Skip to main content

Securing the Champions League for the 'top six'

The recently published annual report of the Football Association (available online at Companies House) discusses the changes in European club competition proposed by Uefa to operate from 2024. These have important implications for clubs outside the top six.

The UEFA Champions League would be made up of 32 teams and be selected on the basis of club domestic rankings in the previous four seasons. Beyond the first season one would have to win the domestic league to be guaranteed a place.

In other words, if you finished second in the Premier League you wouldn't be guaranteed a place unless your previous record justified it or you got to the semi-finals of the Europa League (or 'League Two' as it is confusingly termed.

The Europa League of 32 teams would be based on domestic rankings in the previous four seasons. The new Europa Conference League would have 64 teams but would be very much a third ranked competition and would not generate much revenue for clubs. It would also be based on league rankings.

The FA notes, 'The aim of this proposal is to drive increased revenue opportunities, protect elite European club revenue streams , and meet the demands of a growing, international audience.' It is admitted that 'it would result in additional matches for English clubs (eight additional match days) in an already heavily-congested schedule, and would reduce the competition for a "top four" finish in the Premier League, which has become a key feature among the "top six" English clubs.'

Kieran Maguire of the PriceofFootball comments, 'The aim is to prevent the likes of Leicester getting into the top four of the Premier League and taking away what by right should be a place in the Champions League of the existing elite and their plucky billionaire owners.'

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Threat of financial calamity removed from Baggies

West Bromwich Albion had effectively been in decline ever since the club was sold to a Chinese consortium in August 2016, paying a figure north of £200m to buy former owner Jeremy Peace’s stake. Controlling shareholder Guochuan Lai’s ownership was fairly disastrous for the club, but his unloved tenure finally came to an end after Bilkul Football WBA, a company ultimately owned by Florida-based entrepreneur Shilen Patel and his father Dr Kiran Patel, acquired an 87.8% shareholding in West Bromwich Albion Group Limited, the parent company of West Bromwich Albion Football Club. This change in ownership was urgently required, due to the numerous financial problems facing West Brom, including growing high-interest debt and serious cash flow concerns, following years of no investment from the former owner. Indeed, West Brom’s auditors had already rung the alarm bell in the 2021/22 accounts when they cast doubt on the club’s ability to continue as a going concern without making player s...
1 comment
Read more

Spurs to sell minority stake

Tottenham Hotspur is in talks to sell a minority stake in a deal that could value it at up to £3.75 billion and pave the way for Joe Lewis and his family to sever ties with the Premier League football club. Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is seeking an investment that values the club at between £3.5 billion and £3.75 billion, including debt. While the terms of any deal have not been finalised, City sources expect Spurs to sell about 10 per cent. The club is being advised by bankers from Rothschild on the sale. Tottenham wants to raise fresh capital for new player signings and to help fund the development of an academy for its women’s team, as well as a 30-storey hotel next to its north London stadium. The financier Amanda Staveley, who brokered the deal for Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to take over Newcastle United, is understood to be among the parties to have expressed an interest in Tottenham. Staveley’s fund, PCP Capital Partners, has raised about £500 million to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Millwall punch above their weight

Millwall’s season was overshadowed by the tragic death of owner John Berylson following a car accident. The American had been an exemplary owner, beloved by the fans for his leadership, passion and generosity. Millwall’s finances had been pretty good during his tenure, which we shall explore by looking at the most recent accounts from the 2022/23 season, when the club narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs after finishing 8th. Millwall’s pre-tax loss slightly reduced from £12.6m to £12.2m, as revenue rose £0.8m (4%) from £18.6m to a club record £19.4m and player sales improved from a £0.1m loss to £2.5m profit. However, other operating income dropped from by £1.1m from £1.3m to £0.2m, while operating expenses increased £1.7m (5%) from £31.6m to £33.3m. The main driver of the revenue increase was broadcasting, which rose £1.1m (12%) from £9.1m to £10.2m, though match day was also up £0.4m (7%) from £5.8m to £6.2m. In contrast, commercial fell £0.7m (19%) from £3.7m to £3....
Post a Comment
Read more