Spurs deny takeover talk

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Tottenham Hotspur have denied speculation about a takeover of the club.  In a statement on its website the club said, ‘ The Club engaged Rothschild  to secure the funding for the new stadium. As expected many proposals came forward including bank debt and equity investment. The Club announced on 31 May 2017 the completion of the bank debt financing for the new stadium with a consortium of banks involving Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and HSBC Bank plc.

The preferred mobile operator for footballers

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Reports of the High Court hearing involving Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley have largely focused on the drinking sessions associated with business meetings.   However, one piece of information that slipped out was about a confidential mobile phone company used by footballers and club owners like Mike Ashley.

Shropshire-based Sports Mobile offer bespoke VIP service.   Players want the new iPhone as soon as it comes out and they make sure that players get it before everyone else.

Rangers lose tax case

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The Supreme Court yesterday ruled in favour of HM Revenue and Customs in a long-running dispute over offshore trusts used by Rangers Football Club.   Five judges unanimously dismissed an appeal by the liquidators of RC 2012, the company formerly known as Rangers Football Club before its financial collapse in 2012.

Big boost in Championship television coverage

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There will be a big increase in the number of Championship matches shown live on television according to a tender document issued by the English Football League.  

The EFL would allow the number of league games broadcast live to almost treble from 112 to 324 matches a season in 2019-20. Up to 228 of the 552 Championship matches would be live, compared with 92 at present.

The quiet transfer deadline

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The frantic transfer deadline with all its hype and television coverage is at the end of August.  First, however, there is a ‘quiet’ transfer deadline when managers look at the squads that have reassembled for training at the beginning of July and assess the gaps.

Of course, some clubs like Chelsea and Manchester United like to do their business early.   United are hopeful that they will get most of their targets soon, but Chelsea are only now nearing a breakthrough or two.

Financial pressures on Championship clubs

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The financial pressures on Championship clubs as they seek promotion to the Premier League are emphasised by the fact that they made an average loss of just under £10m in the 2015-16 season.  Only Wolverhampton Wanderers made a profit and that was because of a player sale.

Middlesbrough made the biggest loss at £32m, followed by Brighton and Hove Albion at £25.9m.  QPR had the biggest wage bill at £40.8m, almost equivalent to their turnover.