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Look out, taxman about !

Wednesday, 28 July 2010
By Peter Sharkey - www.pressandjournal.co.uk

newspaper_clip_art HM Revenue and Customs are expected to take a closer look at clubs’ finances in the future

In earlier years, football supporters have commenced their collective countdown to a new campaign around mid-July when improbable-looking match-ups, staged as one-paced friendly fixtures, begin demanding their attention.

This year, however, anecdotal evidence suggests a dour, dull World Cup has dampened enthusiasm for the forthcoming football season – not great news for an industry already under enormous financial pressure.

According to some experts, clubs face continued commercial strain throughout 2010-11 because revenues are expected to remain flat, player costs expected to rise and, most importantly, scrutiny from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is expected to intensify.

Football is not immune from the recession’s impact, which means it is highly unlikely there will be any marked increase in several of the game’s most valuable revenue streams.

Mallorca not admitted to UEFA competition

Tuesday, 27 July 2010
By www.uefa.com

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The UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body has ruled that Spanish club RCD Mallorca does not meet the necessary admission criteria for participating in the 2010/11 UEFA club competitions.

At its meeting today in Nyon, the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body decided that the Spanish club RCD Mallorca is not admitted to the UEFA club competitions for the 2010/11 season.

On the basis of all expert reviews which have been undertaken, the Control and Disciplinary Body ruled that the club does not fulfil the necessary admission criteria (Article 2.07 of the Regulations of the UEFA Europa League), as the licence of the club was not granted in accordance with the UEFA Club Licensing Regulations, 2008 edition, and the club has not fulfilled its obligations as defined in these regulations.

An appeal may be lodged against the Control and Disciplinary Body's decision within three days of the dispatch of the reasoned decision.

What is a big club?

Sunday, 25 July 2010
By Wyn Grant - www.footballeconomy.com

newspaper_clip_art Joe Cole's comment that Liverpool are the biggest club in the country provoked a debate on Radio 5 this morning. There is no one criterion that determines whether a club is big or not. Attendances and the size of the stadium are certainly part of the picture and honours are also a criterion. But supposing most of them were won a long time ago? Does the fact that Nottingham Forest won the European Cup twice make it a big club? Is Liverpool's claim based largely on the fact that it has won the European competition five times and can claim its own replica trophy?

Simon Chadwick from Coventry University was interviewed about this topic on Radio 5 and he brought in the criterion of global recognition. On that basis the two biggest clubs in England are Manchester United and Liverpool. Arsenal and Chelsea are some way behind in the global recognition stakes.

Serie B - Ancona among sides barred for finances

Thursday, 22 July 2010
By Reuters

newspaper_clip_art Serie B side Ancona and 20 teams from the Italian lower divisions were blocked from competing in the coming season because of financial problems.

The Italian football federation said in a statement the decision had come after the country's football finance watchdog deemed the clubs' balance sheets too precarious.

"Serie B side Ancona and 20 Lega Pro clubs will not be readmitted to their championships after the consideration of Covisoc's findings," the statement said.

Italian football has been hit hard by the global economic crisis given smaller clubs were struggling even before the recession.

Fifteen other semi-pro clubs in the lower divisions had already been dropped from their championships because of money woes.

Sheffield Wednesday served winding up order by HMRC

Monday, 26 July 2010
By BBC Sport

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Sheffield Wednesday have been served a winding up order by HM Revenue and Customs over an unpaid tax bill.

The action by HMRC relates to an outstanding PAYE balance which amounts to £550,000.

The club, who remain confident that the outstanding debt can be paid, will appear at the High Court on 11 August.

A club spokesman said: "We have been involved in dialogue with HMRC for a number of weeks. As such, we are disappointed by their decision."

He added: "Sheffield Wednesday would like to inform supporters their club is not about to be wound up.

"We understand that HMRC is taking a tougher line in general with football clubs, but feel their actions are disproportionate and will raise unnecessary speculation as to the financial situation of the club.

Cost of football hits a two-year low

Sunday, 25 July 2010
By Virgin Money

newspaper_clip_art * Virgin Money’s Football Fans’ Inflation Index falls 5.2% in a year

* Clubs cut ticket prices and replica shirt costs

The cost of following football has fallen to a two-year low as clubs across all divisions cut ticket prices and replica shirt costs in a bid to keep fans onside, according to Virgin Money’s authoritative Football Fans’ Index.

In sharp contrast to rising prices in the wider economy where the Consumer Price Index has hit a 17-month high of 3.7%, inflation for football fans has fallen 5.2% in the past year, Virgin Money’s research shows.

And that means the cost of attending a game is now at its lowest level since April 2008 with the price fall mainly attributable to football clubs across the Premiership, Championship and Divisions 1 and 2 cutting back in order to ensure stadiums are still packed.

Greg Clarke gets serious with League clubs over salary caps

Wednesday, 21 July 2010
By Matt Scott - The Guardian

newspaper_clip_art • Football League chairman sets up working groups on caps

• Groups to report back within two months on feasibility

Greg Clarke is attempting to convince all Football League clubs that the time has come to introduce a salary cap. Clarke's predecessor as League chairman, Lord Mawhinney, held dinners at the House of Lords for all 72 club owners but was unable to gain traction for the idea beyond its introduction in League Two.

Now Clarke, a former chief executive of the then FTSE100 conglomerate Cable & Wireless, has set out the business case for a rule change after a presentation to the Football League AGM in Malta last month. Since then the League has set up a working group in each of its three divisions looking at how to develop workable cost controls by which all 72 clubs can be bound. Persuading the Championship to adopt a salary cap may prove beyond him, but Clarke is tackling the issue head‑on and sits on the Championship task force alongside the League's finance director, Tad Detko, and representatives of four of its 24 clubs including Nottingham Forest and Sheffield United.