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Time for Bristol to punch its weight in football

Bristol City lost £330,000 a week in 2016/17, mainly because wages were 125 per cent of turnover. This is way above the recommended level of 50 per cent but sometimes it is necessary to take risks to progress and the club has wealthy backers. Judging by recent performance, the £9.5m net spent on transfers in the summer window was well worth it.

Income was up 38 per cent and a lot of this was accounted for by the Premier League solidarity payment of £4.2m which represented 30 per cent of total revenue (Championshp clubs get a percentage of the Sky/BT television revenue). Matchday income and season tickets accounted for 35 per cent. A challenge in the longer run is to improve income from sponsorship and merchandise, but promotion to the Premier League would give a big boost to both these streams.

For a thriving, prosperous and very lively city Bristol has long punched below its weight in football terms, but this could be about to change. It is, of course, a two club city and something of a rugby area.

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