The Political Economy of Football V2

Sheffield Wednesday fans were hoping for a push for the play offs this season, but instead they find themselves in a relegation battle.   I am sure they will survive, but it might mean a lower midtable position. Now it is being claimed that the club's owners says he can't refund season ticket money to supporters (some accounts say it is just a delay) or guarantee wages will be paid on time next month. Tony Pulis was sacked 45 days into a reported £2m a year, two-and-a-half year contract.  He will presumably receive substantial compensation. Owner Dejphon Chansiri had a two hour session with the media this morning, but I have no details of what he said yet. Rod Liddle remarked recently that when a moderately big club finds themselves in trouble they often send for Sam Allardyce or Pulis to pull off a rescue.   So far it hasn't gone well in either case with Allardyce calling for a Premier League circuit breaker so he can get to grips with his squad.

From his Zurich fastness the Swiss Ramble casts his analytical eye over the 2018/19 accounts of Middlesbrough. Boro improved from a £6m loss before tax to a £2m profit, even though revenue dropped £6m (10%) from £62m to £56m and expenses were £3m higher, because profit on player sales more than doubled from £15m to £33m. They are actually one of just four Championship clubs to report a profit to date in 2018/19 with their £2m only behind Bristol City £11m, Hull City £3m and Rotherham £3m. This is a good performance, considering that almost all clubs lose money in this ultra-competitive division. That said, Boro would have also posted a hefty loss without £33m profit from player sales, including Adama Traoré to Wolves, Ben Gibson to Burnley and Patrick Bamford to Leeds. This was the second highest in the Championship, only surpassed by Bristol City £38m. Boro have made a profit twice in the last three years after accumulating £112m of losses in the previous six years, including a £32...