Blog on Albion finances....

cooliobhafc said:

I see the government may step in to reform the FA but will they really push money down to protect the smaller, lower league clubs?

Click to expand...

Easy 10 said:

The most shocking fact to me is that we now have the biggest debt of all the Championship clubs (£171m). The closest to that is Cardiff (£116m) then Blackburn (£104m). This despite the fact we have north of 25k coming through the gates every week, and have hardly been profligate in terms of transfer fees compared with many of the other big hitters. Wages to turnover has sprung up from 87% in 2011 to 111%, and whilst that's not quite piss-ripping proportions like Bournemouths 237%, or Brentfords 178%, anything even close to 100% just feels all wrong - and yet that is the reality of being able to compete at this level.

The numbers are truly scary.

Click to expand...

Notters said:

I hear this argument time and time again, and whilst I see where you're coming from, it completely overlooks the bigger picture.

Yes, in the short term, the club will be in a stronger position if it is promoted to the Premier League. But the fact that all of the clubs in the Championship are losing money hand over fist shows that the football structure in this country in its present form is unsustainable. Clubs from all the leagues need to be sustainable or the pyramid will collapse, right down to grass routes level.

I very much hope the club realise this and will work to make the supply of resources more equitable, should we get promoted.

It really is like the UK as a whole in microcosm, with the very few rich getting richer and richer and the rest doomed to failure, despite so much potential.

Click to expand...

Easy 10 said:

The most shocking fact to me is that we now have the biggest debt of all the Championship clubs (£171m). The closest to that is Cardiff (£116m) then Blackburn (£104m). This despite the fact we have north of 25k coming through the gates every week, and have hardly been profligate in terms of transfer fees compared with many of the other big hitters. Wages to turnover has sprung up from 87% in 2011 to 111%, and whilst that's not quite piss-ripping proportions like Bournemouths 237%, or Brentfords 178%, anything even close to 100% just feels all wrong - and yet that is the reality of being able to compete at this level.

The numbers are truly scary.

Click to expand...

El Presidente said:

Whilst the numbers look daunting, at least TB has something to show for it in the shape of the brand new Amex, Lancing and so on. When I go to Ewood tonight the debt may be 'only' £104m but the year will be 1972.

Click to expand...

Easy 10 said:

Plus ours is an interest-free "friendly" debt I guess, without deadlines for repayment as such, being as he just keeps converting chunks of it into shares.

I still let out a bit of WEE when I read it though.

Click to expand...

Notters said:

I hear this argument time and time again, and whilst I see where you're coming from, it completely overlooks the bigger picture.

Yes, in the short term, the club will be in a stronger position if it is promoted to the Premier League. But the fact that all of the clubs in the Championship are losing money hand over fist shows that the football structure in this country in its present form is unsustainable. Clubs from all the leagues need to be sustainable or the pyramid will collapse, right down to grass routes level.

I very much hope the club realise this and will work to make the supply of resources more equitable, should we get promoted.

It really is like the UK as a whole in microcosm, with the very few rich getting richer and richer and the rest doomed to failure, despite so much potential.

Click to expand...

El Presidente said:

but the year will be 1972.

Click to expand...

Mouldy Boots said:

the missus at home straddling the twin tub.

What is not to like.

Click to expand...

El Presidente said:

I think I have that in my 'vintage' film collection. The twin tub stops working, she phones for a plumber, and then the lather really starts to fly........

Click to expand...

Brovion said:

It really is shit or bust this season. Once we're on the gravy train we should (fingers crossed!) be ok as then we'll have financial clout when we get relegated (as we will at some stage).

Click to expand...

Nixonator said:

I hear this every time the albion is discussed, I heard it last year too.

No offence but I doubt TB and PB are thinking along the same lines as you. They will probably already have a plan no matter the outcome in May.

People are also over-dramatising what might happen with our players, as if the club will have a firesale and have to build an entire team from scratch.

If you imagine that we report another 26M loss this time next year, of which 13M is an FFP loss. It only takes the sale of Dunk (must be worth 15M+ now) to completely wipe out our FFP loss. We will obviously also lose Stephens for nothing, but that was a risk worth taking and will at least free up some wages. Next comes Knocky, which would be a devastating loss both on the pitch and off it since he has made a real emotional mark on the club and fans. Even still, we are talking another massive transfer fee of 15M+ which would wipe out our entire operating losses and put us in the green. Muzza's loan will end. Bruno potential retirement, though I think he could easily play another season.

The next worries would be Kayal and Solly (depending on his form this season). But I think we would have the resolve to keep them.

That's 4/5 players down, admittedly 5 majorly important players and fan favourites but it does not write us off from another promotion push if smart choices are made. We would STILL have a very strong first 11 which is testament to the squad we have assembled.

For instance, we could probably pick up Muzza, I can see that he might want to finish his career here.

Click to expand...

I remember the good times said:

States catering would increase in turnover in the PL from £35K to £1.3 million. 5 times more people buying, caterers would never cope. Or would that be the prawn sandwich brigade in the new PL corporate seats?

Click to expand...

Easy 10 said:

The most shocking fact to me is that we now have the biggest debt of all the Championship clubs (£171m). The closest to that is Cardiff (£116m) then Blackburn (£104m). This despite the fact we have north of 25k coming through the gates every week, and have hardly been profligate in terms of transfer fees compared with many of the other big hitters. Wages to turnover has sprung up from 87% in 2011 to 111%, and whilst that's not quite piss-ripping proportions like Bournemouths 237%, or Brentfords 178%, anything even close to 100% just feels all wrong - and yet that is the reality of being able to compete at this level.

The numbers are truly scary.

Click to expand...