Football

[Falcon1200]

The link above says the score was 1-1 in its headline.

It does, but I have no idea why; The score was of course 1-0 to the mighty Yellows!

 

[Cross City]

Very much enjoyed Blues putting Wrexham in their place last night. St Andrews back to it's hostile best.

 

[PauloDavesi]

Birmingham City are, now, an example of a well run club, record season ticket sales, increased attendences, increased high yeilding hospitality sales and increached merch sales. Means greater revenues to boost the cash flow and allow further investment in the squad, and ground.

 

[gg1]

Birmingham City are, now, an example of a well run club, record season ticket sales, increased attendences, increased high yeilding hospitality sales and increached merch sales. Means greater revenues to boost the cash flow and allow further investment in the squad, and ground.

Aside from the fact they almost certainly wouldn't have been relegated to league 1 in the first place if the current owners didn't have the brainwave of sacking John Eustace and replacing him with Wayne Rooney, who's record of 2 wins in 15 games dropped the club from 5th to 20th in the league.

 

[PauloDavesi]

That is true, but after years of been run down by criminal owners who failed to invest, the change is wonderful, and has the total rebuild and development this summer has made the whole business much better.
There is still a long way to go to make the club totally efficient and fully sustainable, but it is no longer a business in a terminal decline.

Relagation was a little stumble on the journey towards a successful future.

 

[Haywain]

Birmingham City are, now, an example of a well run club,

Time will tell whether that is really the case, or whether it is just another club have vast amounts of money pumped into it by owners on an ego trip.

 

[Cross City]

Aside from the fact they almost certainly wouldn't have been relegated to league 1 in the first place if the current owners didn't have the brainwave of sacking John Eustace and replacing him with Wayne Rooney, who's record of 2 wins in 15 games dropped the club from 5th to 20th in the league.

A mistake they publically acknowledged and recified qucikly. I'd say Mowbray's illness had just as much, or if not an even larger, effect on us getting relegated last year.

Of course that on top of 10 years of under-investment in the squad and the stadium by the previous regime finally coming home to roost. Funny how nobody cared to even criticise our last owners despite them being literal criminals but when the Americans come in who want to do good things everybody and their dog lines up to have a pop.

They've spend £50m on land for a new stadium, £20m tarting up a ground we'll be moving out of, invested smartly (but yes heavily) in the squad, increased our revenue to be the highest out of ANY EFL club apart from the ones receiving Premier League parachute payments enabling us top afford all of this, and they've done excellent charity work in the community throughout the city. By any measure they are excellent owners.

 

[DarloRich]

Birmingham City are, now, an example of a well run club, record season ticket sales, increased attendences, increased high yeilding hospitality sales and increached merch sales. Means greater revenues to boost the cash flow and allow further investment in the squad, and ground.

that is a brave statement to make in relation to any football club! How much debt is being loaded? Who owns what and on what terms? etc etc

 

[Haywain]

Funny how nobody cared to even criticise our last owners despite them being literal criminals

I don't know if they were actually criminals, but I heard and saw plenty of criticism. I don't really understand how you could have missed it.

 

[Cross City]

I don't know if they were actually criminals, but I heard and saw plenty of criticism. I don't really understand how you could have missed it.

Not by them mass media to even 1% of the current levels, and not by the general footballing community who now can't wait to shove their 2p in.

 

[Haywain]

the general footballing community who now can't wait to shove their 2p in

Ah, so you mean those of us questioning the idea that the club is now well run? I'm afraid that if you shout from the rooftops about how wonderful you are, then you have to accept some scepticism in return. And I would point out that your CEO wanting matches to take place thousands of miles away won't help your cause.

 

[gg1]

Not by them mass media to even 1% of the current levels, and not by the general footballing community who now can't wait to shove their 2p in.

That's because nobody had heard of them prior to them buying Blues and they didn't really do anything to draw attention to themselves nationally, generally trying to avoid publicity. They were undeniably useless as owners and very possibly a bit on the dodgy side but that's not especially unusual as English football club owners go.

The current owners however have a global name as their public face in Tom Brady and are splashing the money around at unprecedented levels for a league 1 club so of course they're going to get much closer scrutiny.

 

[PauloDavesi]

The new owners, the Knighthead Group, appear to be doing the right thing.
They have invested heavily in the sqyad, but also done a through upgrade and restoration of St andrews, they've invested heavily in both training grounds and the academy, as well as revamping the retail organisation, a new ticketing system and an agreement with a world leading stadium mansgement compsny to further develop nd improve the customer experience.
Record season ticket sales, sold out home games and record hospitality sales do suggest the business is greatly increasing its revenues, plus increased TV revenues. Last nights game was shown live on CBS sports in the USA, not only bringing in a good rights fee, but also adding value to the clubs sponsors, which now include Delta Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the world. None of which would have happened under the previous ownership.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I would take Bury in the next round. Obviously we will draw coined up celebrity super club Macclesfield.

In the draw for the FA CUP 3rd qualifying round, Darlo have been drawn at home to Gainsborough Trinity who play in the same league as Hyde United, Northern Premier League, Premier Division. They finished 4th last season, but lost in the play-offs on penalties. They are a difficult side to play against.

Bury, on the other hand, have been drawn away to their local neighbours, Radcliffe, who play in the same league as Darlo.

 

[Donny Dave]

Providing Scunthorpe United get through their replay tonight, then the reward is a trip to Guiseley in the next round.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Birmingham City are, now, an example of a well run club, record season ticket sales, increased attendences, increased high yeilding hospitality sales and increached merch sales.

In the year ended 30JUN2023, they (Birmingham City FC Limited) reported a loss for the year of -GBP25.4mln on football related revenue of GBP19mln. Year before that, it was a loss of -GBP24.8mln on a slightly smaller revenue figure of GBP17.6mln. Total liabilities exceeded total assets by GBP71.4mln as at 30JUN2023. Not really a sustainable business model had that continued as was.

 

[PauloDavesi]

Yes, those are the figures for the period before Knighthead bought the club. As the previous owners still, currently, hold 51% of the share, and are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the financial results for the 23/24 year are due to be published soon. Theose figures should be better, and the 24/25 results should show a significant improvement, with vastly increased turnover.

Dan Ivery at www.almajir.net has some excellent articles on the business side of the club.

 

[dangie]

Manager less Stoke have just thrashed the mighty Fleetwood Town in the League Cup 3rd Round.
Well ok it was 1-1 at full time & still 1-1 after extra time, but Stoke did pull it out of the bag with a resounding 2-1 win on penalties.
I fear the new manager, whoever the poor soul is, will have his work cut out.

 

[150249]

Some interesting events today such as the Zagreb keeper having to pick the ball out the back of his net 11 times and Preston vs Fulham treating us to a shootout with 34 penalties taken

 

[dangie]

…. and Preston vs Fulham treating us to a shootout with 34 penalties taken

I believe out of the 34 penalties only 3 were missed. Excellent penalty taking.
Compared with Stoke vs Fleetwood, 10 penalties taken only 3 were scored. Absolutely terrible.

At Preston vs Fulham spectators at one end witnessed a goal fest. Those at the other end needed binoculars.

 

[Haywain]

Reading are stuck with owner Dai Yongge for a bit longer as agreement with a potential buyer hasn't been reached during the exclusivity period. Talks continue with that group and other interested parties.

I posted the above comment on June 5th, since when Reading have been negotiating a takeover by former Wycombe owner Rob Couhig. However, today it has been revealed that he too has pulled out after failing to get final agreement to sign the contract. So Reading fans are back where they were, stuck with Dai Yongge. I imagine they'll be thinking about a protest against him for their forthcoming televised match at home to Huddersfield on Saturday 28th. In the meantime it looks like the sell-on fee they received from Michael Olise's transfer (from Crystal Palace to Bayern) is keeping the club going.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I believe out of the 34 penalties only 3 were missed. Excellent penalty taking.
Compared with Stoke vs Fleetwood, 10 penalties taken only 3 were scored. Absolutely terrible.

At Preston vs Fulham spectators at one end witnessed a goal fest. Those at the other end needed binoculars.

Only 9, I think, but yes still awful for professional footballers

 

[Lewisham2221]

Only 9, I think, but yes still awful for professional footballers

Yeah, just the 9. It's not even like any of the saves were exceptional, either.

 

[DarloRich]

In the draw for the FA CUP 3rd qualifying round, Darlo have been drawn at home to Gainsborough Trinity who play in the same league as Hyde United, Northern Premier League, Premier Division. They finished 4th last season, but lost in the play-offs on penalties. They are a difficult side to play against.

Bury, on the other hand, have been drawn away to their local neighbours, Radcliffe, who play in the same league as Darlo.

Happy with that as a draw. Radcliffe have the Salford chuckle brothers as managers so they will be a rugged team

Theose figures should be better, and the 24/25 results should show a significant improvement, with vastly increased turnover.

repeating: Where is the debt getting loaded? Who is actually paying for all this?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2024 ==

I posted the above comment on June 5th, since when Reading have been negotiating a takeover by former Wycombe owner Rob Couhig. However, today it has been revealed that he too has pulled out after failing to get final agreement to sign the contract. So Reading fans are back where they were, stuck with Dai Yongge.

Fit and proper person test................

 

[Haywain]

Fit and proper person test...

It’s better now than it was, but it can only ever look at a moment in time and not what people’s future intentions might be.

 

[DarloRich]

It’s better now than it was, but it can only ever look at a moment in time and not what people’s future intentions might be.

agreed - but does anyone fail the test? Putin maybe

You should have to put up a good behaviour bond out of your own pocket ( Not a loan, not a fancy debt instrument, not debt loaded against the club, not fake bit coin. Cash. Cold hard cash. Your cash out of your pocket) before being allowed to own or control a club.

 

[Haywain]

agreed - but does anyone fail the test? Putin maybe

You should have to put up a good behaviour bond out of your own pocket ( Not a loan, not a fancy debt instrument, not debt loaded against the club, not fake bit coin. Cash. Cold hard cash. Your cash out of your pocket) before being allowed to own or control a club.

Several people have failed the test in recent years - it’s certainly why Everton and Morecambe still haven’t changed ownership. Putting up a bond is no different to the proof of funding that is required now, but how much would you expect it to be? What is needed, in my view, is an annual licensing system but that wouldn’t be perfect.

 

[DarloRich]

Putting up a bond is no different to the proof of funding that is required now, but how much would you expect it to be?

Proof of funding could ( will be?) be someone else's money though. The tests are a joke. Turn up, wear a suit, don't call the FA chunts, have an excel business plan, shake hands, pocket the cash, strip the assets. Fit and proper.

My big issue is that the penalty for turning out to be a wrong un is basically nothing. The guy who tired and nearly managed to kill my football club now owns Hartlepooh. I don't like the hangers but they don't deserve him as an owner and in my view he shouldn't be allowed to own/run another football club !

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Sep 2024 ==

in my view, is an annual licensing system but that wouldn’t be perfect.

In seriousness I agree -owners should be licensed and have that license revoked if they behave badly/breach agreed financial performance/health measures. I am sure I read something by/for Gary Neville about this and it seemed like a sensible starting point.

What happens once the license is revoked is an open question!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In what other major British sports are there similar needs for club owners to meet a suitability of ownership stricture?

 

[Haywain]

Proof of funding could ( will be?) be someone else's money though.

So could a bond. If you mortgage your house is the money you receive yours or someone else’s.

The tests are a joke. Turn up, wear a suit, don't call the FA chunts, have an excel business plan, shake hands, pocket the cash, strip the assets. Fit and proper.

Clearly not the case with the EFL and Premier League, and the FA have much a much lower bar, which is understandable for the levels they govern.

What happens once the license is revoked is an open question!

And that’s the problem whatever system you use - you cannot force an unwilling owner to leave (see Fleetwood Town, Macclesfield Town, Bury).