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Lincoln City have faced more than their fair share of financial problems over the years. They went into administration in the 2001-2 season and were relegated from the Football League in 2010-11.
They then faced a new financial crisis in 2015. However, their fans rallied round and invested £165,000 in the club, as well as raising money through a crowdfunding scheme. Their finances are now back on an even keel.
Ray Trew has stepped down as chairman of Notts County and has announced the club is for sale. He became owner and chairman in 2010 but said he and his family were subject to ‘foul and mindless abuse’ in recent days.
Trew bought the club for £1 and took in debts of £1.5m built up during Middle East consortium Munto Finance’s brief period as owners. The Magpies have had nine full-time managers during Trew’s tenure.
Whether there will be any buyers for the club remains to be seen.
Their town in the Basque Country has a population of 27,000, their municipal stadium can only accommodate 6,000, yet Eibar Ipurua are not only in La Liga, they are currently seventh.
Ordered to raise share capital to comply with the league’s rules, the club turned to crowdfunding, selling shares at €50 each and raising €2 million.
Millwall will continue to fight to safeguard their future after a decision on whether land around The Den would be sold to property developers was delayed last week. Lewisham Council was due to discuss compulsory purchase orders on Wednesday, but a decision was deferred and a legal investigation will now take place.
If the deal eventually goes through, land which includes the club’s car park would become privately owned by a property development company, Renewal. Millwall currently lease the land.
The possibility of offering the fourth Champions League spot to the winner of the FA Cup (if they have not already qualified) is one topic being discussed between the Football Association and the Premier League as they look at the future of the competition.
An alternative suggestion is that there should be a play off between the FA Cup winner and the club placed fourth. All this depends, of course, on the fourth slot being retained.
Liverpool are looking to the expanding Far East market in the hope of attracting a £90m naming rights deal for the new stand at Anfield which is due to open next season. The club is looking for a ten year deal worth £7m to £9m a season and is understood to have met with three potential buyers.
Liverpool are interested in a strategic partnership, particularly in the retail sector in the Far East, that would allow them to build their brand in that region of the world.
It has been announced that the takeover of Bristol Rovers by the Al-Qadi family has been completed. The influential family are major shareholders in the Arab-Jordanian Investment Bank. The asset value of the bank is £1.72bn.
The club say Mr Wael Al Qadi – “a lifelong fan of English football and a member of the executive board of the Jordan Football Association” – will become president.
Former Bolton Wanderers striker Dean Holdsworth is close to a takeover of the club. His Sports Shield group has been granted a 72-hour period of exclusivity in which to complete a buyout.
Bolton face a High Court hearing on Monday, with HM Revenue and Customs petitioning to have the club liquidated over an unpaid tax and VAT bill of about £3m. If a takeover cannot be agreed, Bolton are expected to enter voluntary administration.
Cash flow is all important to non-league clubs and it can be badly hit by adverse winter weather that leads to match postponements. Saturday matches that have to be replayed in the week atrtract lower attendances and generate much less revenue.
This BBC report on Taunton Town reports a £16,000 loss due to winter weather, but what is perhaps most remarkable about it is the number of weak puns it contains. In fact, I inadvertenly inserted one in the paragraph above myself.
Premier League clubs may be offered cash incentives to do as well as possible in the Europa League. The plan is one of a number of measures that have been discussed to ensure that the top flight does not lose its fourth slot in the Champions League to a resurgent Serie A.
Italy made up more than half their deficit to England in Uefa’s coefficient table in 2015. They could leap ahead next season leaving the Premier League with only three slots from 2018.