• Other Financial Issues

    How Much Is Chelsea Worth?

    Various numbers have been put forward for the price of buying Chelsea football club, which was put up for sale by Roman Abramovich for £3bn prior to the UK government freezing his assets. Lots of bidders came forwards before the deadline of 19th March 2022, and some were close, but did not match, the quoted asking price. Analysts use a variety of methods to value businesses, so here is an attempt to work out how some of the numbers mentioned in the media would have been calculated. Does that mean that these figures should be relied upon…valuation is part art, part science, and a lot of salesmanship, so always treat…

  • Financial Results

    Brighton 2019/20: Reel around the Fountain

    Introduction Getting to the Premier League is an expensive business as many clubs in the Championship have found out, with operating losses in that division exceeding £600 million pre-Covid. Remaining in the Premier League can also be costly, as Brighton have proven in announcing their 2019/20 financial results. Income All clubs divide their revenue into three categories, matchday, broadcast and commercial. Having matches taking place behind closed doors at the end of the season meant that Brighton’s matchday revenue fell by over a quarter to £13.5 million. Albion make about £1 million per home match, more so against the big teams, and so this meant that they are likely to…

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    Celtic and Rangers Finances 2019/20: The Watchman

    Introduction No one expects football clubs to have had a good 2019/20 financially due to the impact of Covid-19, but now that the two large Glasgow clubs have published their results, just how badly were the finances of Rangers and Celtic affected by the ravages of the pandemic? Every business has been impacted by COVID-19, but can Scottish football survive until hopefully successful vaccinations allow a return to ‘normal’ life? Financial Summary Celtic Rangers £’m £’m Revenue 70.2 59.0 Wages 54.3 43.3 Player amortisation 12.2 7.6 Day to day profit (22.6) (16.3) Profit before tax 0.1 (17.8) Wages/Revenue % 77% 73% Player signings 23.5 11.0 Player sales 19.6 1.1 Net…

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    Project Big Picture: My Coup-a-Choo

    In October 2020 Sam Wallace of The Telegraph revealed ‘Project Big Picture’ (PBP). An attempt by the American owners of Manchester United and Liverpool to radically change the layout and governance of the English game. The project was hailed by some as addressing wealth distribution issues and financial losses made by clubs, especially those in the lower leagues. In truth it was a power grab by people who see football as a business. They see fans as mugs to be patronised, monetized and provide a backdrop that looks good on television when selling broadcasting rights. Under present arrangements there is an approximate three times multiplier in terms of revenue earned…

  • Other Financial Issues

    Manchester United 2019/20: Spoilt Victorian Child

    Key Financial Figures 2019 £’m 2020 £’m Change % Total Revenue 627 509 (18.8%) Matchday Revenue 111 90 (19.0%) Broadcast Revenue 241 140 (41.9%) Commercial Revenue 275 279 1.4% Wages 332 284 (14.5%) Operating profits 44 (13) (130.1%) Player purchases 103 162 56.7% Net debt 198 474 139.3% Losses are to be expected in a Covid-19 world, so it was no surprise to see Manchester United’s financial results take a dip in the year to 30 June 2020. Under New York Stock Exchange rules (where Manchester United’s shares are traded) companies must publish accounts relatively quickly after the year end as it also has to sent out quarterly figures. Keeping…

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    EFL Finances: The Same Deep Waters As You

    The clock is ticking for clubs in the EFL in terms of their ability to financially survive with the effects of Covid-19, money is needed, and quickly too, but who should be putting their hands in pockets…if anyone? How should an industry which has learned nothing from the ITV Digital crash in 2002 and the economic slump created by bankers, accountants and debt rating agencies in 2007 be viewed in terms of its governance and regulation? EFL clubs between them had a total net loss (total revenues less total costs) of £286 million in 2018/19. Calculating profits is tricky though as they often contain one off profits such as stadium…

  • Financial Results

    Crystal Palace 2018/19: Dissidents

    Summary 2018 £’m 2019 £’m Change Revenue 150 155 +3.4% Wages 117 119 +1.7% Operating losses (39) (36) -7.3% Player sale profits 2 46 +1,795% Pre-tax profit/(loss) (38) 5 Squad cost 197 208 +5.3% Borrowings 64 83 +29.4% Introduction Blog updates during a pandemic when we should be doing the day job appear to be the in thing for public sector employees so here’s my look at Crystal Palace’s 2018/19 finances. Only one other club remained to publish their accounts in the Premier League following Palace, and it will come as no surprise that Mike Ashley’s Newcastle are the guilty party here and they hurriedly put theirs out within a…

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    Premier League Club Values 2020

    University of Liverpool Premier League Club Valuations 2020 University of Liverpool Centre for Sports Business Group Executive summary The value of Premier League clubs based on their 2018/19 accounts increased by 1.5% overall to £14.7 billion, with the ‘Big Six’ (Manchester United and City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs) making up £11 billion (75%) of this total (2018: £10.6 billion 73%). Spurs overtook both Manchester clubs at the top of the table on the back of reaching the Champions League final, a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and a wage bill barely half that of Manchester United. Wolves, acquired for £45 million by owners Fosun in 2016/17 is now…

  • Financial Results

    West Ham 2018/19: Flares’n’Slippers

    In January 2020 David Sullivan, West Ham’s controlling shareholder said “Overall, I believe the club’s in a far better state than 10 years ago” so we thought we’d put that to the test with a look at the club’s finances during that period. Decade of success or standing still? The West Ham that Sullivan and Gold acquired from the former Icelandic Bank owners was certainly in crisis, but have their efforts improved the happiness of fans who now attend the rented London Stadium? Rebelling fans know West Ham have just announced their accounts for the year ended 30 June 2019, and like events on the pitch last season, disappoint more than…

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    Premier League Ownership Investment: Love, profit, vanity or insanity?

    Premier League Funding Football clubs can broadly arrange their finances in one of three ways, bank lending, owner loans or shares. In terms of the Premier League all three methods have been used. The following analysis is from the most recent documents filed by clubs at Companies House. Liverpool League leaders Liverpool are owned by the American Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who also own baseball team Boston Red Sox. FSG acquired Liverpool in October 2010 for an estimated £300 million. The club paid off existing loans due to the previous owners of £105 million. Since then FSG have lent the club almost £100 million as well as borrowing £56 million…