The Political Economy of Football, a service to fans, journalists, students and others interested in the business side of football - soccer http://www.footballeconomy.com/ en-gb Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:04:00 GMT Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:04:00 GMT contact@footballeconomy.com Sport I am not referring here to the prospect of Sheffield Wednesday being relegated: as a Championship team supporter, I hope that doesn't happen as I find Hillsborough one of the most atmospheric grounds in the country (always bearing in mind the sad events that happened there). Supporters' group Wednesdayite are convinced takeover talks... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Fri, 25 Apr 2008 10:02:14 +0000 The cost of securing promotion from the Championship is reflected in Swansea City's latest accounts... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:02:14 +0000 The Champions League fixture between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield may be overshadowed by the latest development in the battle for control of the Merseyside club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:02:14 +0000 That is the question posed by the Financial Times yesterday in an article on the Lancashire side's struggle against relegation from the Premiership which was boosted by an away win at Middlesbrough. The Pink 'Un is not particularly having a go at Bolton, but raising more general questions about modern football... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:02:14 +0000 Some newspapers have published complicated diagrams in the last week showing who is out with whom - or still in with whom - at Liverpool Football Club. However, fans probably don't need to consult them for another flare up of the bad feeling between co-owner Tom Hicks and chief executive Rick Parry... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:02:14 +0000 Wrexham face likely relegation from the Football League. This would leave only two Welsh clubs in the Football League, cup finalists Cardiff City and Swansea City who are likely to join them in the Championship next year... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Wed, 09 Apr 2008 10:02:14 +0000 Eleven British football clubs floated on the Stock Exchange's main market or on Aim between June 1996 and August 1997 in the wake of the television agreement with Rupert Murdoch's Sky. Today, there are no clubs left on the main board, with just seven on Aim and two on Plus Markets... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Mon, 07 Apr 2008 10:02:14 +0000 Two pieces of recent news raise the broader question of who can reasonably aspire to league status. Kettering Town have now won the Blue Square North and will be promoted to the Conference next season. Worcester City are mid-table in the Blue Square North but have finally sold their ground... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:02:14 +0000 Former Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe has launched a bid to regain control of the relegation threatened club which is likely to succeed... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sat, 05 Apr 2008 10:02:14 +0000 From the end of this year new signings from outside the EU will have to sit an English test to qualify for a work permit. What is more so will their wives and girl friends... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Mon, 31 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Spurs fell to a loss in the second half of last year, thanks in part to the decision to change its management earlier this season. The club paid £4m to previous coach Martin Jol when he was replaced in October... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Spurs fell to a loss in the second half of last year, thanks in part to the decision to change its management earlier this season. The club paid £4m to previous coach Martin Jol when he was replaced in October... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has admitted what has been widely known for some time: relations with his business partner Tom Hicks are now 'unworkable'... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 It's not what usually happens to mid-table Championship teams, but Queen's Park Rangers have concluded a £20m kit supplier deal with Lotto Sport Italia... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 This was the central question posed in a recent Radio 5 programme. One argument advanced was that only one division could really be sustained outside the Premiership if one was looking at normal commercial considerations... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Hearts' accounts for the year ending July 2007 are expected to report debts in the region of £38m, a 30 per cent increase in just 12 months that effectively means the Tynecastle outfit owes more than Celtic and Rangers combined... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Would-be owner of relegation threatened League 2 Mansfield, James Derry, has taken effective control of the club. However, his consortium has yet to officially sign a deal to complete the buyout from Keith Haslam... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 23 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 The Murdoch media group has begun a broadcasting rights battle that could bring it into conflict with its main Italian rival Mediaset, owned by the family of former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 AFC Wimbledon chairman Erik Samuelson admits the club has spent big this season in a bid win to promotion from the Ryman Premier Division. The Dons' accounts show the club has paid £85,000 more on wages and transfer fees in the six months leading up to December 31 2007 than in the first half of last year - a period which coincided with manager Terry Brown's arrival at the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Rotherham United are the second Yorkshire club in a week to go into administration. It is the second time in 18 months that the Millers have been in administration... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Conference outfit Halifax Town have gone into administration for the second time in six years. The decision to enter administration was taken after former chairman Ray Moreland issued a winding-up petition against the club over an unpaid debt... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 One of the features of modern football is fans travelling up and down the motorway network to reach games. This has boosted away attendances. Fifty years ago going to an away game either meant a trip or on a... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sat, 15 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 There have been a number of false alarms about possible takeovers of former Premiership club Southampton. However, a bid is about to be launched by a consortium headed by barrister and Southampton fan Jonathon Fulthorpe... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 A top Ugandan side cannot raise sh35m [£10,183] for the opening away match of the Super League against Kinshasa's ASV Club in the neighbouring D.R. Congo. Express FC, known as the The Red Eagles, are... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Dubai International Capital (DIC) has agreed a deal with Liverpool co-owner George Gillett to buy 98 per cent of his stake in the club, 49 per cent of the company... http://www.footballeconomy.com Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 American businessman Tom Hicks may attempt to buy out co-owner George Gillett as the battle for Liverpool Football Club intensifies... http://www.footballeconomy.com Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Newcastle United's accounts have revealed that billionaire owner Mike Ashley had to plough £75m into the club to keep it afloat when he took over... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:02:14 +0000 The organisers of ShareLiverpoolFC have taken the idea of turning Liverpool Football Club into a membership organisation off the drawing board by announcing the formation of a high-powered Steering Group... http://www.footballeconomy.com Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Keeping a semi-professional non-league club going costs money: not the sums required to fund a league club, but still quite substantial sums for an individual to find. Non-league clubs face a particular challenge if they live in the shadow of a league club... http://www.footballeconomy.com Wed, 27 Feb 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Rumours that Liverpool Football Club may soon have new owners in the form of Dubai International Capital (DIC) continue to circulate despite a robust denial by co-owner Tom Hicks that he intends to sell... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:02:14 +0000 Has the fairy tale at Scottish borders club Gretna come to an end with the indifferent health of their benefactor Brooks Mileson... http://www.footballeconomy.com Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:02:14 +0000 The Premiership remains defiant over its controversial proposal to introduce an 'international round' of fixtures, despite being told by the FA board that the plan is not sustainable in its present format... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:02:14 +0000 After Celtic reported good financial results last week, Scotland's other Old Firm club, Rangers, has also reported good financial news... http://www.footballeconomy.com Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:02:14 +0000 League Two Rotherham could be the third Football League to go into administration this season unless a major injection of cash is secured... http://www.footballeconomy.com Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:02:14 +0000 One of the richest businessmen in Vietnam has declared an interest in buying a big stake in Arsenal. Doan Nguyen Doc, chairman of the Hoang Anh Gai Lai club (HAGL) has said that he wants to buy a 20 per cent stake... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:02:14 +0000 Everyone has been piling in during the past week to condemn the Premiership's plan to play one extra game abroad each season. Mohamed bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation - where some of the most lucrative markets are located - opposed the idea, saying that... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:02:14 +0000 Celtic's interim financial results for the six months to December 2007 show them to be in robust financial health. Qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League for the second successive season helped to give the club an operating profit of... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 17 Feb 2008 16:02:14 +0000 Following the end of any talks on a possible takeover, Charlton Athletic has announced that it is seeking approval from shareholders to raise up to £20m through the issue of a new convertible bond... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sat, 16 Feb 2008 16:02:14 +0000 Manchester United have climbed two places in the latest Football Money League from Deloitte which has ranked the 20 biggest clubs in the world based on information for the 2006/7 season... http://www.footballeconomy.com Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:02:14 +0000 South London club Crystal Palace are trying to sell their Selhurst Park stadium for £12.5m as a development opportunity... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:02:14 +0000 It is a sign of political progress in Ireland that an all island football league can be contemplated, but not everyone is happy from a footballing point of view... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Mon, 11 Feb 2008 19:02:14 +0000 The Premiership's scheme to play additional matches outside the UK has caused considerable controversy. Ten extra games would be played at five different venues, with cities bidding for the right to stage them... http://www.footballeconomy.com Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:02:14 +0000 £50m was the headline figure quoted as the sum available to launch Derby County as 'a global brand', but some unanswered questions remain about the deal. It is unclear who actually owns the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:02:14 +0000 Can the plan of the Share Liverpool FC Group to buy the club from its American owners work? It has already been welcomed by culture, media and sports secretary Andy Burnham who called the plan, headed up by football academic Rogan Taylor, 'a fascinating development'... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 03 Feb 2008 19:02:14 +0000 It was claimed that the recent refinancing deal at Liverpool kept the greater part of the resultant debt away from the club, but the reality is a little more complicated... http://www.footballeconomy.com Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:02:14 +0000 Derby have named their new owners as the American-based General Sports and Entertainment group.... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:02:14 +0000 The US owners of Liverpool have completed its long-awaited refinancing, securing a £350m loan from Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:02:14 +0000 The latest set of Dundee United accounts for the year to June 2007 showed that turnover was down for the second year running, but so was the club's operating loss... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:02:14 +0000 On a day in which they were overtaken in the Premiership table by rivals Everton, Liverpool fans must be hoping that the uncertainty surrounding the future ownership of the club will be resolved sooner rather than later... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 20 Jan 2008 19:02:14 +0000 Manchester United is keen to correct the impression that it has slipped down the table of football's money league arguing that recent analyses of its own data and that of its rivals do not compare like with like... http://www.footballeconomy.com Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:02:14 +0000 British-Iranian business tycoon Kia Joorabchian is reportedly involved in a £50m consortium hoping to take over Southampton... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:02:14 +0000 Luton manager Kevin Blackwell has suggested that the football authorities may want to reduce the number of clubs. Of course, in any other industry exit and merger is a normal mechanism, but football clubs are different because... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 06 Jan 2008 11:02:14 +0000 Sir Alex Ferguson has revived the 'prawn sandwich' debate by complaining about the lack of noise from the fans in the game against Birmingham City. Perhaps the pricing structure at Old Trafford reflects the club's search for... http://www.footballeconomy.com Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:02:14 +0000 Sheffield Wednesday manager Brian Laws made it clear in a Sky television interview last Friday that he thinks that the financial uncertainity at the club is undermining its performance on the pitch... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 30 Dec 2007 11:02:14 +0000 Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and Goerge Gillett have told friends that they have no 'interest whatsoever' in selling the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:02:14 +0000 Birmingham City chairman David Gold has labelled the takeover bid for the club by Hong Kong based Carson Yeung 'dead in the water'... http://www.footballeconomy.com Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:02:14 +0000 The credit crunch appears to be having some impact on Liverpool's plans for a new stadium at Stanley Park... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:02:14 +0000 Although they got their first home victory since March yesterday, League 1 club Bournemouth continue to be beset by financial troubles... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:02:14 +0000 With Thursday's insolvency deadline looming, a Greek billionaire businessman may step in to save Coventry City... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:02:14 +0000 Birmingham City's latest accounts show the costs of their spell in the Championship... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:02:14 +0000 Coventry City, £38m in debt and restricted by a transfer embargo, have taken a calculated risk by filing a court notice to go into administration in the hope that a proposed takeover will be completed in the meantime... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:02:14 +0000 The tensions at Liverpool between manager Rafael Benitez, the American owners and the fans are important for the future of a major club, but they also raise broader issues... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:02:14 +0000 The average annual salary of a footballer in England's top flight has broken through the £1m ceiling for the first time... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:02:14 +0000 England's ability to secure a draw with Croatia on Wednesday and qualify for the European Championships has big commercial implications... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:02:14 +0000 The gap between the rich and poor of English football continues to widen as the top clubs attract the largest sponsorship contracts... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:02:14 +0000 David Beckham is looking for two new big sponsorships as the England footballer's earnings from endorsements tumbled by 28 per cent to £11.1m last year... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:02:14 +0000 When Arsenal football club decided last summer to raise finance by using ticket receipts to issue bonds, it created a new fanbase for itself in the City of London... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:02:14 +0000 Former Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has been pitched into a legal battle that could force his new club, Cardiff City, into administration... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 18 Nov 2007 11:02:14 +0000 Fans' community website MyFootballClub has agreed a deal to take over Blue Square Premier outfit Ebbsfleet United (formerly Gravesend and Northfleet) with the 20,000 MyFootballClub members each paying £35 to provide a £700,000 takeover pot... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 13 Nov 2007 11:02:14 +0000 The debate concerning the quota on foreign players within domestic competitions continues to stoke the fire of potential litigation between UEFA and the European Union institutions, writes law postgraduate Duncan McHardy in a special article for The Political Economy of Football... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:02:14 +0000 The Football Rich List compiled by Four Four Two magazine reveals that only 14 players are among the 100 most wealthy people in the sport... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:02:14 +0000 Chelsea are challenging Europe's top clubs on the balance sheet despite their failure to win the Champions League. Figures to be released in January are expected to show that the club's annual turnover has risen to... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:02:14 +0000 The BBC will screen live Coca-Cola Championship matches for the first time as part of a deal that will double the Football League's income from broadcast rights... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:02:14 +0000 A key element in the quest by Spurs to restore its top club status is the search for a new stadium. Chairman Daniel Levy has asked architects to draw up plans for a new 50,000 seater stadium... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:02:14 +0000 Figures from African television network GTV suggest that Arsenal is Africa's most popular club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 11 Nov 2007 21:02:14 +0000 Brazil has been confirmed as host for the 2014 World Cup. It was the only candidate to host the competition that under Fifa's rotation system was due to take place in South America... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Mon, 05 Nov 2007 21:02:14 +0000 England could play host to the World Cup in 2018 after Fifa abandoned its policy of rotating the staging of the finals through its six confederations. Without this rule change England would have had to wait until the 2030 tournament... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:02:14 +0000 Sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe is refusing to withdraw comments about players' wages and ticket prices despite admitting that he got some of his figures wrong and attracting criticism from both Chelsea and Manchester United... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Ipswich Town's chances of regaining their Premiership status have been considerably boosted by the news that businessman Marcus Evans is prepared to put £44m into the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Southampton could be forced into a fire sale of players in the January transfer window to cut costs and generate working capital if takeover talks remain deadlocked... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:02:14 +0000 A takeover of Coventry City is thought to be imminent as pressure grows on the directors to make a decision on two takeover bids for the debt ridden club. Rival bids for the club and the Ricoh Arena, which the club currently rents for £1m a year, have been tabled... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 04 Nov 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Nike's £285m bid for Umbro, a 61 per cent premium to last week's share price, shows how much value the largest sportswear company in the world attaches to the white England shirt... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 28 Oct 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Arsenal's board have received a big boost in their battle to keep control of the club. American sports magnate Stan Kroenke is ready to align himself with the board... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 28 Oct 2007 20:02:14 +0000 The board of Southampton Leisure, owner of Southampton Football Club, has accepted a bid from a UK investment company valued at about £40m for a majority stake in the business... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 28 Oct 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Coventry City have been subjected to a Football League transfer embargo. It was imposed after the Sky Blues reportedly failed to meet instalment payments... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:02:14 +0000 It may look as if a new 'lock down' agreement for leading shareholders has finally secured the future of Arsenal as the only British owned top four club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 21 Oct 2007 20:02:14 +0000 A study by International Marketing Reports suggests that some clubs could boost their sponsorship income. The author of the report, Simon Rines, believes that the polarity emerging in sponsorship fees is not necessarily justified in terms of what is delivered... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:02:14 +0000 A study by International Marketing Reports suggests that some clubs could boost their sponsorship income. The author of the report, Simon Rines, believes that the polarity emerging in sponsorship fees is not necessarily justified in terms of what is delivered... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:02:14 +0000 England's defeat in Russia gave shareholders in Umbro cause for gloom as the prospect of selling millions of England shirts in the 2008 European tournament slipped away. It was an event that should have sent Umbro's share price lower. But news that Nike was waiting in the wings to buy the replica kit manufacturer soon sent the shares... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:02:14 +0000 As takeover speculation continues, Spurs has raised the prospect of leaving White Hart Lane for a new stadium in North London, saying that it had identified a limited number of potential sites. Chief executive Daniel Levy said that the club would commit to one option... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Despite their commercial success with the Rugby World Cup, ITV may lose out if England fail to qualify for the European chairmanships. Since he became executive chairman in January, Charlton director Michael Grade has made ITV a more aggressive bidder for sports rights. The European championship rights were secured in June for an undisclosed sum and billed as a highlight of ITV's 2008 schedule. The prospect that England may fail to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals casts doubt on the value of the rights. ITV sealed a joint deal with the BBC to share live UK television and television rights to all 32 matches at the tournament in Austria and Switzerland in June 2008... http://www.footballeconomy.com/ Sun, 21 Oct 2007 14:02:14 +0000 The latest report from Casual Auditores Independentes on the financial situation of Brazilian football makes a convincing case for more investment by clubs in marketing and development if they want to halt the annual player exodus to Europe and grow their own internal market... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Thu, 18 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 The return of 81-year old Leo Kirch to the German football rights market after a spectacular business failure has not been greeted with universal enthusiasm... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 'Doing the pools' was once an integral part of working class life in Britain. Each week the 'coupons' would be completed around the country in the hope of winning a jackpot. 750,000 people still take part each week... http://www.footballeconomy.com Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Bollywood has teamed up with Manchester United in an effort to enable football to break through into the lucrative Indian market. The Hindi film industry has shot a film at Old Trafford Dhan Dhana Dhan ... Goal featuring two leading stars... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 The Football League has withheld parachute payments of £130,000 from Blue Square North side Boston United following the Pilgrims' relegation on the final day of last season... http://www.footballeconomy.com Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Football agents have threatened to sue the Football Association unless it waters down new regulations aimed at eliminating corruption from the game... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 14 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Wigan Athletic chief executive Brenda Spencer says the club's hands were tied over 'unfair' police charges which left the club with a £293,000 bill... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 14 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Bury face a continual struggle to survive. It's not easy to be a League 2 club when you can see Manchester city centre in the distance... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 14 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 The fate of Coventry City now lies in the hands of its main creditor, the Co-operative Bank. It is understood that £18m of the club's £38m debts are owed to the bank... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 A row has broken out between two media companies that claim the broadcasting rights to the Spanish premier league, La Liga. Sogecable, a listed media group that owns the rights to 12 of the 20 first division teams, says it will block rival Imagina, which owns the rights to the eight remaining teams, from entering stadiums to transmit... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 A charm offensive by Russian billonaire Alisher Usmanov designed to win over the Arsenal board and fans seems to have backfired. He aimed to convince fans and directors that he is a passionate fan of the club and not a destabilising influence... http://www.footballeconomy.com Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Mansfield Town are not one of the most glamorous clubs in English football, but their fans have an intense loyalty to the side. Managing director Keith Haslam has been in charge for 14 years... http://www.footballeconomy.com Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Given its size and relative prosperity - it is home of the famous 'Worcester Woman' median voter - it is perhaps surprising that Worcester does not support a conference or even a Football League club... http://www.footballeconomy.com Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Historic Northwich Victoria who once played in the Football League are just two weeks from possible extinction... http://www.footballeconomy.com Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Former Coventry City managing director Paul Fletcher has stated that his resignation was due to the failure of the proposed takeover of the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 One might think that all Marxist intellectuals had by now gone into retirement or were making money on the stock exchange. However, 90-year old Eric Hobsbawm keeps going and is certainly one of the most distinguished Marxist historians. One doesn't have to agree with his position to accept that what he has to say might be of some interest. His latest book Globalisation, Democracy and Terrorism (certainly a title that embodies three trigger words) has a section on football... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 A survey by BBDO consulting has calculated the 'brand value' of Europe's football clubs and the top two places have been taken by Spain... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Spurs celebrated their 125th anniversary this week amid renewed suspicions that the club is being 'fattened up' ready for sale... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Fifa president Sepp Blatter is ready to challenge the European Union to get a quota for foreign players within European teams. He wants clubs to be limited to five foreigners in their starting eleven to allow homegrown talent to flourish... http://www.footballeconomy.com Fri, 05 Oct 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Arsenal has indicated that it would be prepared to meet Red and White Holdings, the takoever vehicle of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. This is in spite of the club's line that it is so successful that it does not need an external injection of capital... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 The Premiership wants a shake-up of copyright law amid concerns that the government needs to do more to protect the increasingly valuable media rights that football's top flight is attracting... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 There is plenty of complaining about the way in which football has been commercialised, but it is rare for someone to make a robust defence of business involvement in the game. Premiership chief executive Richard Scudamore has done so in response to a letter from Uefa boss Michel Platini to European heads of government... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 One of the surprises of the third round of the Carling Cup was the defeat of Manchester United at Old Trafford by Coventry City, perhaps proving that you can't win anything with kids. There was also apparently a record league cup attendance of 74,055 to see United's youngsters get turned over by their Championship opponents. But this figure had no relationship to who was actually in the stadium... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 The university town of Cambridge is in the unusual position of having two non-league teams: City and United. (Other towns in this position include Bath and Eastbourne which has three non-league clubs). Only United have been in the league. Their origins are in the semi-professional game , while City were in the 'amateur' competitions when they existed... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Takeovers don't just happen at the top level of football and the consortium hoping to take over Conference side Halifax Town look like they are nearing their goal... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 30 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, to lose one sponsor looks like misfortune, to lose two looks like carelessness. Charlton Athletic took a hit when retail group all:sports foundered. Now their current sponsors, Valencian real estate group Llanera, are in trouble... http://www.footballeconomy.com Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 In all clubs managers come and managers go, in some clubs more often than others. Jose Mourinho was a manager at Chelsea for a much shorter period of time than Arsene Wenger at Arsenal or Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. Nevertheless, his impact on the game was considerable... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Arsenal's board is understood to be preparing further talks with US billionaire Stan Kroenke who holds 12.2 per cent of the club's shares, amid worries about the size of the stake being built up by Russian metals magnate Alisher Usmanov... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Coventry City's Ricoh stadium is superb with its hotel and conference facilities and a great improvement on their former home. However, it has not resolved their financial position... http://www.footballeconomy.com Sun, 23 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Arsenal's biggest shareholder diamond merchant Danny Fiszman has said that he has no intention of selling his 24.11 per cent shareholding... http://www.footballeconomy.com Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 English football transfer fees rose by two-thirds over the summer, setting a new record of more than £500m compared with the £300m spent in the summer of 2006 according to research by Deloitte's Sport Business Group... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_sep_06.htm Sun, 09 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Europe's top leagues have spent £1bn on transfers over three months in the summer, half of that sum involving the English Premiership... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 09 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 The interest of American sports franchise owner Stan Kroenke in making a bid for Arsenal may be cooling. Although he owns 12 per cent of the club, his move to acquire half the broadband broadcasting rights from ITV seems to have stalled... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_sep_05.htm Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 A rise in the number of people playing five-a-side football sent profits shooting up at Goals Soccer Centres... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_sep_04.htm Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Sportswear brand Umbro has cut sharply its 2008 profit target on fears that retailers such as Mike Ashley's Sports Direct will order fewer England football shirts... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_sep_03.htm Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Sir Alex Ferguson believes that, when it comes to winning hearts and minds among the American sporting public after his recent move to the Los Angeles Galaxy, David Beckham faces what his new celebrity friend Tom Cruise may recognise as Mission: Impossible... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 We've just updated the European leagues spectator statistics for 2006/07 and the effect of the Moggi scandal on the Italian Serie A match attendances has been to drop the overall average below that of the French Ligue 1. Fifteen years ago Serie A was the most popular European league as measured by average attendances so its drop to 5th place speaks of major structural problems, despite the continued success of clubs in the Champions League and the national team in the World Cup recently passed. http://www.footballeconomy.com/stats/stats_att_14.htm Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 A hostile takeover is a real possibility at Arsenal FC after David Dein sold his shares to a new investment company, of which he has been made chairman, and declared his intention of playing an active role in shaping the club's future... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_sep_02.htm Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Formula One chiefs Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore have confirmed their £20m offer for debt-saddled Championship club Queens Park Rangers... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_sep_01.htm Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:02:14 +0000 It has been a confused week at Spurs, with the position of head coach Martin Jol being called publicly into question... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_aug_09.htm Tue, 28 Aug 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Covering all the major clubs and including expert comment from the analysts you can see a summary of their findings here... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Two months after he assumed control, Mike Ashley, the billionaire owner of Newcastle, is discussing a sale to an Icelandic entrepreneur... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_aug_08.htm Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:02:14 +0000 It is often stated that football clubs these days are run like businesses. But writing in the Financial Times Simon Kuper argues that they are not businesslike enough... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_aug_07.htm Sun, 19 Aug 2007 16:02:14 +0000 West Ham United are prepared to mount a 'vigorous defence' against an unprecedented multimillion pound compensation proceeding brought against them by Sheffield United... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_aug_06.htm Sun, 19 Aug 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Charlton Athletic has hired City football specialists Seymour Pierce to advise it on funding options, including a possible share issue or even a sale of the Championship side... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_aug_05.htm Thu, 16 Aug 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Cardiff City's main financial backers have initiated legal proceedings against the club over claims that they have not repaid more than £30m in debts... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_aug_04.htm Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:02:14 +0000 New stadiums are driving an average 66 per cent increase in football clubs' turnover in their first season at their new homes according to research by Deloitte's Sport Business Group... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_aug_03.htm Tue, 14 Aug 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Arsenal are valued at £432m, but a possible bidding battle between Bernie Ecclestone and Stan Kroenke could push the price up to nearer the £790m the Glazers paid for Manchester United... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_aug_02.htm Sun, 12 Aug 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Flavio Briatore, the Italian principal at the Renault Formula One team, is in takeover talks with Queens Park Rangers... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_aug_01.htm Sun, 12 Aug 2007 14:02:14 +0000 The following tables of the top eight player transfers by price show relative spending over the summer break between two of Europe's most important football leagues... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sat, 11 Aug 2007 14:02:14 +0000 A leading human rights group has written to the Premier League to challenge the right of ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to own Manchester City... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_21.htm Tue, 31 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Iraq's 1-0 victory over Saudia Arabia in the Asian Cup final brought a rare taste of joy to the war-torn country. The team is made up of Shia, Sunni and Kurds... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Mon, 30 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 A new five-year deal signed by Chelsea and England captain John Terry has made him England's highest paid player. He has doubled his earnings to £135,000 a week... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_20.htm Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Football League clubs spent £8.6m on agents in 2006/7 compared with £7.7m in 2005/6, but during the past six months spending has been cut... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_19.htm Sun, 29 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 US based property tycoon Daniel Williams is expected to decide before the end of the week whether he will press ahead with a £50m takeover of Blackburn Rovers... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_17.htm Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Brighton and Hove Albion have been given approval to build a new 22,000-seater stadium in Falmer... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_18.htm Tue, 24 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone may make a bid for Arsenal. Although he is a regular guest at Stamford Bridge, he has no track record in football. The deal seems to have arisen from the romance between Ecclestone's daughter Tamara and ... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_15.htm Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 American investor William Chang has been engaged in discussions with senior Premier League figures as he looks for an English club to buy... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_17.htm Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Many top Premiership footballers are paying lower rates of tax than the supporters who watch them by making use of a tax loophole. Players and managers are declaring themselve non-domiciled or claiming non-resident status ... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_16.htm Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 It has been a commonplace of recent commentary that the skids are under Arsenal on and off the pitch. Since the prospect was raised of a takover by the American sports tycoon Stan Kroenke and the subsequent departure of influential vice-chairman David Dein... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_15.htm Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 The dream (or nightmare) of a real club in which fans make all the decisions is not far off fruition. Will Brooks' website myfootballclub.co.uk is not far off raising the £1.375m it needs to buy a football club which the members will run... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_14.htm Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Non-league teams at the top of the pyramid are hoping for an income boost from the new television deal with Setanta... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_13.htm Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Setanta have announced a deal for Virgin Media to carry content from six of its channels, including 46 live English Premireship games, on its cable network... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_12.htm Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:02:14 +0000 Everton have revealed their designs for their planned 50,000 all-seater stadium in Kirkby, four miles from Goodison Park... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_11.htm Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:02:14 +0000 The Economic Crime Unit of the City of London Police has raided three football clubs as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in football... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_10.htm Mon, 16 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Foreign markets are becoming even more essential to the economics of English football. It is estimated that Manchester United have 41m supporters in Asia, including 23m in China... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_09.htm Sun, 15 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 The European Union's first comprehensive white paper on sports has taken a middle line between the demands of football and the concerns of its competition directorate... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 15 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Chelsea have become the 'official professional soccer club of the Walt Disney company'. Although this has led to the inevitable jokes about them being a Mickey Mouse outfit, in fact it is part of a clever strategy to market them globally... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_08.htm Sun, 15 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Liverpool are hoping to challenge for the Premiership title in the coming season, but there has not been quite the mass injection of funds for players that was hinted at when the new owners took over... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_07.htm Sun, 15 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Reports have claimed that the state owned Dubai International Capital, the overseas investment arm of Dubai Holdings, have been holding talks about a possible takeover with Southampton FC... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_04.htm Fri, 13 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 The administrators of Leeds United, KPMG, has opened up the sale of the club to the highest bidder, leaving Ken Bates with a fight on his hand to retain control... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_06.htm Sun, 08 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 An arbitration panel has dismissed an appeal by Sheffield United over the Premier League's decision not to dock West Ham points over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_05.htm Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Supporters' trusts are often seen as the way out when clubs have run into financial difficulty. The club can be taken back into the control of the community rather than being operated for the benefit of business investors. However, a football club has to be run on business lives if it is to survive and succeed... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_03.htm Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Football clubs and gambling companies are predicting a black market in children's replica shirts after the gambling industry reluctantly bowed to government pressure and agreed not to allow their logos on the junior kits of the clubs they sponsor... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_02.htm Sun, 01 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 A deal to allow Ken Bates regain control of Leeds United may face a legal challenge within days... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jul_01.htm Sun, 01 Jul 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is expected next week to gain the 75 per cent shareholding he needs to win control of Manchester City... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_12.htm Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 The European Commission is refusing to give way to pressure to grant football a special exemption from EU competition law and free movement rules... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 24 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Birmingham may claim to be England's 'Second City', but newly promoted Birmingham City are far from being one of the glamorous clubs in the Premiership... hthttp://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_13.htm Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Lord Stevens' report into an alleged 'bung' culture in the English Premiership has listed 17 problematic transfers involving 15 football agents and five clubs... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_11.htm Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 An unidentified American investor has expressed an interest in taking over Blackburn Rovers football club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_10.htm Thu, 14 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Paul Duffen, a former chief executive of Catalyst Media and a shareholder in bookmakers SIS, heads a southern-based consortium who have bought chairman Adam Pearson's entire stake in Hull City... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_09.htm Tue, 12 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Manchester City are seeking an explanation from Thakisn Shinawatra following reports from Thailand that his bank accounts have been frozen... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_08.htm Mon, 11 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Birmingham City could become the eighth foreign owned club in the Premiership (counting Sunderland's Irish owners). Reports suggest that the club's owners have agreed to sell... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_07.htm Sun, 10 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Some financial advisers are now predicting that all twenty Premiership clubs will be under new ownership before the end of the year... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_06.htm Sun, 10 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador have been told by Fifa that they can no longer stage international matches in their capitals. Football's governing body has imposed a ban on international games being played above altitudes of 2,500 metres... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 10 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 The Euro 2012 championship is to be held in Poland and Ukraine. But at the moment Warsaw's Dziesiesciolecie soccer stadium, the venue that will be the centrepiece of the tournament in Poland, is Europe's largest flea market... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 10 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Scarborough are set to go into liquidation on Tuesday, to be replaced by a new club four steps lower down the non-league pyramid in the Northern Counties East League... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_05.htm Sun, 10 Jun 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Sir Alan Sugar is to sell his remaining 12 per cent stake in Tottenham Hotspur to majority shareholder Enic for £25m, thus ending his 16-year association with the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_04.htm Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Reclusive sports wear billionaire Mike Ashley is poised to take control of Newcastle United... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_03.htm Thu, 07 Jun 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Uefa president Michel Platini has called for eighteen top European football clubs to disband their G14 organisation and work through a new organisation he plans to set up within Uefa... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Tue, 05 Jun 2007 16:02:14 +0000 The meeting of Leeds United creditors is to re-convene on Monday to conduct a recount after the Ken Bates takeover won approval by a whisker... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_02.htm Sun, 03 Jun 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Championship clubs' revenues grew by about 4 per cent to reach a new high of £318m in 2005/6, an average of £13m per club (although this is the same as the anticipated profit figure for the average Premiership club in 2007/08)... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_01.htm Sat, 02 Jun 2007 16:02:14 +0000 The European football market grew to €12.6 billion in 2005, a €1 billion increase on the previous year according to the latest Annual Review of Football Finance released by Deloitte Sport Business Group... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sat, 02 Jun 2007 16:02:14 +0000 A regular staple of the media is a story that the Premiership bubble has burst. A very different picture is painted in the latest authoritative Annual Review of Football published by Deloitte Sport... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jun_01.htm Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Reclusive billionaire Mike Ashley looks likely to secure control of Newcastle United... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_14.htm Sun, 27 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 KPMG, the administrators of Leeds United, have confirmed that they have received several bids for the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_13.htm Sun, 27 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Retail entrepreneur Mike Ashley has launched a £133.1m bid for Newcastle United, having alrady bought a 41.6 per cent stake in the Premiership club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_12.htm Thu, 24 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Sir Jack Hayward has sold Championship club Wolverhampton Wanderers for £10 on condition that purchaser Steve Morgan puts £30m into the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_11.htm Mon, 21 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Concerned that they are getting left behind in the Premiership takeover frenzy, US conglomerate General Electric is hoping to pull off a big takeover deal... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_10.htm Tue, 15 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 This month's Championship play-off final is the richest prize in the world for a single football match... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_09.htm Sun, 13 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Turkey's financial markets watchdog has ordered Galatasary, one of the country's top two clubs, to make a buy-out offer to minority shareholders... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sat, 12 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Universidad de Chile have been foiled by a new enemy: termites... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sat, 12 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Sports lawyers think that the 'Gang of Four' relegation threatened clubs are likely to fail in any court action against the Premiership... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_08.htm Fri, 11 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Relegated South-East London club Charlton Athletic have denied that they are the subject of a takeover bid... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_07.htm Wed, 09 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Four relegation threatened clubs are threatening to sue the Premiership over its controversial decision not to deduct points from West Ham over the transfers of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_06.htm Sat, 05 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Leeds United have gone into administration, hoping to get rid of their accumulated debts of £35m while allowing the existing owners to effectively retain control... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_05.htm Sat, 05 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 A row between football agents, the Football Association and the Government has led to the FA temporarily backing down, although they have insisted that they are determined to press ahead with rules governing the conduct of agents... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_04.htm Wed, 02 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 The saga of Brighton and Hove Albion's search for a new home is the longest in recent English football. Since they left the Goldstone Ground, sixteen clubs have moved into new stadiums and the football club's future is still at risk because of Nimby opposition to their planned new stadium at Falmer on the outskirts of Brighton... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_03.htm Tue, 01 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 As the football takeover boom continues, less successful and fashionable clubs are attracting attention, the latest being Suffolk side Ipswich Town... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_01.htm Tue, 01 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Anyone who has sat on the cramped away end in the wind and the rain at Fratton Park knows that it is one of the worst stadiums in the Premiership. But now the club is in Franco-Russian ownership and has unveiled plans for an iconic new stadium... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_may_01.htm Tue, 01 May 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Manchester United fans have been upset by a decision to increase some season ticket prices by 14 per cent after a 12.5 per cent across-the-board rise last summer... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_17.htm Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Whether West Ham should have been given a points deduction as well as (or instead) of a fine, and why Tevez was allowed to play has aroused considerable controversy among English football fans... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_16.htm Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 After making plain his views about American sports franchise owner Stan Kroenke, septuagenarian Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has had to respond to criticisms from minority shareholders about alleged outdated attitudes on the board... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_15.htm Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Manchester City has distanced itself from former player Ray Ranson saying that his bid to buy the club contains 'material' problems... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_14.htm Sun, 29 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 The latest US sports franchise owner to be lured by English football is Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_13.htm Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 David Beckham remains the world's richest footballer. He and his wife Victoria have increased their wealth by £25m to £112m in the past year... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_12.htm Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Supporters of Halifax Town are keeping the relegated threatened Conference club going while a takeover bid is sorted out... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_11.htm Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 The alliance between Unity and Premiere in Germany means that one-time rivals effectively control live TV coverage of the Bundesliga via satellite and German cable networks... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Wed, 25 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 It may not have the cachet of being supported by the Queen like Arsenal, it has a splendid stadium but it is located in a run down area, and it has been the recent subject of an attack by midfielder Joey Barton for under achievement... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_10.htm Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 In a big boost for East European football, and what may be a salutary shock for Italy, it has been decided to host the 2012 European Championship in Poland and Ukraine... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 A famous classic film is called The Arsenal Stadium Mystery. I've never watched it, although it's supposed to be one of the best films with a football setting. Perhaps they could do a re-make based on the current battle for control of the North London club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_09.htm Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Stan Kroenke has increased his stake in Arsenal to 12.2 per cent, putting the existing shareholders under further pressure in what looks likely to be a takeover battle at some point... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_09.htm Sun, 22 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Arsenal director David Dein has left the club with immediate effect and ceased to be a director. Chairman Peter Hill-Wood stated, 'We sincerely regret that irreconcilable differences between Mr Dein and the rest of the board have necessitated a parting of the ways...' http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_08.htm Wed, 18 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 There has been some complaint in England recently about the national team having to play 'minnows' like Andorra. There was criticism of that team's negative play and the fact that they chose to play their home game against England in Barcelona. In fact, it is not really clear what counts as a 'country' for Fifa/Uefa purposes... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_07.htm Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 The Major League Soccer season in the US has got under way, but with attendances typical of a middle ranking Championship team... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Europe Speaks English was the headline of the French sports newspaper L'Equipe after English sides took three of the four places in the Champions League semi-finals... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_06.htm Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Bolton Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce has forecast that there could be mass sackings in the Barclays Premiership next season as a consequence of the new television deal... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_05.htm Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 The Glazer family's takeover of Manchester United has resulted in a pre-tax loss of £137.7m in the club's holding company... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_04.htm Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Former Football League club Scarborough could yet be rescued from closure even though they are still facing a compulsory winding-up order... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_03.htm Sun, 15 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 One of the most storied football clubs in Europe is up for sale after going bankrupt. Ferencváros of Budapest, Hungary, known as Fradi by its fans, was founded in 1899... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Tue, 10 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 US sports team owner has bought ITV's 9.9 per cent stake in Arsenal for about £42m, laying out another £23m for the broadcaster's 50 per cent share of Arsenal Broadband Limited... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_02.htm Sun, 08 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 The benefits of being in the Premiership are clearly demonstrated by the financial figures released for Sheffield United for the six months ending 31 December 2006... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_apr_01.htm Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:02:14 +0000 Arsenal's share price closed towards the end of the week at £6,200, up £900 in a week since Danny Fiszman, the largest shareholder, sparked speculation by offloading some of his stake... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_mar_07.htm Sat, 24 Mar 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Coca-Cola Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers made an overall loss of £1.16m on a turnover of £23/8m in the year to 31 May 2006... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_mar_06.htm Sat, 24 Mar 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Major League Soccer in the US kicks off the new season on 7 April and is looking forward to the arrival of David Beckham at LA Galaxy mid-season... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Wed, 21 Mar 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Now that they have completed their purchase of Liverpool, American tycoons George Gillet Jr and Tom Hicks have urged the club to expand the new stadium at Stanley Park beyond the planned 60,000 capacity... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_mar_05.htm Sat, 17 Mar 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Foreign investors are increasingly targeting Championship clubs with little or no international reputation for acquisition. A Chinese casino owner could buy heavily indebted Sheffield Wednesday. Coventry City has confirmed that it has reached agreement with a group of wealthy US-based investors... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_mar_04.htm Sun, 11 Mar 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Some Premiership clubs are cutting ticket prices, although their initiatives are unlikely to be copied by the biggest and most successful clubs... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_mar_03.htm Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Millwall Football Club has said that it may be forced to close unless shareholders approve a £5 million rescue loan... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_mar_02.htm Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:02:14 +0000 More people may now be playing five-a-side football in Britain than the conventional game... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_mar_01.htm Sun, 04 Mar 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Manchester City ran up a £7.1m loss in the six months ending November 2006... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_16.htm Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:02:14 +0000 If anyone wonders why Reading put out a largely second string team against Manchester United in the FA Cup last night, they should remember that, like Arsene Wenger, manager Steve Coppell has a degree in Economics... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_15.htm Wed, 28 Feb 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Manchester City has informed the Stock Exchange that it is negotiating with four different parties, one from the United States, to take over the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_14.htm Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Arsenal lost £6.2m in the six months ending on 30 November. Their pre-tax profits rose from £14.3m in the same period in 2005 to £19.6m last year, but the loss was caused by one-off costs of £21.4m relating to the refinancing of their debt... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_13.htm Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Manchester City are in discussions with a number of parties about acquiring the 30 per cent stake of major shareholders John Wardle and David Makin... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_14.htm Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:02:14 +0000 Chelsea cut their losses by £60m in the financial year to June 2006, but they still lost £80.2m. However, they still think they are on course to achieve their target of... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_12.htm Mon, 19 Feb 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Several investors in the merchandising arm of leading Turkish club Galatasaray are locked in a dispute with the club's owner over minority shareholding rights... http://www.footballeconomy.com/world.htm Sun, 18 Feb 2007 23:02:14 +0000 The much delayed takeover of Championship side Leicester City has at last been completed... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_11.htm Tue, 13 Feb 2007 23:02:14 +0000 Not all the money in football is confined to the top flight. Some of it filters down to the 5th level of the non-league... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_10.htm Tue, 13 Feb 2007 23:02:14 +0000 Chelsea have confirmed that they are going for a new super stadium after calling off talks about expanding Stamford Bridge's capacity... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_09.htm Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:02:14 +0000 An attempt to win compensation for football fans who bought England and Manchester United fans at inflated prices is being made by consumer organisation Which?... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_08.htm Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Even though the latest 2006 Deloitte Football Money League shows the top English clubs slipping down the order, the results are likely to prove a blip... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_07.htm Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Arsenal are involved in advanced talks with a billionaire American sports tycoon, Stan Kroenke, about forming a partnership with... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_06.htm Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:02:14 +0000 With the American acquisition of the Liverpool franchise (as the new owners kept referring to it) effectively complete attention is now turning to which will be the next club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_06.htm Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:02:14 +0000 The boss of the Seattle Sounders soccer team (a United Soccer League not a MSL) side is one of a trio who is prepared to put £600,000 into ailing Conference side Cambridge United... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_05.htm Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Tottenham Hotspur ar being targeted as the next takeover target for private investors, sending shares soaring by 60 per cent... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_03.htm Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Total spending in the transfer window was over £62m, only £8m short of the record spend in January last year... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_02.htm Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Premiership attendances look set top the 13 million mark for the fourth time in the competition's 15-year history... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_feb_01.htm Sun, 04 Feb 2007 13:02:14 +0000 Liverpool's plans for the funding of a new stadium are in turmoil after an angry Sheikh Mohammed pulled... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_20.htm Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Having lost out to the Icelandic consortium at West Ham, Iranian-born businessman Kia Joorabchian has set his sights on Fulham... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_19.htm Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:02:14 +0000 If you visit the National Football Museum at Deepdale, you can take a look at Preston's stadium and see that it has been modernised only on three sides... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_18.htm Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:02:14 +0000 AFC Bournemouth chairman Abdul Jaffar has urged support for the consortium that is bidding to take over the club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_17.htm Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Southend have moved closer to getting their proposed new 22,000-seater stadium... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_16.htm Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Relegation could finish off Conference strugglers and former Football League side Cambridge United according to their chairman Lee Power... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_15.htm Wed, 31 Jan 2007 20:02:14 +0000 Professor Grant makes his YouTube debut in this interesting documentary from Warwick Icast covering Leamington FC and Coventry FC and comparing the two clubs' impact on their local areas... http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vck66Ihas0k Wed, 31 Jan 2007 13:12:14 +0000 New Uefa president and former French international Michel Platini may not find it so easy to take away England's fourth Champions League place as he has promised... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_14.htm Mon, 29 Jan 2007 13:12:14 +0000 Manchester United's first financial results since it was taken private by the Glazer family reveal pre-tax profits for the 12 months to June 2006 of £30.8m, almost tripled from £10.8m... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_13.htm Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:12:14 +0000 Liverpool has received a second foreign takeover bid for the club, this time from George Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadians ice hockey club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_12.htm Sun, 28 Jan 2007 14:12:14 +0000 Many fans have been campaigning for years for the return of standing on terraces to top flight football... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_11.htm Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:12:14 +0000 Three months after buying Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park ground off former owner Ron Noades, Palace chairman Simon Jordan is attempting to re-finance it... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_10.htm Wed, 24 Jan 2007 12:12:14 +0000 Cash strapped Brentford have received a welcome lifeline with fan Matthew Benham paying out nearly £3m to take over some of the League One club's loans... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_09.htm Tue, 23 Jan 2007 16:12:14 +0000 The increasing number of foreign players, managers and even owners in English football has helped the Premier League secure a string of international television deals... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_08.htm Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:12:14 +0000 Following the earlier withdrawal of Polygon, Newcastle United is now left without a prospective purchaser after Jersey-based investment group Belgravia... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_07.htm Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:12:14 +0000 Current difficulties at the Football League's bottom club, Torquay, raise broader issues about how someone is deemed to be a fit and proper person to run a football club... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_06.htm Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:12:14 +0000 Whether it's the Premiership or non-league, it's a familiar tale. An ambitious chairman makes a bid for glory, but the money runs out and the club is left in a worst position than it was before... http://www.footballeconomy.com/archive/archive_2007_jan_05.htm Sun, 21 Jan 2007 16:12:14 +0000