Football's Financial Madness

Now the World Cup dust has settled in Brazil, it gives us a little over a month before domestic football returns.

I have been meaning to do a piece on the current state of finances within our football clubs for a while.

What I have found is long what I've suspected that for clubs like my club Plymouth Argyle, the dream of making the promised land of the Premiership are now further away then ever and the chance of ever getting there has never been so unobtainable than they are at the moment.

Unless things are drastically changed in the way money in English football is distributed, then I fear there are many clubs who will never obtain top flight status.

In this piece I will try to tell you why.

Parachute payments are probably one of the most unfair ways of the Premier League to dispense their money from TV rights deals to keep the same group of clubs around the division without much chance of league 1 or 2 clubs even getting to the Championship let alone the top flight.

Never has this been more apparent then it is now. The gulf in money earned in the Premiership to the Championship is massive but the real problem lies in clubs receiving parachute payments after failing in the Premiership, to then being given a massive budget in comparison to other clubs in the Championship.


Below I have broken down the amount Sky Bet Championship clubs will receive, and you will see that in the Championship that no fewer than 10 clubs are receiving different stages of parachute payments from the Premier League and IMO are giving them a massive advantage over the other half of the league receiving the standard solidarity payments of 2.3 million.

This makes it unless you have a miracle manager or a lot of luck just making the playoffs can be any teams best hope of getting promoted.

Keeping this in mind after relegation from the top flight the said clubs will receive 4 years of Parachute payments as detailed below.

Year 1 = 23 Million          Year 2 = 18 Million         Year 3 = 9 Million         Year 4 = 9 Million

I make the various stages of payment for the following 14/15 Sky Bet Championship as the following

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Birmingham = 9
Blackburn Rovers  = 9

Blackpool = 9
Bolton Wanderers = 9
Bournemouth = 2.3
Brentford  = 2.3
Brighton & Hove Albion = 2.3
Cardiff City = 23
Charlton Athletic = 2.3
Derby County = 2.3
Fulham = 23

Reading = 18
Huddersfield Town = 2.3
Ipswich Town = 2.3
Leeds United  = 2.3
Middlesbrough  = 2.3
Millwall  = 2.3

Norwich City  = 23

Nottingham Forest  = 2.3

Rotherham United  = 2.3

Sheffield Wednesday = 2.3
Watford = 2.3

Wigan Athletic = 18

Wolverhampton Wanderers = 9
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 The above figures also don't account for the fact the additional 2.3 million that the clubs in Red receiving parachute payments would also receive. 

And because of the new £5 Billion 3 year TV deal the Premier League signed last year all Premier League clubs have had a massive increase in what the 13/14 season has paid them. 

Cardiff after finishing bottom and being relegated have been awarded 67 Million which is more the Manchester United received for becoming the champions the previous year.

This is not an attack on Cardiff but just shows how clubs who have yet to taste top flight football in the last 4 years are really going to struggle.

Cardiff 

Relegation = 67 Million

Year 1      = 23 Million

Year 2      = 18 Million

Year 3      = 9 Million

Year 4      = 9 Million

                   127 Million

And lets presume that AFC Bournemouth will stay in the Championship for the next 4 without being promoted or relegated.

AFC Bournemouth

Previous Season Payment = 2.3

Year 1      = 2.3 Million

Year 2      = 2.3 Million

Year 3      = 2.3 Million

Year 4      = 2.3 Million

                   11.5 Million

Obviously this doesn't mean that Cardiff will hammer the league but surely this is the most unfair system in the world and considering the 3 relegated clubs will also hold onto half the squad that has played in the Premiership is also giving them the best chance to push for a top 3 finish or by minimum the playoffs

The figures in this article make me feel sick to my stomach and the thought of Plymouth ever getting a crack at it one day have never felt further. 

Semper Fidelis

What's Hampering The England Side?

 

Due to the fact we're now in a World Cup year it wont be long before the nation gets gripped in the usual excitement of world cup fever, Or will it?

Recent national tournaments have been a nightmare due to many factors, and the reasons for England's failures at the biggest stage in the world is often the cause of discussion before, during and after the finals.

I will try to give my opinion to why we are still waiting 48 years later since we lasted tasted glory.
The quarter final seems to be now regarded as a successful showing similar to gaining 4th Champions League spot in the Premiership, to me this is a sign of failure and just one reason we're doomed before we even jump on the plane to Brazil.

I've recently done a lot of research into what I regard as the reasons behind our 48 year drought, firstly after being interested in coaching myself I believe we are country miles away from where we should be in comparison to other top footballing nations.

The FA have recently spent a massive amount of money on St Georges Park, £105 million based on Howard Wilkinsons findings whilst FA Technical Director, Wilkinson visited all National Football Centre's and decided to follow the model in France at Clairefontaine Paris.

Why they chose to use Clairefontaine as the example to follow is presumably because it nurtured the 1998 World Champions and 2000 European Champions.

This is in my opinion the reason why we're miles apart from Spain, Germany, France and Italy, We have only just realised that our facilities and actual amount of coaches are way behind.

Below is a few figures I have researched and were published circa 2010,

The UEFA Badges B, A and PRO badges in numbers below show the real reason why we're behind our European neighbours.

Germany      34,970
Italy              29,420
Spain           23,995
France         17,558
England        2,769

And the cost for obtaining these badges vary massively, I could only find figures for 2013 for the following three,

Licence                                    Average Cost

UEFA A

England         1,170                    £ 5,800
Spain             12,720                  € 1,200
Germany        5,500                    €   530

UEFA Top Pro Licence Held

England        203
Spain            2,140
Germany      1,000+

These figures are really worrying and I really hope that St George's goes some way to helping us playing catch up and our young players progress like our foreign neighbours.

I know the main arguement against these points are about the influx of foreign players playing in our top flight but I truly believe the reasons mentioned above are the real reason for our failure to bring FOOTBALL HOME.

Anyway I will still have the Football Fever disease come kick off in Brazil but its more wishful thinking.

Semper Fidelis

Top 6 Spending In The Wenger Era

 

The last few seasons the press and supporters have called for Wenger's head after every season has come and gone leaving Arsenal trophy less going into the 9th season without any silverware, But should we be surprised?

I've been backing Wenger to bring trophies and the glory days back to Arsenal since Vieira lifted the FA Cup after defeating United on penalties in Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in May 2005.

I've often tried deflecting criticism of Wenger by so called Arsenal and all football fans who have called for his head after every trophy less season has passed.

In the cold light of day I believe the fact that Arsene has even kept them in touch of the top 6 a remarkable feat and the reason is all to do with the money he has spent as outlined in my extensive research below tries to prove.

I know many will never agree to my point but the I have tried telling many a friend / colleague / family etc and the response i normally receive is at a club like Arsenal he has to win trophies. Though i agree to some extent I honestly believe without Wenger Arsenal would be lucky to be making it into the Europa League not playing their 16th Champions League campaign in a row.

Below is in my opinion the top 6 teams in the Premier League that have spent big and what Arsenal and Wenger are up against season after season and the end financial amounts hopefully but Arsenal and Wenger's last 8 years into perspective.

                Arsenal        Man Utd        Chelsea        Liverpool        Man City        Spurs

96/97      
Spent        5.3               9.2                13.7               3.0                   3.4                 4.6
Sold          12.8             7.0                 3.7                9.2                   2.1                 2.1
                + 7.4            -2.9                -9.9               +6.1                -1.3                -3.7
97/98
Spent       19.3            11.9                15.6               16.3                6.9                 13.3
Sold          1.0               1.0                 2.2                 2.2                 1.3                   5.0
                 -18.3           -10.9              -13.4             -14.1               -5.6                 -8.3
98/99
Spent        16.5            39.0                23.4              11.8                0.9                   8.6
Sold           0.6              5.3                 11.2               6.2                 9.6                   1.6
                 -15.9           -33.7               -12.2             -5.6                +8.7                 -7.0
99/00
Spent        19.9             7.0                 29.8               45.0               8.9                  15.0
Sold           36.5            0.3                  6.1                15.6                0.9                   1.6
                 +16.6           -6.7                -23.7              -29.4             -8.0                  -13.4
00/01
Spent         49.5            10.3                44.4               30.0              11.4                 22.6
Sold           55.4             8.7                 34.0               10.2               1.0                    2.1
                  +5.9            -1.6                 -10.4              -19.8             -10.4               -20.5
01/02
Spent         28.7             75.5               39.5               27.5               20.9                 24.6
Sold            7.2              44.5               11.5               25.2                5.8                    8.5
                  -21.5            -31.0              -28.0              -2.3               -15.1               -16.1  
02/03
Spent          9.4              42.5                0                   27.7               38.7                 9.2
Sold            10.6            3.4                  2.8                10.1               1.0                   1.2
                   +1.2            -39.1              +2.8               -17.6             -37.7                -8.0
03/04
Spent          25.1            48.5               151.5              13.7              14.5                26.2
Sold            1.0               52.8                0.8                   0                  5.8                 1.5
                   -24.1           +4.3               -150.7             -13.7             -8.7                -24.7 
04/05
Spent          10.5            53.9                142.5              51.4              1.3                  41.5
Sold            3.4               8.4                  29.0               21.6              10.3                 9.2
                   -18.5           -21.0               -50.8              -22.0             +17.6              -32.3
05/06
Spent          40.5            28.0                 80.7               38.7              11.0                 32.1
Sold            22.0            7.0                   29.9               16.7              28.6                19.9
                   -18.5          -21.0                 -50.8              -22.0            +17.6               -12.2
06/07
Spent          13.2            24.0                  83.3              40.5                6.6                 53.7
Sold             14.1           20.2                  46.3              18.5                3.6                 34.0  
                   +0.9            -3.8                  -37.0              -22.0              -3.0                -19.7
07/08
Spent           27.5           91.0                  54.5               80.0              68.6                 82.9
Sold             50.2           38.6                   39.3              40.0               9.0                  19.9
                    +22.7         -52.4                -15.2              -40.0             -59.6                -63.0
08/09
Spent           35.3            39.8                 26.8               62.5              138.5              125.3
Sold             22.7             6.5                   39.2              40.5                23.4                77.8
                    -12.6           -33.3               +12.4              -22.0            -115.0              -47.5
09/10
Spent           10.5             24.1                 26.4               38.3              129.6              35.5
Sold              41.9            91.9                  3.5                44.3               27.2               28.0
                    +34.4          +67.8               -22.9               +6.0              -102.4             -7.5
10/11
Spent            20.2            25.7                111.3              85.9               160.5              23.0
Sold               9.4             16.1                  14.5               89.3                33.1               2.5
                     -10.8            -9.6                 -96.8              -3.4               -127.4            -20.5 
11/12
Spent            57.6            50.4                  91.4               58.5                83.5               8.3
Sold              68.9            13.7                  28.5               20.2                26.1               38.0     
                    +11.3          -36.7                 -62.9              -38.3               -57.4             +29.7
12/13
Spent            46.6            67.2                 101.3              59.5                54.5               64.5
Sold              50.1            13.3                  22.4                9.1                 39.0               59.6
                    +3.5            -53.9                 -78.9              -50.4               -15.5              -4.9
13/14
Spent            45.5            69.4                  112.8             50.2                102.0            107.2
Sold              11.3             1.5                    63.2              28.6                  10.3            110.8
                    -34.2           -67.9                  -49.6             -21.6                -91.7            +3.6

So in 18 Premier League Season this shows suprisingly to most who have never really looked at the cold hard facts that Wenger has not only spent the least out of the above clubs and by quite a margin he has also the smallest net loss. And considering that spans over 18 seasons maybe people should have a look over this and really have a good thing what they want from their club!

18 Seasons     Arsenal        Man Utd        Chelsea      Liverpool          Man City            Spurs
Spent               481.1            718.1            1.148.9          740.5                861.7                697.9
Sold                  419.1           340.2               587.9          417.0                231.3                420.5
Net Loss           -62.0            -377.9            -561.0          -323.5               -630.4               -227.4

Managers           1                    2                    12                6                       8                        10