Leeds

[Pervert]

I see they're talking about going into administration. It seems to have worked for a number of clubs, but only smaller ones whose debts have been in the seven or low eight figure region. Up here, Dundee FC have just gone that route, having allowed their debts to spiral out of control. Now the blood-letting has begun. Yes, they are a smaller club than Leeds, but they do owe "only" ?20 m, and the players they have retained are at least their's to sell. As for the players, coaches and backroom staff who have lost their jobs in the run-up to Christmas, well that's just football, isn't it!

I'd like to think other clubs will learn from the lesson of Dundee, but the reality is they'll just continue trying to compete with the big boys. But up here, even the big boys of Glasgow have posted losses or greatly reduced profits and the belts have been tightened.

[Eric]

Good point Caractacus, I think the writing was on the wall long ago when ?10,000 and upward wages were starting to be paid out by clubs. 1, I don't think anyone really earns that and 2, no business can withstand that week in and week out.

[Lizard]

It,s a sad case of profit, profit, profit, before anything else, the corporate buzzards picking the bones of a fine club clean, before moving on to their next venture, and the true fan!............who cares.
A classic example of the above was- the other morning, some head of sport for rugby was asked about the fine England victory, his first words were " we will make millions from this" sponsors will be queuing up with their cheque books, how sad is that, the evidence is all around you sadly, as fat overwieght people who have never been to a sporting event, clammer to buy overpriced cheaply made nasty sportswear, just so they can sit in the pub looking 'trendy'.... we no longer have the nucleur family, but the Nike family from hell!

[Pervert]

Never mind, once all the inevitable economic casualties have been swept from the arena we'll have our choice of maybe eight clubs to support.

"I like their corporate strategy, so I'm wearing Arsenal's colours."
"Ah, but you're forgetting about the valuable Manchester United marketing policy."

Cold and depressing as it sometimes was, standing among a sparse crowd on the terraces watching a mediocre game being played by journeymen footballers who knew the importance of playing for the club seems so much warmer than the glory-hunting, bandwagon-jumping, three different sets of kit a year (employing child labour to manufacture for pence a day), view from every angle while some arsehole in a camelskin coat blethers bollocks world of today.

Cue Dvorak.

[mart]

Profit!!!!! What profit??????
Seems like many of the clubs were incapable of basic arithmetic.

Mart

[woodgnome]

mart wrote:

> Profit!!!!! What profit??????
>
> Mart

exactly!

and as for 'the good old days' of stale wagon wheels, warm piss down the back of your leg, racist dorks screaming abuse in your lughole, genuine fear at the prospect of rubbing a fellow 'fan' up the wrong way, pitches that resembled the somme and produced matches about as entertaining, etc, etc.

thank god for the taylor report, even if it did require the deaths of dozens to bring the game to it's senses.

that will always be footballs true shame...

[Deuce Bigolo]

It all comes back to that idiot in germany that bought all the TV rights at astronomical prices and then went belly up

Of course many of the clubs had factored in this money but when it didn't materialise it wwas game over for even attempting to balance the books
or at the very least retire debt

I do agree some clubs are just plain dumb when it comes to simple budgeting...more going out than coming in = financial disaster

cheers
B....OZ

[crofter]

yes some of those bloody directors at these football clubs, are merely in it for their own self gain, case in point
Dundee: average gate 7,000
Losses per week ?100,000
total debt ?20 million
they sack 15 players and 5 backroom staff and still cannot balance the books.

Now who was doing the sums for this club?? did they actually employ an accountant?? well they can blame whoever they want for being in such a financial mess, but as with Leeds it is just bad management, it is the directors that should be first out the door or held accountable.

[jj]

Fulham in the 80s: nice beer, edible food, friendly atmos, used to let kids in free after kick-off over the turnstile, even onto the touchline.
It wasn't all bad. Even Stamford Bridge was OK, outside the Shed........
Prawn sarnies, 'hospitality', arm+leg to get in, full of Mellorphant Man types (who'll get bored by next year, and go on to the next In Thing taking their dosh with them...), rampant commercialism, no new talent coming through as mediocre Euros are brought in instead.........

[Pervert]

Said directors left the manager to break the news of the sackings while one was sunning himself in Spain and his brother whisked off to Dubai.