West Ham get bullish with eToro sponsorship
June 5 – Premier League club West Ham, situated in east London and close to the City of London financial centre, has signed a three year sponsorship with on-line ‘social’ trading site eToro.
Premier League
Liverpool to open 2015 pre-season tour in Thailand
June 4 – Premier League Liverpool have added a fourth date to their pre-season tour which will now start in Thailand, against the True All Stars, on July 14. The team will then move on to play two fixtures in Australia, before stopping off in Malaysia on the return leg.
Premier League clubs turn in £187m aggregate profit, the first for 15 years
By David Owen
June 4 – English Premier League clubs achieved their first aggregate pre-tax profit for 15 years in 2013-14, as lucrative new broadcasting deals combined with more effective cost control to spark a remarkable financial turnaround.
Sunderland sign new 3-year shirt sponsorship with Dafabet
By Mark Baber
June 2 – Having narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League, Sunderland AFC have announced that AsianBGE’s Cagayan Economic Zone, Philippines-based Dafabet, is the club’s new principal partner and shirt sponsor for the 2015-16 season in a three year deal.
Man Utd revenue down 14.1% but business readied for return to European riches
By Paul Nicholson
May 15 – Manchester United’s third quarter financial results announcement was all about looking to the future as the club looks forward to the financial importance of a return to Champions League football and an expectation that it will be competitive in all competitions.
Gerrard’s Anfield finale becomes hottest ticket of the weekend
May 13 – Tickets for Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s last ever home game for the club where he has spent 17 years are being exchanged for a staggering £1,300, such is the legendary status of the former England skipper.
Is the world’s richest black person gunning for the Arsenal?
By Mark Baber
May 12 – Widely believed to be the world’s richest black person and the richest African, Aliko Dangote, has opened up media speculation by publicly expressing interest in purchasing Arsenal football club.
QPR’s relegation forces them into an even higher stakes FFP game
By Paul Nicholson
May 12 – QPR have reacted fast to potential Financial Fair Play penalties of as much as £58 million following their impending relegation from the Premier League to the Championship.
Old Trafford keeps name, but players to swap Porsches for Chevys?
By Mark Baber
May 11 – As the 10 year anniversary of the Glazer takeover of Manchester United approaches, a story has emerged that the Florida-based owners have ruled out selling Old Trafford’s naming rights. Meanwhile another mischievous story suggests United players have had to be ordered to drive their sponsor-provided Chevrolets.
Race for Guardiola on as Bayern lose faith, Man City look for saviour
May 11 – Although the league season across Europe isn’t quite over, the managerial rumour mill is already in full swing – with Pep Guardiola’s switch to Manchester City top of the list.
QPR thinks big with training ground plan, and bigger with new stadium project
May 6 – QPR may be battling to hold on to their Premier League status, but any fears of relegation have not stopped the club investing in its own future with a revised planning application having been submitted for a new training ground at Warren Farm in Ealing, London.
Howe much is Bournemouth’s promotion worth? At least £130 million
By David Owen
May 3 – AFC Bournemouth’s remarkable promotion to the English Premier League will assure the south-coast club of at least £130 million of extra revenue, according to Deloitte, the business advisory firm.
Jail time for former Premier League star turned match-fixing ‘middleman’
April 30 – Former English Premier League footballer Delroy Facey has been jailed for two and a half years after being convicted of conspiring to bribe non-league players.
Man Utd to face Barca, PSG, Club America and the Quakes in July
April 29 – Manchester United have released dates for their pre-season tour to the US this summer as well as changes to the opponents they had initially said they will face in the ‘International Champions Cup’.
Stunning Bournemouth journey from rags to Premier League riches
By Andrew Warshaw
April 28 – There are heartwarming football stories. And then there is the story of Bournemouth. Celebration and euphoria were mixed with sheer disbelief last night when the tiny club on the English south coast, close to oblivion only a few years ago, effectively sealed their promotion to the top flight of the Premier League for the first time in their 116-year history.