May 3 – ‘Points mean prizes’ as the old gameshow catchphrase goes. In football’s version of the gameshow the phrase would more accurately be ‘money wins prizes’ according to the latest analysis of the CIES Football Observatory.
By Paul Nicholson
May 2 – The story of Portsmouth Football Club has been more of a rollercoaster ride than a fairy tale in recent seasons. The club plummeted from the Premier League in 2010, sinking to Division 2 by 2014. During this time they went bust, changed owners and were rescued by fans. Now, despite a loyal and sizeable support, the club is struggling to keep its Fratton Park stadium open.
May 2 – Tottenham Hotspur will play just one more game at its current White Hart Lane stadium, against Manchester United on May 14, before bulldozers move in and demolish the structure to make way for the new stadium to take its place.
By Paul Nicholson
April 27 – News that China’s Lander Sports boss Gao Jisheng has failed the Premier League’s fit and proper person test has opened the door to a rival consortium to move in and complete their own £225 million takeover of south coast club Southampton.
By David Owen
April 27 – AFC Bournemouth, the south-coast club growing accustomed to life in the English top flight, have reported a profit for their first-ever season in the Premier League. For the year to 31 July 2016, the Cherries posted pre-tax profits of £3.4 million. This compared with a restated loss of £39.4 million the previous season.
By Paul Nicholson
April 25 – A leading executive of one of Hull City’s suitors for club ownership has been arrested in Hong Kong raising questions over the progress of the sale that has been on-going since the start of the season.
By Paul Nicholson
April 25 – Multi-club ownership has gained an increased profile with City Football Group’s (CFG) recent addition of Atlético Torque (Uruguay) to their portfolio, while Atlético de Madrid have invested in Atlético San Luis (Mexico) and AS Monaco have agreed to acquire Cercle Brugge KSV (Belgium). But is it the pathway to financial profit?
April 20 – The new Premier League TV deal came in the nick of time for the English top division’s 20 clubs, which have run up an aggregate loss in 2015-16 after two seasons of impressive profits.
By Paul Nicholson
April 19 – The news that Lander Sports had pulled out of the £210 million+ acquisition of Premier League Southampton was premature. Even if Lander fail to raise the cash to complete the sale, a second, as yet unnamed, bidder from China is waiting in the wings and has the money ready to proceed.
April 18 – New owner, a new stadium and a new stock market listing. AC Milan has completed one of the three with the new owners promising that the other two are on the cards.
By Paul Nicholson
April 18 – China’s march into European club ownership looks to have been halted with the announcement by Lander Sports that it is shelving plans to buy Premier League Southampton.
By David Owen
April 17 – Newcastle United, the Tyneside club close to sealing an immediate return to the Premier League under big-name Spanish manager Rafa Benítez, have reported a sharp downturn in profits for their relegation season. Pre-tax profit plunged to £4.2 million for the year to 30 June 2016, against £36.2 million, the second-highest in the league, in 2014-15.
By Paul Nicholson
April 13 – Silvio Berlusconi has completed his long running sale of Serie A giants AC Milan to Chinese-owned Rossoneri Sport Luxembourg for €740 million.
By Paul Nicholson
April 13 – The last eight teams in the Champions League quarter finals show a disparity of income that would indicate the 2017 winners will almost inevitable be one of Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. But with Juventus taking a three goal lead into their second leg at Barcelona and Real Madrid or Bayern destined to knock one or the other out, the comparative have-nots might still have their day.
By Paul Nicholson
April 13 – Manchester United pay their players on average 281 times more than their fans earn, the third highest differential in Europe, only beaten by Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid who pay their players 350 times what the average fan earns.