It was revealed today that Wolves owner/chairman Steve Morgan has something in common with the Queen.
Namely being misrepresented in a television documentary.
In Morgan’s case, it was all to do with ‘Millonaires Mansion’.
The Channel 4 series, screened in September and October, followed Morgan and seven other self-made millionaires as they went out to a remote part of Uganda to try and help the poverty-stricken villagers become more self-sufficient.
The key was to help them to help themselves rather than dish out charity, and while Morgan set about – with villagers’ assistance – trying to set up a water supply the other seven embarked on some potty scheme of building a hotel which would offer future volunteer helpers somewhere to stay.
Daft, Hare-brained. Ridiculous. But of course probably more entertaining telly than the far more sensible and ultimately life-changing notion of fresh and accessible water for 3,500 residents who otherwise faced hours carrying buckets up and down the valley.
So Morgan was then turned into the bad-guy for the purposes of TV, filmed constantly bickering with colleagues and supposedly storming off early.
The reality however, and what wasn’t screened, was somewhat different.
• Not only did Morgan install a water hydrant system to a church, but also to a school as well as concreting all the classrooms.
• After three weeks, Morgan left only 36 hours before the other entrepreneurs, and only because he embarked on a seven-hour drive to meet Uganda’s Minister of Energy and Minister of Water to rubberstamp his water proposals and secure match-funding.
• Morgan worked with volunteer villagers who weren’t paid for their efforts unlike those working with the other entrepreneurs. At one stage they downed tools when discovering the others were being paid, but came ‘back to work’ after a Morgan speech reminded them of the importance of the project.
• Morgan has since continued the scheme at his own expense and by Christmas it should all be finished with reservoirs, a major storage scheme and 13km of water main all in place.
As a first viewing of their new owner/chairman in all his glory, Wolves fans were therefore given a completely wrong impression.
While undoubtedly an astute and ruthless businessman, this wasn’t an accurate portrayal.
And Morgan even revealed he considered suing, only deciding against because he was told the chances of winning were slim.
So yes, not only has Wolves owner received an MBE from Her Royal Highness, he’s also been ‘stitched up’.
Keeps some illustrious company does Steve Morgan!