FOOTBALL OBSERVER

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

 

Everton's Financial Loss

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Guardian/Andy Hunter

Everton suffer £6.7m annual loss despite record £79.7m turnover• Increase in player wages central to disappointing figures
• Club still keen to build new stadium after Kirkby rejection

The cost of Everton's pursuit of Champions League football was exposed yesterday as the club posted a record turnover of £79.7m for last season yet still suffered an overall operating loss of £6.7m. The figures come less than a week after the club's long-term future under Bill Kenwright and David Moyes was placed in doubt by the government's rejection of a proposed stadium move to Kirkby.

The latest financial results are for the year ending 31 May 2009 and Everton's most productive season in over a decade; courtesy of a second successive fifth-placed finish in the Premier League plus an FA Cup final. The increase in broadcasting revenue and gate receipts helped produce a record turnover, up £4m and 5.3% on the previous year, plus an operating profit of £6.3m excluding player trading. The wage bill rose to £49.1m, however, and the amortisation of players' registrations of £13m led to the overall loss of £6.7m.

Everton paid a club record £15m to Standard Liège in August 2008 for Marouane Fellaini, although they recouped a potential £10.5m from Fulham through the sale of Andy Johnson in the same month. The full financial picture, including club debts and overall loss, has not yet been filed at Companies House.The figures show Everton reinvested most of their additional revenue into Moyes' squad as they sought to maintain progress under their astute manager. But the record turnover undermines the club's argument that Everton had to leave Goodison Park to survive. Kenwright, the Everton owner, had admitted the club's involvement in the "Destination Kirkby" project was over, although Tesco – whose plan for a huge retail development around the stadium was also rejected last week – and Knowsley Borough Council may attempt to resubmit a smaller commercial proposal for the town.

Everton and Liverpool City Council are now expected to meet to discuss possible stadium options, with the council vociferous in its objection to Kirkby and adamant an alternative site could be found within the city. A shared stadium with Liverpool is not on the Anfield club's agenda.

"He [David Moyes] is the most important figure at the club and we all strive – on a daily basis – to provide him with the tools necessary if we are to continue to evolve and develop into a genuine, meaningful force within both English and European football," said Kenwright. "Our wonderful FA Cup run quite possibly deflected attention from what was another hugely satisfying Premier League campaign. To again finish fifth in what remains Europe's toughest and most unforgiving league was a magnificent achievement – one which guaranteed another European campaign to continue the steady progress which has hallmarked David Moyes' tenure as manager. Maintaining our progress, continuing to punch above our weight if you like, will be very difficult but I stand by My Tuchusertion that we have a manager who will go down as one of our all-time greats and a squad of players that is among our very best over the last two decades."

A more immediate concern for Moyes is tonight's Europa League tie at AEK Athens, where he could be forced to play 17-year-old Shane Duffy thanks to an injury crisis. Sylvain Distin, the only established central defender in Everton's travelling party because of injuries to Joseph Yobo and Phil Jagielka plus the ineligibility of John Heitinga and Lucas Neill, is a doubt with a hamstring problem.

Should Distin fail to recover, and with Jack Rodwell also unlikely to return from a groin strain, Moyes may have no option but to select Duffy alongside right-back Tony Hibbert at the heart of the defence. "This is what makes the game even more difficult. People can talk about us winning only one of our last 11 games, but tomorrow we might have some younger members of the squad, we could have a really young centre-back playing depending on how Distin is." said Moyes. Everton would qualify for the knock-out stages with victory at the Olympic Stadium should BATE Borisov fail to beat leaders Benfica in the other Group I tie.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/dec/01/everton-losses-david-moyes



Everton Official Site

Financial Results Announced
by Matthew Gamble | Tuesday 1 December 2009

A top five Premier League finish and a double appearance at Wembley Stadium in season 2008/09 all contributed to positive financial results for the year ended May 31 2009.

The Everton Football Club Company has posted its year-end results with a 5.3% increase in turnover, mainly as a result of broadcasting income and gate receipts.

Revenue generated from the sale of match tickets and corporate hospitality rose to £21.9 million whilst the cash received from television was up £2 million to £48.6 million, reflecting a record number of 17 live televised Premier League games involving Everton.

Turnover overall increased £4 million to £79.7 million, which is a new Company record. However, this was offset somewhat by the increase in the wage bill to £49.1 million – a rise from 59% to 62% as a proportion of turnover.

As a result of the increased turnover, and further investment in the playing squad, the Company posted an operating profit excluding player trading of £6.3 million. The inclusion of the amortisation of players’ registrations of £13 million gave rise to an overall operating loss of £6.7 million.

Chairman Bill Kenwright said in his statement to shareholders: “Our wonderful FA Cup run quite possibly deflected attention from what was another hugely-satisfying Premier League campaign.

“To again finish fifth in what remains Europe’s toughest and most unforgiving league was a magnificent achievement – one which guaranteed another European campaign which continued the steady progress which has hall-marked David Moyes’ tenure as manager.

“Maintaining our progress, continuing to punch above our weight if you like, will be very difficult but I stand by My Tuchusertion that we have a manager who will go down as one of our all time greats and a squad of players that is amongst our very best over the last two decades.

“As has always been the case, David was fully supported by myself and by my fellow Board members. He remains the single, most important figure at the Club and we all strive – on a daily basis – to provide him with the tools he believes are necessary if we are to continue to evolve and develop into a genuine, meaningful force within both English and European football.”

http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/financial-results-announced.html

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