Why Bayern Munich dominates the Bundesliga
Some commentators think that Bayern Munich are currently the strongest team in Europe. Certainly, their recent mauling of Arsenal would point in that direction.
Article Taxonomy: Football Finance
Articles and reports on financial issues within football – soccer – from The Political Economy of Football.
American investment boost for Palace
Crystal Palace have agreed in principle a deal with American investors to take a 36 per cent stake in the club. The lead investor is Josh Harris, owner of the New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia 76ers. Talks have been taking place for some time, but stalled earlier in the year. An agreement is expected by Christmas.
Manchester United set to break through £500m barrier
Manchester United are set to become the first club to break through the £500m barrier after reporting record first quarter results of £123m. Annual revenues should be in the region of £500m-£510m.
The return to the Champions League, and sales of the new Adidas 2015-16 shirt, contributed to revenues that were up by 39 per cent.
However, profits declined from £8.7m in the same period last year to £5m. This reflected losses of £7.4m on player trading.
West Ham one of the most exciting ‘projects’ in Europe
The author of the impressive Swiss Ramble blog has provided another of his in depth analyses of football finances, this time of West Ham United.
With the impending move to the Olympic Stadium, he considers that they are currently one of the most impressive ‘projects’ in European football. He sees parallels with Manchester City’s move to the Etihad, but notes that they are in London in an area that is attracting significant foreign investment.
Will finances undermine Plymouth’s title bid?
Plymouth are currently riding high at the top of League 2, but this blog article argues that finances will ultimately derail their title bid. Their manager made a conscious decision to go for quality rather than quantity in the squad and there doesn’t seem to be any money for additions in the January loan window.
London Fields
The latest report from the two unfortunates on football cities takes on London. That’s a big task, given the number of clubs in the city.
Quite rightly, the author focuses not so much on the clubs but on the city itself, including its status as a city region and a global city and the way in which that affects football. He concludes that football in London is in many respects a corporate led junket.
‘Safer landing’ plan causes non-league fury
As we have pointed out in recent articles, relegation from the Football League to the non-league system often lands a club in serious financial trouble. The Football League has now devised a ‘safer landing’ plan, but this has provoked fury from non-league clubs.
Cortese considers Leeds takeover
Former Southampton chairman Nicola Cortese is considering a takeover of Leeds United. He is contemplating an attempt to buy out Massimo Cellino.
Not without reason, Cortese believes that Leeds could be a leading force in English football. They have been in the past and Leeds is a regional capital within the Northern Powerhouse that the government is boosting. This may be more rheotoric than substance, but Leeds as a city is prospering. At the moment, however, there is no real crossover between the club and the city it represents.
Lorimer gives Cellino vote of confidence
Peter Lorimer has given Leeds owner Massimo Cellino a vote of confidence, saying that he can get things right if he is given time. Too many owners have been chased away from Leeds United, according to Lorimer.
The relegation that hurts
Clubs are about a hundred times more likely to go bust if they fall out of the Football League. Just three Football League clubs have folded since the Second World War: Accrington Stanley (where the gas being turned off was the final blow), Aldershot and the now resurgent Maidstone United.