24 Jan 2014 15:41:32
Sustaining our challenge for Champion's League football has just got harder. I see we have slipped to 14th on the Deloitte the rich list.

The 5 biggest Premiership clubs are now between 40% and 146% richer than us.

In real terms, this means that they all earn at least £100m to £200m a year more than we do, except Liverpool, which has to rub along on a paltry £59m more.

Manchester United and Arsenal have match day revenues that are more than twice ours and only those of Manchester City are the same. All have bigger broadcasting revenues.

However, the real difference is in commercial revenue. Manchester United gets £133m a year more than we do, City £98m more and Liverpool £53m more. Even Arsenal, which got locked into some poor commercial deals because of the need to finance the Emirates, gets £28m more than us.

Of course we need the new stadium to generate additional match day revenue and we need Champion's League football to boost the broadcasting revenues but there is also a lot of work that urgently needs to be done on the commercial side.

1.) 24 Jan 2014
Good post km
Couldn't agree more.
I'm wondering if selling bale has harmed our image to attract top sponsors etc

2.) 25 Jan 2014
Liverpool will be much worse affected than us should they fail to make champs league, what with their injury problems looks unlikely.
Their owners been pouring money down holes suffering big losses, while the squad will need reinventing should Suarezleave which will prove very difficult.

United are in a similarpredicament to this. Financially we are among the best positions in the league.

3.) 29 Jan 2014
Sorry not to be arrogant and by no means am I assured we'll make top 4 but to say liverpool are unlikely is ridiculous. We have the 1st and 3rd top goal scorers in the league (both of which have missed a large amount of games) we have Enrique, sakho, and agger back soon. Sturrridge back and scoring goals, with Lucas' injury not as bad as thought (back relatively soon) and probably the best player in the league. Only have Man U away from home from the big games, beat spurs at HOME 0-5 beat Everton 4-0 whilst missing a penalty. Fair enough both sides were done by poor officials (if you think you're offsides was bad, see sterlings) but we outplayed city at their home ground whilst you were lucky not to be 3-0 down by half time. Now we have a decent chance at top 4 and so do you but I just found saying we'll get top 4 unlikely a bit unfair, but tbh as long as United don't finish top 4 I'm happy!