David Owen: Will the big clubs live to regret their growing remoteness from local fans?
One of the hallmarks of Big Football over the past 30 years is how remote mega-clubs have got from supporters.
Finance
Saints accounts reveal jump in directors’ pay
By David Owen
April 14 – Directors’ remuneration at Southampton almost doubled last season, as the south-coast club ran up a pre-tax loss of £41 million.
Footy.com price comparison site raises £1.6m for global expansion
April 8 – A football merchandise price comparison website based in the north-east of England has secured a £1.625 million round of investment to fund its global expansion plans.
Bundesliga explores option of turning to capital markets to raise $300m
April 3 – The Bundesliga is reportedly looking at private equity firms to raise finance of up to $330 million to help cashflow the league and its clubs through the Covid-19 crisis.
Coronavirus: Player transfer market could lose €9bn+ of value, says report
April 2 – The value of player transfer market will fall 28% if no more matches are played and no player contracts renewed until June 30, according to an analysis by the CIES Football Observatory.
FIFA plans fund to help keep football industry financially fuelled during Covid-19 crisis
April 1 – FIFA is to set up an emergency fund to assist the football industry amid growing fears that the coronavirus crisis will bring the sport to its knees.
Burnley profit burnishes reputation as a well-run club
By David Owen
April 1 – Burnley, the small Premier League outfit from Lancashire with a reputation as one of the best-run clubs in the business, managed to remain narrowly in profit last year in a season featuring its first European campaign for more than half a century.
Low wage bill spurs Tottenham’s stand-out £87m profit
By David Owen
March 31 – Tottenham Hotspur look to have posted a pre-tax profit more than twice as big as any Premier League rival for the 2018-19 season which saw the North London club reach the Champions League final.
French league short of cash as broadcasters say they will withhold rights fees
March 31 – French football is staring down the financial barrel as domestic broadcaster Canal Plus, a long-time rights holder of Ligue 1, is holding up the release of a scheduled €110 million payment.
Flamengo seek Copa Libertadores advance to smooth out cashflow
March 27 – Flamengo are chasing an upfront payment of the €1.6 million the Brazilians are entitled to for their participation in the group phase of the Copa Libertadores as they move to bolster their cash flow.
Bundesliga solidarity: Germany’s CL clubs share €20m of UEFA TV money
March 27 – As the English Premier League ponders whether to restart the season at some point, Germany’s top clubs have a more pressing priority – donating €20 million as a gesture to struggling cash-strapped teams lower down.
Huddersfield accounts reveal three-tranche loan repayment arrangement
By David Owen
March 27 – Huddersfield Town managed to remain narrowly in profit during its second and, for now, final season in the Premier League. The Yorkshire club posted a pre-tax profit of £3.9 million for the year to end-June 2019, down from £29.7 million the previous year.
Man Utd extend season ticket renewal deadline as club refund policies start to bite into cash
March 27 – Manchester United has suspended its season ticket renewal deadline until a new date for the 2020/21 season is confirmed, while at the same time saying it will refund existing tickets pro-rata for any games that are either un-played or played behind closed doors.
Spanish FA opens up €500m credit line to clubs in LaLiga’s top two divisions
By Samindra Kunti
March 26 – The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)has announced a €500 million support plan for Spanish clubs to help with the impending financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
EFL’s £50m rescue package will only provide respite until end April, says report
By Paul Nicholson
March 26 – The £50 million relief package the English Football League will only stretch until the end of April, according to a research report by the University Campus of Football Business (UCFB).