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Articles and reports on financial issues within football – soccer – from The Political Economy of Football.
In his latest meticulous in depth analysis the author of the Swiss Ramble blog examines the ‘Southampton model’. He sees its essence as thoughtful planning, good scouting and player development.
The club has seen solid financial growth, although debts are increasing. It is clear that the club has a very good owner. She has been prepared to stand back and allow money to be reinvested in the club rather than paying off her debts.
Money could play a crucial role in determining the fate of embattled Chelsea manager José Mourinho who appears to have been deserted by his magic touch. Chelsea are much more reliant than Manchester United on taking part in the Champions League.
Blackpool owner Owen Oyston has ended talks with the club’s Supporters’ Trust over a possible takeover. The Trust had launched a £16m bid in July.
In a letter on the club’s website, Oyston said: ‘I believe that if you were left to run the club you would go to the wall because you do not have any money or the experience necessary to support the club in its moment of need.’
‘It would be irresponsible of me to simply hand this over to you as it is clear to any independent observer that you could not operate it successfully.’
The Leeds Fans Utd supporters group says that it has reached ‘an agreement in principle’ to purchase Massimo Cellino’s majority stake in the club. Unfortunately, there may be quite a gap between the principle and its execution in practice.
Former Villa manager Paul Lambert certainly thinks they are and calls for a dose of realism at the relegation threatened club.
The Financial Times is a leading global business newspaper, but it also publishes some quite left leaning articles. Indeed, before Labour turned to the left, it recommended voting Labour in its editorials.
The House & Home supplement of the weekend Financial Times included an analysis of how footballers (and elite sportsmen more generally) choose their homes. Not surprisingly, some of them have got their fingers burnt, but their buying habits can also have a major impact on local property markets.
Charlton Athletic owner Roland Duchatelet is far from popular with fans of the South-East London club. Yesterday he authorised the sacking of the third manager from his European ‘network’, Guy Luzon. Charlton are currently in the relegation positions in the Championship.
Uefa has provided details of the financial arrangements for the Champions League and Europa League for the 2015-18 cycle. A total of €1.257bn will be available for distribution each season, of which €112m will go in solidarity payments to national associations. For the first time the Champions League and the Europa League will form one single pot of money.
The latest Uefa benchmarking report shows that the Premier League is fast outstripping all other European leagues in financial terms. It has a bigger income than the 48 smaller leagues in Europe.
Total income is £3,3bn with the Bundesliga in second place on £1.8bn. The Premier League has also overtaken the Bundesliga in commercial and sponsorship income.