• Financial Results

    Aston Villa 2017/18 Finances and FFP: Devil in the Detail

    Introduction Down at Villa Park fans are hopeful that the recent return to the first team of Jack Grealish can cement the club’s playoff position as they have the benefits of the final year of parachute payments. Over the other side of the city rivals Birmingham City have just been docked 9 points as a punishment for a breach of the EFL’s Profitability and Sustainability rules. Championship football is challenging as the clash between those with parachute payments, stalwarts of the division and recently promoted League One teams means that there is a lack of a level playing field between the 24 competing clubs. The reign of Doctor Tony Xia,…

  • Other Financial Issues

    Aston Villa and FFP

        Executive Summary Villa easily satisfied FFP in 2016/17 due to parachute payments and player sales despite spending £88 million on players. They should easily satisfy it in 2017/18 as player trading position reversed and sold more than they bought. Will need major belt tightening in 2018/19 as parachute payments fall from £34m to £15m and FFP loss limit falls from £61m to £39. If you want the long version read on… Introduction There’s nearly as many questions about Financial Fair Play (FFP) these days as there is about Katie Price’s love life, and the answers are usually equally confusing. I’ve been asked to look at Villa’s FFP position,…

  • Financial Results

    Aston Villa: Burning Sky

    Aston Villa 2016/17  Introduction:  Aston Villa Football Club Ltd announced their financial results, which were published in the local newspapers, and fans sighed with relief. The fears that the club was heading into a Financial Fair Play (FFP) meltdown seemed overstated, as the losses of £7 million quoted in the papers appeared to give wiggle room in terms of the £39 million losses allowed over three years. However, there’s a problem, and it’s a sizeable one. Aston Villa Football Club Ltd doesn’t cover all of the activities of Villa, and certain costs, most notably player wages, are excluded from the costs. The accounts being reviewed by media sources and fans…