Fans fear clubs could go bust
- Two out of five fans are “concerned” about club’s finances, says Virgin Money research
- Virgin Money’s Football Fans’ Inflation Index running at 7.2 per cent in 2009
Up to 41% of fans are concerned about their clubs’ finances with around one in 14 fearing their club could go bust this season, according to Virgin Money’s authoritative Football Fans’ Inflation Index.
The research among more than 4,000 fans representing all 92 clubs in the Football League shows that 34% of fans are somewhat concerned about their clubs’ finances with 7% believing their club could go into administration this season.
Worries about club finances are highest in League One with 50% of fans concerned about the money situation and in League Two where 46% of supporters are concerned. But even among the Big Four in the Champions League 44% of supporters are worried while in the Championship 43% are concerned.
The clubs most at risk, according to fans, include West Ham, Portsmouth and Liverpool. Up to 36% of West Ham fans fear their club could go bust while 19% of Portsmouth fans and 14% of Liverpool supporters are extremely concerned about their team’s survival.
Just 4% of West Ham fans are confident about their club’s finances while 16% of Portsmouth fans and 10% of Liverpool supporters are confident.
Spurs supporters by contrast are the most financially secure with just 1% concerned. Even some Man City fans are worried about their club’s money despite their big-spending owners with 6% claiming to be concerned.
Grant Bather, spokesman for Virgin Money, said: “Speculation about football club ownership and finances is almost as rife as transfer speculation with a new club in the spotlight almost every week. At one level the game has never been richer but at the same time instability is mounting.
“There always appears to be a way out for clubs in trouble so far but eventually some club and their supporters are going to have a rude awakening. What is clear though is that the Premiership is not immune and it is just as likely that the club which eventually finds it has no way out is a Premiership side.”
Malcolm Clarke, Chairman of the Football Supporters Federation, commented: “Fans aren’t stupid. They’re right about the clubs whose finances are pushing them deep into trouble. Privately the Premier League is very concerned about the solvency of a number of clubs. The League has moved recently to strengthen its financial monitoring of club debt but it needs to do more. Football has to learn to live within its sustainable income whilst giving fans a fair deal on ticket prices.”
| PREMIERSHIP CLUB | FANS ‘SOMEWHAT CONCERNED’ ABOUT CLUB FINANCES | FANS ‘EXTREMELY CONCERNED’ ABOUT CLUB FINANCES |
|---|---|---|
| West Ham | 60% | 36% |
| Liverpool | 76% | 14% |
| Portsmouth | 65% | 19% |
| Everton | 57% | 5% |
| Hull | 45% | 9% |
| Man Utd | 46% | 4% |
| Blackburn | 50% | 0% |
| Bolton | 30% | 3% |
| Fulham | 31% | 0% |
| Birmingham | 29% | 0% |
| Chelsea | 20% | 2% |
| Wigan | 17% | 0% |
| Arsenal | 7% | 0% |
| Stoke | 7% | 0% |
| Sunderland | 7% | 0% |
| Man City | 6% | 0% |
| Wolves | 5% | 0% |
| Burnley | 5% | 0% |
| Aston Villa | 2% | 0% |
| Tottenham | 1% | 0% |
Virgin Money’s Football Fans’ Price Index shows that since January 2006 the cost of attending games has risen by 31.5 per cent. The index is aimed at helping supporters keep track of the rises and falls in the costs of supporting their team. The company identified the match day essentials fans buy and keeps tabs on increases and decreases in costs.
At the launch of the index in January 2006, the match day basket of goods** cost £77.95. However the most recent analysis puts the cost at £102.53 – a rise of £24.58. Virgin Money’s Football Fans’ Prices Index runs every three months and the firm’s research team examines the cost of items such as a gallon of petrol, match tickets food, alcohol, train tickets and replica shirts.
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
* Football Fans’ Census interviewed a representative sample of 4,003 football fans between 5th and 13th October 2009
** The basket of goods includes a gallon of petrol, a pint of lager, a bacon roll, a train fare, a match ticket, a replica shirt, pay-per-view cost and a match programme.
For further information
Grant Bather, Public Relations Manager, Virgin Money
Tel: 0207 111 1012
Kevan Reilly/Jonathan Henderson Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Tel: 0207 638 9571
Football Supporters’ Federation
Malcolm Clarke 07939 594379
Steven Powell 077757 950613
About Virgin Money:
- Virgin Money is Virgin’s financial services arm and was established in 1995.
- Virgin Money has more than 2 million customers and offers a wide range of financial products across lending (e.g. credit cards and personal loans), savings (e.g. deposits, investments and pensions) and protection (e.g. life assurance, household and car insurance) to the UK market.
Virgin Money Personal Financial Service Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: Discovery House, Whiting Road, Norwich NR4 6EJ. Registered in England No. 3072766. Entered on the Financial Services Authority's register number 179271.
About The Football Fans’ Census:
The Football Fans Census is Europe’s leading football research expert. With over 100,000 members The FFC provides a communication channel between the supporter and the football industry.
About the Football Supporters’ Federation
The FSF represents over 142,000 members supporting clubs and national teams at all levels throughout England & Wales.
www.fsf.org.uk