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FA replays decision attracts lower league opposition

The decision to scrap replays in the FA Cup has attracted widespread criticism, not least from fans, and it is difficult to see why it is necessary in the first or second rounds.   However, revenue and morale boosts for lower league clubs are not systematic and depend, literally, on the luck of the draw. When I was growing up winning the FA Cup was in some ways a bigger deal than winning the league, but that is no longer the case and sentiment clashes with the reality of modern football business.  Some fans hope that a regulator will be able to intervene in decisions like these in the future. Nigel Clough appreciates more than most how integral they can be.   In the winter of the 2005-06 season, he was seven-and-a-half years into a decade as manager of Burton Albion when the then non-League club landed a third-round tie at home to Manchester United. That game finished goalless, earning Burton — who had moved into their new Pirelli Stadium a year earlier — a replay at Old Trafford w
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Pompey did play up

Congratulations to Portsmouth on their promotion to the Championship and the fan base that stood by them.   Fratton Park is a great atmospheric old style ground. Portsmouth is unique in its status as England’s only island city, largely based on Portsea Island, which is connected to the mainland by a handful of road and rail bridges. It provides the setting for a unique mentality among football fans, with its British Navy base and links to the maritime industry core to the identity of many of the city’s 200,000-plus residents. Theirs is a club who have seen the highs of Premier League and European football and an FA Cup final win in the past 20 years   as well as a drastic slide that saw three relegations in four years from 2010, plummeting from the top to the bottom tiers of the English football pyramid. Alongside it, years of financial troubles resulting in two spells in administration saw the supporters take ownership of their club in 2012 before selling to the Eisners five years
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Brighton finances are Blooming

Brighton’s pre-tax profit surged from £24m to a very impressive £133m in 2022/23.  Revenue increased by £30m (17%) from £174m to £204m, which was the club’s highest ever, while profit from player sales just about doubled from £62m to £121m.  At the same time, Brighton managed to keep their costs under control, as operating expenses only rose £4m (2%) to £220m, while they had £2.5m net interest receivable. Brighton’s £133m pre-tax profit was easily the best in last season’s Premier League, ahead of Manchester City £80m and Bournemouth £44m, though the latter was boosted by a £71m owner loan write-off. In fact, Brighton’s £133m pre-tax profit is the second highest ever recorded in England, only surpassed by Tottenham’s £139m in 2017/18 (driven by Gareth Bale’s sale to Real Madrid). Only three English clubs have ever managed to post profits above £100m. Brighton have generated the highest profit in the top flight over the last four seasons with a net £37m. Only two other clubs were
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The Rotherham paradox

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Rotherham has had its economic and social challenges since the decline of the steel industry.   It is very much in the shadow of a more vibrant Sheffield. ‘Rotherham has been ranked the unhappiest place to live in England according to a survey. Rightmove asked 21,000 people to complete a study based on their overall happiness with their area and what makes a place feel like home. Out of 221 cities, towns and villages surveyed, Rotherham came bottom of the list.’ Many years back after seeing Charlton play an early kick off at Huddersfield, some of us went over to see Brighton play at Millmoor, Rotherham United’s then ground.    I thought it was a typical old style Third Division North ground, atmospheric but not 21 st century. Now the Millers have a smart new stadium, the New York Stadium (actually named after a local area), but they keep yo yoing between the Championship and League One, although the training ground is a swamp and apparently freque
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One thing to spend, another to spend well

In May 2022 a consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital acquired Chelsea for £2.5 bln (plus £1.75 bln infrastructure commitment), following Roman Abramovich’s decision to sell the club as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  Accordingly, 2022/23 was the first full season completed under the new ownership. Chelsea have now lost money in four of the last five years, adding up to a hefty £434m, including three losses over £100m in this period. The good news is that losses have reduced two years in a row, albeit from a chunky £156m in 2020/21. Chelsea are no strangers to posting large losses, being responsible for two of the four highest losses ever reported in the Premier League (and five of the top 20). Last season’s £90m deficit just sneaks into this list.   they have lost nearly £900m from day-to-day business in the last five years, which takes some doing. Chelsea’s pre-tax loss reduced from £121m to £90m, mainly thanks to £107m once-off accou
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Losses up at Millwall

Millwall have submitted their 2022/23 accounts reports Kieran Maguire.   Revenue was £19.3m up 4%. Wages £22.6m up 1%.  Losses pre player sales £13.7m up 18%. Player sales £2.7m.  Player purchases £4m. Almost all clubs make substantial losses in this highly competitive division, many much more than Millwall.
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Palace move towards financial sustainability

Crystal Palace 2022/23 revenue was £180m up 12%, reports Kieran Maguire. Wages (staff and players) were £130m up 5%. Player purchases £56m. Player sales £0.3m Revenue up mainly due to higher income of £15m as higher international deals in Premer League and as the end of the Covid rebate to broadcasters kicks in. Steve Parish pay was up £457k to £2.157m.   Worth every penny?   Some fans might have their doubts to put it mildly. Player purchases £56million. Players who originally cost the club £52m were sold/left the club for £300k. Progress towards becoming more sustainable moved forward significantly over the past year, with senior players departing at the end of their contracts and an overhaul of the squad age. That bears out in their latest set of financial results, which show a pre-tax loss of £24.2 million ($30m) for the 12 months to June 30, 2022, down by £16 million from a year earlier (£40.3m). This latest set of accounts shows Palace’s strategy, although in its earl
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