13 Jun 2019 19:28:19
Here's a serious question around the Fair play regulations restricting levels of investment. Anyone got their head around the rules, how they work and regarding the current 3 year period what kind of level of investment on players and salaries would be permitted for us.

I'm assuming that these rules exist for a reason and even if our prospective Qatar suitors buy us that there would be a limit to how much they could invest?

Anyone know?

{Ed002's Note - It is a rolling three year period. New owners can by December 31 agree with the EFL one of additional (but reasonable) investment. for the following year}


1.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 10:00:47
Thanks Ed,

Just wondered given the constant clamoring for new players and more investment, whether anyone with a good financial brain and fine calculator could look at our financial information and work out what the maximum levels of investment and salaries could be?

{Ed002's Note - I have no inclination or time to do that.}


2.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 10:40:08
Don’t blame you Ed! Perhaps one of the posters who believes we should splash more cash could take it on. It would give some factual weight to the argument if we could say in 2019/ 20 without selling any other players, the rules would allow us to spend $?

{Ed002's Note - Players will have to be sold to make space in the squad.


3.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 12:40:21
My view from the other day:

The way i understand it we are comfortably within the limits imposed by the EFL having a £12.2m deficit for the three season cycle 2015/ 18. We are allowed up to £15m without any input from the owner and £39m if the owner makes up the defecit. So to my mind that means we could spend £26.8m this season if we wanted to and still be within the limits providing the owner stumps up some cash, in our case, to the tune of £24m. That would be plenty to get some decent players in.

Even if you factored in the operating losses of £4.3m. Hell, let's round that up to $5m operating losses and we would still be able to spend £21.8m this season and be compliant.

We make the most revenue in the league (discounting clubs with parachute payments) of £40.7m so how we still make a loss of £4.3m is also a bit of a worry for me and that was after we took into account £18.1m generated through player sales (although to be fair we also invested over £10m in new players and their wages) . we hardly broke the bank though.


4.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 12:48:43
I nominate Whiteman to take it on.


5.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 13:11:25
Bit lazy that ed.
Get your finger out. Remember it's us that pay your wages! 😂💰💰💰.

{Ed001's Note - he is a volunteer mate, we couldn't afford his wages!}


6.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 14:44:31
Thanks Alf, that gives us some numbers. Presumably 2018/ 19 needs to be added onto that which is supposed to be a bigger loss?

I tried to real the rules a bit and then I woke up! I did see that youth development costs can be discounted. I’m assuming that that doesn’t mean the under 23 team or that would be an enormous loophole.

I would be interested to see if the club agreed with that analysis.


7.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 17:45:30
So where does that £50 a month subscription go then. I set up the direct debit to the bank account details he sent me! 😉😉.

{Ed001's Note - are you the one that responds to those Nigerian prince's emails as well?}


8.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 19:40:50
Doesn't everyone. I've also adopted a donkey and Eeyore, Eeyore, Eeyorelways sends me a photo every month! 😂🐴.


9.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 22:19:27
My view from the other day.
£26.8 million is nothing. Whack wages on that, then at best you’re getting two average £10 million players. The structure of football has changed. No longer can championship clubs pay top dollar for players! Nor can they sustain a wage bill that is excessive. Post numbers, but do the real P&L first.


10.) 14 Jun 2019
14 Jun 2019 23:10:58
It’s a good discussion Bright, the numbers should be known and understand because that’s the limit f investment that also needs to be sustainable.