organisations Management (MEMOS) in French, Olympic Solidarity, International Olympic Committee (IOC) (since 2012)

Visiting Lecturer

1. Alfa University, Belgrade, Serbia

2. European Business School (EBS), Paris, France

3. Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, Moscow, Russia

4. Qatar Olympic Academy, Doha, Qatar

5. University of Bordeaux, France

6. University of Caen, France

7. University of Paris 10, France

8. University of Paris 11 France

9. University of Rouen, France

10. Waljat College of Applied Sciences, Muscat, Oman

Editorial Board membership

1. Cogent Social Science (Section ‘Sport’)

2. European Sport Management Quarterly

3. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics

4. Management et Organisations du Sport (French journal, Sport Management and Organisations)

5. Managing Sport and Leisure (Associate Editor)

6. Movement & Sport Sciences/Science & Motricité (French journal, Section Editor ‘Social Sciences’)

7. Sport, Business and Management: An International Journal

Membership of professional associations

International Society for Sports Sciences in the Arab World (I3SAW)

Get in touch

0161 247 3949
4.09 Business School

Teaching

Why do I teach?

To share my knowledge of the most updated research, including my own research, and discuss it with students so that we can both learn from each other.

How I’ll teach you

By making you apply concepts and tools to real world problems.

Why study…

Sports business analytics and sports economics are essential to the understanding of the sport sector and the business and economic relationships between its actors. Studying the subjects provides students with a competitive advantage over other job seekers once prospecting for a position in the industry.

Subject areas

Sports Business Analytics

Sports Economics

Supervision

  1. Mastoras, D. (2020/27, in progress). Alternative and complementary medicine and its role in elite sports: Examining the current status, the perspectives and implications for the main stakeholders. Part-time PhD supervised by Valenti, M., Scelles, N. and Peng, Q., MMU (SPU).
  2. Hou, L. (2022/25, in progress). Leveraging the legacies of sport mega-events as a catalyst for mass sport development under the background of “Building a Leading Sporting China”. PhD supervised by Scelles, N. and Peng, Q., MMU (SPU).
  3. Bolonda, M.B. (2021/24, in progress). To what extent social enterprises can help foster sustainable development? Case studies of football social enterprises in D.R. Congo. PhD supervised by Scelles, N. and Peng, Q., MMU (SPU).
  4. Liu, C. (2021/24, in progress). Endurance sports events and city competitiveness. PhD supervised by Peng, Q., Inoue, Y. and Scelles, N., MMU (SPU).
  5. Li, Z. (2021/23, in progress). Business model analysis of China’s esports towns. PhD supervised by Peng, Q. and Scelles, N., MMU (SPU).
  6. Newham, T. (2019/23, completed). Classification of esports events and impact of video game business models on their size. PhD supervised by Scelles, N., Valenti, M. and Grix, J., MMU (SPU). Viva on 23 January 2023, completion on 4 May 2023.
  7. Edwards, D. (2018/23, completed). The making of British professional footballers: Understanding the transition from youth football to youth international representation. Part-time PhD supervised by Brannagan, P. and Scelles, N., MMU (SPU). Viva on 20 February 2023.
  8. Smith, L. (2018/23, completed). Loan transitions in football: A case study of the English Premier League and Championship. PhD supervised by Brannagan, P. and Scelles, N., MMU (SPU). Viva on 12 December 2022, completion on 16 March 2023.
  9. Salomon, G. (2018/22, completed). A cross-national investigation for evaluating gender equity initiatives in the football workplace: A sequential explanatory mixed method design.PhD supervised by Scelles, N., and Valenti, M., MMU (SPU). Viva on 26 October 2021, completion on 23 February 2022.
  10. Valenti, M. (2016/20, completed). Exploring European women’s football from economic and management perspectives. PhD supervised by Morrow, S. and Scelles, N., University of Stirling (Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport). Viva on 16 October 2019, completion on 22 June 2020.
  11. Feuillet, A. (2015/19, completed). Fondements et conséquences de l’action collective entre contributeurs et bénéficiaires : Modalités de génération, de répartition et d’utilisation des revenus dans le sport professionnel / Foundations and consequences of collective action between contributors and beneficiaries: Modalities of revenue generation, sharing and use in professional sport. PhD in French supervised by Durand, C. and Scelles, N., University of Caen Normandie (CesamS EA 4260) / University of Stirling (Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport) then MMU (Sport Policy Unit, SPU). Viva and completion on 25 November 2019.
  12. Viollet, B. (2013/17, completed). Le processus de conception de la politique sportive d’une fédération nationale : Le cas de la Fédération Française de Rugby / Conception process of a national federation sport policy: The case of the French Rugby Union. PhD in French supervised by Ferrand, A. and Scelles, N., Universities of Poitiers (CEREGE EA1722) and Stirling (Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport). Viva and completion on 8June 2017.

Research outputs

My research is mainly but not restricted to the economics of professional football.

My expertise is more specifically on competitive balance and intensity.

Sport economists have worked for a long time on the concept of competitive balance, i.e. the need for teams having close sporting strengths so as to generate uncertainty of outcome and thus fan demand.

Based on an idea initially developed by Kringstad and Gerrard in the 2000s, I have built an alternative concept with competitive intensity which suggests that specific sporting prizes can generate uncertainty of outcome even when there is no competitive balance between teams.

My main focuses are on:

- understanding the determinants and measuring the uncertainty of sporting outcomes in football games / leagues and other sports;

- assessing their impact on fan demand, measured both by stadium attendance and television audience, and club value and solvency;

- reflecting on how sporting organisations can act upon them, e.g. how an organiser can adapt its competition format to generate more uncertainty and thus fan demand.

I have published extensively in international academic journals and am regularly invited speaker in international conferences.