This week at Premier London derbies (PLDs) we are considering the finances of our London Clubs in the F.A. Premier League (F.A.P.L.) as best we may know them, The income revenue of the Clubs comes from a number of different sources: season ticket sales; match day gate receipts; hospitality spending; merchandise and shirt sales; F.A.P.L. prize money for league position at the end of the season; the same in the F.A. Cup and EFL Carabao (“League”) Cup; EUFA prize money for those in the European competitions; and T.V. and broadcasting money. You may think of others. It is estimated that the F.A.P.L. will lose at least £750 million if this season is not completed.
The following table shows the reported total revenue; profit (+) or loss (-) balance; and what percentage of revenue goes in wages (%wages) of PLDs Clubs and selected others:
Club Revenue profit/loss %wages
Manchester United £627 m +£50 m 53%
Manchester City £535 m +£17 m 59%
Liverpool £533 m +£46 m 58%
Tottenham Hotspur £461 m +£69 m 41%
Chelsea £447 m -£102 m 64%
Arsenal £396 m -£20 m 59%
West Ham United £191 m -£24 m 71%
Crystal Palace £150 m -£37 m 78%
Watford £148 m +£16 m 57%
Fulham £138 m -£20 m 67%
N.B. these figures are for the 2018-2019 season except Palace’s for 2017-2018.
It is of interest that only Spurs, who have been the butt of much criticism over applying to the Government scheme to furlough non-playing staff’s wages, of the PLDs Clubs within the M25 made a profit. They also have by far the lowest percentage of revenue going into wages. Is this being mean to players (and their Agents!) and staff, or running a business well? Is part of that business acumen using the Government support, offered to the business world in general, appropriately whatever public and professional opinion? Of the smaller income Clubs only Watford made a profit and they too have a percentage wages to revenue figure (57%) in line with those of the bigger income Clubs. West Ham United and Crystal Palaceare saddled with very high %wages figures, as were Fulham in the 2018-2019 season in an attempt to stop being relegated. All of these Clubs and Arsenal and Chelsea would welcome any temporary reduction in their wages bill as proposed by the F.A.P.L.
If you are an essential worker “Thank you”, all keep safe and well, Andrew at PLDs.