13 Apr 2026 22:38:00
Chelsea's financial reports were released today. From the people I have spoken to at work it is not an overly healthy read. Things aren't going too well but the real measuring point will be next year at the refinancing stage. Apparently this is when we will be able to accurately understand whether financially things are going okay and it will be visible only at this point, though indications now don't show it to be a return on investment for Clearlake.
Also, for anyone seriously worried, don't be, the club has enough assets in players to sell off to generate principal.
Just thought I'd share. Could be worse, we could be Spurs.
14 Apr 2026 09:00:50
And, people said that the owners knew what they were doing by losing circa £40mil a season through a lack of FOS. They seem to be brilliant businessmen.
14 Apr 2026 09:14:33
I may well be wrong, but I don’t think the owners have dropped £40m per season from FOS sponsorship.
The first season a solution was found with a book value of approx £40m, the second season, they eventually got an end-of-season sponsor, supposedly £20m, and we have had another late entry this season, again rumour says £20m for this season. They have also picked up other very lucrative shirt sponsor deals.
As I posted some time ago, my mate, the accountant, when telling me about the 2027 loan negotiations, said if we take £40m per season as a benchmark we are about £10m down on that number over the three seasons.
Of course, we could have been well in front of that number if we had shirt sponsors for complete seasons.
I have zero way of knowing how accurate his assessment was, but we certainly are "not" £120m down.
14 Apr 2026 10:15:24
Not £120mil down, Tom, but certainly not £120mil up.
14 Apr 2026 10:16:42
I also think ticket prices will continue to rocket and ordinary young fans will be priced out of the Bridge.
14 Apr 2026 11:54:19
It highlights just how much Roman carried us for all those years, losing £150 to £200 million of his own money each season in pursuit of glory and trophies. We really were punching way above our weight. The new owners are working hard to stay within the new financial regulations, and these things take time.
14 Apr 2026 12:15:57
Bill, my guess is we are about £40m down on FOS sponsor deals over the three year period.
I have no idea if ticket prices will go up for next season, but I think it would be outrageous if they do, as mine went up by 15% last season.
14 Apr 2026 13:18:20
They have to find money from somewhere, Tom, and if they could not get long term sponsors after qualifying for the CL, they have no chance once we are not in it. Ticket prices rising will be the way they recoup funds.
14 Apr 2026 13:54:31
I'm not sure a further rise in ticket prices achieves that much revenue, but I am sure it will cause more disquiet from fans.
14 Apr 2026 13:56:08
You can argue the toss about how much money that has been lost, but failing to secure a long term FOS deal is just another indication of how badly run this club is. I see a bad moon rising.
14 Apr 2026 14:50:17
Could not agree more, Jimbo, and they call themselves businessmen. They might be in other industries, but definitely not football.
14 Apr 2026 15:06:55
Bill, would you describe the Spurs owners as good football businessmen?
14 Apr 2026 16:44:05
From a fans' perspective, not having a FOS for long periods of any season is bizarre, and I have long since run out of reasons as to why this has happened. It makes so little sense that I'm left feeling there must be a valid reason.
Maybe one day the club ownership may choose to communicate with the fans.
14 Apr 2026 18:34:28
Greenaway, the Spurs owners have screwed up on the football side of things, but they built a top-class stadium, increased revenue considerably, and have FOS sponsorship. Our owners have screwed up on everything!
Strangely, I don't think Spurs will get relegated.
14 Apr 2026 19:01:17
I may well be wrong, but aren't the Spuds also carrying a huge debt that may well be difficult to service if they do (I hope so), get relegated.