"If you want some accessible but informative insight into football then I suggest you couldn't do better than the Political Economy of Football website, which is not only intelligible but comes with the added bonus of being written by Addicks fan Wyn Grant." Ben Hayes - Charlton Athletic programme
Ground shares have never been popular with football fans and have usually happend as an emergency measure when clubs have been deprived of their normal home, e.g., Brighton and the Goldstone Ground, Charlton and The Valley.
The publication of the annual review of football finance by Deloitte Sports Business is always a major event for those interested in the business side of football. The latest review shows that, against a very difficult economic background, Premiership clubs have boosted revenues, showing the continuing appeal of the competition.
It often seems to be one step forward two steps backward at Rangers. After yesterday’s court victory, Sepp Blatter and his bunch of cronies in Switzerland have stuck their oar in and are issuing all sorts of threats to the Scottish Football Association (SFA).
Rangers have won a court case against a transfer ban imposed on them by the Scottish Football Association (SFA). The ban would have seriously compromised their ability to compete next season.
China is a major emerging power economically and politically, perhaps destined to be the leading power in the world according to some analysts, although its per capita income is well below that of developed countries. Many people still live in relative poverty, despite the growth of the urban middle class.
Kettering Town’s debts have led them to resign from the Blue Square Bet North where they had been relegated. They will play in the Southern League Premier next season.
The club’s debts total £1.2m. Former chairman Imraan Ladak and other directors owed money have agreed to write off their loans and to leave £402,000 outstanding. Creditors will get about 10p in the pound as part of a three year company voluntary arrangement.
Although the High Court found in favour of the Football League in a ruling on the football creditors rule, it does not finally resolve the issue. The rule allows clubs and their employees to be paid ahead of other creditors if a club becomes insolvent.
Revenue & Customs, who have an obvious interest in overturning the rule, have failed in an attempt to have the rule declared null and void. The Revenue is considering an appeal, a move it was given permission to take.
Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov hopes that the improving financial health of the club will increase the chances of it being sold to a new investor. Debts at the Scottish FA Cup winner are substantially down and the club has made a profit for the last two years.
Manchester United have once again topped the football brand league compiled by Brand Finance. Their brand value of $853m is up by 29 per cent and gives them an A+++ rating. The list takes into account various revenue streams for clubs, such as ticket sales, merchandising, sponsorship deals and money received from the sale of broadcasting rights.
United have invested heavily in professional marketing skills, bringing in specialists from firms such as Pepsi and Disney. There is no doubt that their brand is one of the few that has a global reach.
A rare interview with the co-owner of Blackburn has done little to reassure fans of the club, indeed rather the contrary. Venkatesh Rao admitted that there was a ‘state of confusion’ at the club and the owners were in a state of shock.
They need to get their act together pretty quickly in preparation for the new season otherwise there is a real danger of Blackburn falling through the leagues like Bradford City as former striker Simon Garner has warned.