06 Apr 2026 13:50:16
I have been reading about the truly colossal amount of debt in the whole football pyramind within the UK and how clubs would literally be going to the wall if it wasn't for sugar daddy owners propping them up. I thought FFP or whatever it is now called was supposed to prevent this? to take one club as an example purely because we have a very loose connection with them in as much as our former manager Enzo Maresca managed to take them up from the championship to the premiership Leicester are over £300 million in debt, surely they are close to administration? even the Premier League is awash with debt at record highs exceeding £5 billion and driven by stadium developments and transfer spending, high-debt clubs include Tottenham Hotspur at 1.2 billion, Everton £580 million and Manchester United £1.2 billion. Most clubs operate at a loss, with wages and transfer fees absorbing 90% of revenue.
Some clubs like Bouremouth have huge debts with banks whilst others like Newcastle have huge debts with their owners (as we did with Roman).
With the rise in the cost of living together with an uncertain world and a declining spectacle being offered up in the Premier League it makes you wonder if prudence is now the best approach.
ED01, I always enjoy your views on such matters if you have time.
{Ed001's Note - it doesn't deal with debt at all, which is one of the main reasons it is such a waste of time as a regulation.}
06 Apr 2026 15:51:30
I sent a complete proposal to all the governing bodies some time ago. This included an insurance policy (bond) that owners had to have in place to secure the future of the clubs they supposedly own.
I didn't even get an acknowledgment of receipt from any regulator. They probably thought I was a crank. I am.
{Ed001's Note - I think it is a very good idea.}
06 Apr 2026 16:12:13
You are not Tom. It's an ideal solution.
06 Apr 2026 16:30:52
Any chance you could share your proposal on here Tom so we can have a look please?
ED01, do you think the governing bodies are at all concerned about the spiralling debt running through football in the UK?
{Ed001's Note - they must be concerned, but I think they see it as a chance to cut down on the number of clubs and make it easier to control the leagues. And, most importantly of all, require them to share less of the wealth around and enable the FA and Premier League to hoard more to themselves.}
06 Apr 2026 18:17:56
RBD, a bond is placed into an escrow account. This is to cover one year's salary for Every member of staff, plus any debt.
Any club can spend whatever it wants, but then also has to increase the value of its bond by an equivalent value.
It's simple. It allows clubs to spend, but other clubs could benefit from any trickle-down transfers. It's simple, and it also guarantees a club's existence if the owner goes strange ways!!
06 Apr 2026 19:10:11
Tom, although I have serious misgivings about the owners' direction and understanding of football culture, I don't have concerns about their financial stewardship of the club. I don't see them jumping ship. As for the future of football finance, the attempted European Super League is an indication of what might happen.
I can foresee issues, first with the Premier League. The so-called big clubs will eventually want to have a bigger share of the broadcasting revenue, as happens in Spain with Madrid and Barca. The goose has only so many golden eggs.
06 Apr 2026 19:35:08
Jimbo, I have always had serious misgivings about our current owners' financial stewardship of our club. I didn't want them as our owners, but then it became a needs must situation.
I understand there is a restrictive covenant stopping the resale of our club for several years.
I think that clause may well end up being tested.
I have no inside knowledge, this is just me guessing.
07 Apr 2026 08:26:37
Tom, my comments were based on an impression. Obviously, I have no knowledge of the ins and outs of the financial operation, and perhaps your concerns may well be right. As for the covenant and other conditions of sale, I have always wondered how, and by whom, they could be enforced, and whether they are legally enforceable at all.
07 Apr 2026 09:35:07
You are correct, Tom, the new (not so new now) owners could not sell for 10 years and were down to Roman's wishes to protect the club, although in hindsight, it may trap owners who do not want to be there and have no further interest in moving us forward.
07 Apr 2026 11:19:03
Bill, I'm certainly not an accountant, and it's hard to work out what is financial fact or fiction, but a guy in our season ticket group says the club has to restructure its loans/debt in 2027.
That was the only time I have heard mention of this subject or deadline. I'm hoping it's all a load of "crap." Of course, this could all be in the BP and quite normal procedure.