Government rebuffs Olympic Stadium petition

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The Department of Culture, Media & Sport has issued a firm rebuttal of an online petition calling for a public inquiry into West Ham’s tenancy of the Olympic Stadium.   It argues that the detail of the tenancy agreement is commercially sensitive.

The Government points out that the matter has already been tested in the courts and investigated by the European Commission.   It might be possible to trigger a new investigation if someone other than an individual complained.

Owls under the microscope

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Sheffield Wednesday are a club with a great history who find themselves playing in the Championship. Their new owner has set them a goal of reaching the Premier League in two years.   They are the latest club to be put under the microscope by the impressive Swiss Ramble blog.   As usual, readers are provided with a meticulous and informative analysis that makes careful and sound judgments.

Record transfer spend hides some changes

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Spending by Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window was a record £862m, but this represents just a three per cent increase on last year’s £835m.   What is also evident is that the new television deal gives medium-sized Premiership clubs the ability to resist bids for their best players, as exemplified by the case of Berahino and West Bromwich Albion.

Premier League becoming more dominant

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The competitive imbalance in Europe caused by the Premier League’s latest television deal is a theme that is drawing increasing attention and the latest person to address it is the sporting director of Wolfsburg. Of course, the deal hasn’t kicked in yet, but the transfer dealings of leading Premiership clubs appear to anticipate it.

How football boosts Manchester’s economy

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The success of Manchester City and Manchester United gives a big boost to the local economy and is estimated to be worth £2.5bn in advertising over the next twenty years.

Greater Manchester has been getting its governance act together in a way that has happened more slowly than in Birmingham or the north-east.   The cause and effect relationship between that and the success or otherwise of the local football teams is a complex one, but it is undoubtedly there.