Delima Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/david-conn-inside-sport-blog/2009/nov/05/boltonwanderers-premierleague Bolton Wanderers' losses count the cost of Premier League survival The financial figures published by Bolton Wanderers yesterday for the year to 30 June 2009 itemise the bewildering contradiction at the heart of the Premier League's boom years. Vast amounts of money are pouring in – fortunes more than can ever have been imagined when struggling Bolton allowed the Normid supermarket to be built into one end of Burnden Park as a desperate 1980s economy measure – yet most clubs are losing millions and falling further into debt. Bolton finished 13th last season, and the fact that this is their ninth on the trot in the Premier League is described justifiably by the chairman, Phil Gartside as "a fantastic achievement for Bolton Wanderers". Yet the accounts lay bare the cost of doing so: Wanderers' parent company, Burnden Leisure, made £59m last year, a huge turnover at the Reebok Stadium for a provincial town football club, yet paid wages of £40.9m and lost £13.2m. This, according to Gartside, is the price of Premier League survival for the smaller clubs, the massive wages paid to players at the top clubs trickle down, becoming unpayable for those paddling to stay up. With a wage bill on that scale, and net debts of £64m, relegation down across the financial chasm to the Championship terrifies Bolton and others in a similar position who, like Portsmouth and Hull City, are perennially tempted to overspend. Gartside acknowledged in the accounts a "fear factor beginning to emerge amongst Premier League clubs outside the top few". Bolton's ability to operate with thumping losses and meaty borrowings is due to the backing of the club's owner, one of the lowest profile among the roster of rich men who have over recent years folded Premier League football clubs into their portfolios. Edwin Davies, who made his fortune manufacturing thermostatic controls for kettles, lives in the Isle of Man, one of the less sun-kissed of the British protectorate tax havens. Davies is described by Bolton as a "benefactor" and he did put solid money into the club when he bought up his 94.5% stake in 2004. These accounts show that he has made his latest contribution in huge loans which charge a rate of interest handy for him in current economic conditions. Davies's company, Moonshift Investments, loaned Wanderers £23m last year, at 10% annual interest, so the football club paid Moonshift £2m "in respect of arrangement and guarantee fees and interest". Gartside, in the accounts, said: "I would like to acknowledge the special contribution of our owner Eddie Davies, for his ongoing support in [overhauling Wanderers' playing squad] and other investments in the club." That tribute is heartfelt, because Gartside knows Bolton would most likely be nowhere near the Premier League, and possibly in serious financial difficulty, without Davies. Yet the owner's support, like membership of the World's Greatest League, comes at a cost for the Trotters. Honestly, I still think Sam Allardyce would have been a great success in Newcastle United should he was afforded proper time. Bolton are fucked. The quicker they dispense with Gary Megson the better. Megson is just not good enough. Bolton and Newcastle's loss - Blackburn's gain. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mowen Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 What made you think Allardyce would have been a great success for us? Many of the useless high earners were signed under his jurisdiction and we played football that rarely looked like getting us a result. Also, what do you mean by success? Just not getting relegated? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delima Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 What made you think Allardyce would have been a great success for us? Many of the useless high earners were signed under his jurisdiction and we played football that rarely looked like getting us a result. Also, what do you mean by success? Just not getting relegated? Sam's track record, mainly. Yes he did sign some useless high earners and play some dire football, but he wasn't given time to rectify the situation. The same excuse can be applied to Roeder and Kinnear, but Sam is different. Sam has substantial managerial ideas, justified by his undisputable success in Bolton. And I also agree to many of Sam's ideas. Many mock Sam's big backroom staff group, many mock Sam's percentage football etc - but Sam has proven that these work in Bolton. Sam comes from the smaller Bolton to the bigger Newcastle. Bigger names, bigger betting chip, bigger expectations. I expect Sam to stumble, learn and be an eventual success. Newcastle was the perfect club for Sam (from sam's perspective not instant-success-craving Newcastle fan's perspective). There is no guaranttee that Sam would indeed succeed. But all the ingredients are there. If we couldn't trust Sam to get it right, who could we (whom we can attract) ? Sure, everyone wants an Arsene Wenger, Josep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho. But you have to accept that these candidates are not in our league. Alex Ferguson and Bobby Robson (of Newcastle United) didn't succeed immediately. But they were proven candidates with substantial managerial ideas/ability and the board stuck with them and reaped subsequent results. I qualify success for Newcastle united as consistent top 8 finishing, great success as consistent top 4 finishing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interpolic Posted November 5, 2009 Share Posted November 5, 2009 I wouldn't take Allardyce back even now when we're at such a low ebb, I absolutely detest him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 Been reported by our press that we are meeting this Wednesday with Man City officials to talk about Robinho's transfer... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdckelly Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 Been reported by our press that we are meeting this Wednesday with Man City officials to talk about Robinho's transfer... he's always struck me as a troublemaker at clubs, can be brilliant but when he gets in moods can be very bad for a club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 Can't say I'm too keen on his signing, particularly since it won't be a bargain. We do need a left winger though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted November 7, 2009 Share Posted November 7, 2009 So, losing your first choice keeper isn't a punishment? Not if you replace him with someone who's of his level it isn't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Yay, I was waiting for this one to happen at some point, finally we have been linked with Gourcuff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Yay, I was waiting for this one to happen at some point, finally we have been linked with Gourcuff Beggars belief that Milan got shot of him. Mustve been too young or something Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted November 11, 2009 Share Posted November 11, 2009 Yay, I was waiting for this one to happen at some point, finally we have been linked with Gourcuff Beggars belief that Milan got shot of him. Mustve been too young or something The papers here link us with a different player every 2-3 days, every week of the year. So it's only a matter of time that we end up linked with any pair of legs in the footballing world. There's always wishful thinking this one might come to pass though. I love watching him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Oh crap, Wegner apparently sniffing around Barça B winger Gai Assulin :frantic: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Oh crap, Wegner apparently sniffing around Barça B winger Gai Assulin :frantic: Wenger sniffing around Barca? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlucky Luque Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Oh crap, Wegner apparently sniffing around Barça B winger Gai Assulin :frantic: Sniffing Gai Ass eh? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Yay, I was waiting for this one to happen at some point, finally we have been linked with Gourcuff Beggars belief that Milan got shot of him. Mustve been too young or something They did turn their back on Vuckic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Heneage Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 Yay, I was waiting for this one to happen at some point, finally we have been linked with Gourcuff Beggars belief that Milan got shot of him. Mustve been too young or something It is and was to a lesser extent at the time, but I don't think they expected to sell Kaka at any point. They also sold him for five times what they paid. I think in part they didn't expect Bordeaux to match the agreed fee, and when they did they just thought why not sell him. They would take him back for 15m now if you let them, but it's clear he's worth more than that. It's just another poor deal by one of the Milan clubs really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Lol Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Steven Caulker, Jon Obika and Ryan Mason now on loan to Yeovil till the end of the season. All had originally been 1 month loans. John Bostock on loan to Brentford for an initial 1 month. Andros Townsend has his loan to Leyton Orient extended till January. Even with Danny Rose and David Button recalled from Peterborough and Crewe respectively, Spurs have still got 17 players out on loan (by my reckoning). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun Posted November 13, 2009 Share Posted November 13, 2009 Woop woop! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cajun Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 See the headline: United set for £20m Cole bid. Joe Cole? Very good player but has had his injury problem's lately. Ashley Cole? Hmm would Chelsea sell him for that? Oh wait its Carlton Cole, that makes sense Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Village Idiot Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Touré Yayas agent (who's a bit mental) has said he'll try to get him out of Barcelona given the little play time he's had this season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooneyToonArmy Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Yay, I was waiting for this one to happen at some point, finally we have been linked with Gourcuff he`s been a shadow of himself compared to last season apparently (from what I read on another forum that is)...burn out from last season`s effort. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldo Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 £20m for Carlton Cole. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Dave Kitson on loan to Boro Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest palnese Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Dave Kitson on loan to Boro won't score a goal Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Think just about every player Boro have signed since the summer our fans have thought, "he'd have done a job here", yet they're still shit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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