Bristol City stadium blow

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Bristol City have suffered a setback in a scheme to build a new 30,000-seat stadium but are determined to press ahead.  The £92m stadium was planned as a venue for England’s 2018 World Cup bid.


Campaigners have won a significant victory to protect the site in fhe Ashton Vale area of the city.  Following a public inquiry, the inspector said that the land should be given town green status.

Hull finances ‘a real concern’

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Hull City owner Russell Bartlett is seeking new investment in the club, but has ruled out a takeover.  Talks were held earlier in the year with father and son duo Assem and Ehab Allem who are sponsors and vice-presidents at the club.


However, they were interested in taking control, rather than a minority stake.   They have issued a statement in which they say that the finances of the club ‘are a matter of real concern’.

Glazers buy back loans

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The Glazers appear to have been able to wipe out a substantial portion of Manchester United debt by buying back PIK loans which carry a high interest rate.   The significance of this development is that it undermines recent arguments that the Glazers would be obliged to sell the club because of the cost of servicing its debt.   It may help to explain the relatively relaxed response to the recent increase in interest on the PIK loans from 14.25 to

The Spurs dilemma

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This article argues that there is a tension between the pursuit of financial stability by Tottenham Hotspur and real success on the pitch.   In many ways Spurs are a very well-run club, certainly compared with some of their competitors.  There is no rich benefactor; long-term debts are modest; profits are healthy; and plans for a renewed stadium are well advanced.   But are they too risk averse?

Blackburn bidder gets more time

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Ahsan Ali Syed has been given more time to examine the books of Blackburn Rovers.  His period of exclusivity has been extended.   Apparently due diligence has taken longer than expected, although why this should be the case is not entirely clear as it does not seem likely that there are hidden surprises in the club’s books.

FA faces financial troubles

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The Football Association is facing a series of financial challenges.   Some of these are not of its own making, including the collapse of Setanta and the general condition of the economy.   However, there is also no doubt that there has been poor decision-making at the FA which has been widely criticised as a dysfunctional organisation.    In partcular, the pursuit of the Wembley project may have been at the expense of grass roots

Plymouth trying to get finances sorted

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Plymouth Argyle face the dual challenge of trying to get their finances stabilised while also mounting a challenge to return to the Championship.   The Pilgrims’ executive director Keith Todd admits that he is finding it more difficult than he anticipated to get the club’s finances sorted.


Majority shareholder Yasukai Hagami has not yet been to a game, but is said to ‘follow’ the club’s results which is what any casual armchair ‘fan’ might do.