Championship Club by Club Financial Analyst

[Gary@Millwall]

The Championship Financial end of season Financial Forecast after 36 games with the same methodology used for the Premier League thread.

Bristol City

Current Balance: £33,900,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 3
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 3
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £75,200,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: Champions = £20m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 0K last season = £0m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £25m Last season = 90% probable £0m this season

Windebank View

With caretaker manager Tim Brown steering Bristol City to the League Title with two games to go, Bristol City will be looking for a new manager in the close season with Tim’s main Club Tottenham being in the same League. It is unsure what the new manager will invest in and with a Scout costing £45m in the Premier League I will be setting this spend to zero.

Current Balance: £33,900,000
League Gate Receipts: £6,600,000
League Winners: £20,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Wages: (£13,350,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£0)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£0)
Total Maximum Funds: £52,150,000

Bristol City look like a Club that will cause a good few team’s problems as they will try and make their mark in the Premier League. With a nice few quid in the Bank the Bristol City fans will be hoping their decent squad will attract a manager that can continue the good work Tin Brown has done.

It is unlikely Bristol City will invest in infrastructure as they will be more focused on staying in the top English Division and still have four seasons of their Scout to recruit an academy player each season.

[Gary@Millwall]

Sheffield United

Current Balance: £6,800,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 3
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 3
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £80,600,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: Runners Up to 3rd = £17m to £15m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 0K last season = £0m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £0m Last season = 90% probable £0m this season

Windebank View

Sheffield United need only one win from their last two games to go back to the promise land at the first attempt. Another caretaker manager in the shape of Dave Thacker I would be highly surprised if he was not at the helm next season at Bramall Lane. If that’s the case Dave will have his work cut out to stop this yo yo Club getting relegated again from the Premier League next season.

Current Balance: £6,800,000
League Gate Receipts: £6,000,000
League Runner Up: £17,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £4,000,000
Wages: (£13,650,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£0)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£0)
Total Maximum Funds: £25,150,000

With limited resources and an ageing squad it is very unlikely Sheffield United will be able to attract a full-time manager. The Sheffield United fans will be hoping Dave is given next season at least to rebuild the squad but it is questionable whether he will be able to raise the funds to invest in infrastructure despite Dave being a great advocate of the youth route.

Maybe Dave will sacrifice next seasons Premier League status for long term planning of the Yorkshire sides future.

[Gary@Millwall]

Brighton and Hove Albion

Current Balance: £8,900,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 2
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 4
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £80,220,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: Runners Up to 8th = £17m to £9m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 0K last season = £0m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £0m Last season = 90% probable £0m this season

Windebank View

Managerless Brighton and Hove Albion need to win their last two games to secure automatic promotion and hope Sheffield United fail to win their two remaining games if they want to bounce straight back to the Premier League.

Brighton’s squad looks well equipped to attract a manager in the close season whatever Division they are in. With a Play-off spot already guaranteed the other three Clubs will not fancy playing the Seagulls to secure a spot in the Premier League

Current Balance: £8,900,000
League Gate Receipts: £5,000,000
League Runner Up: £17,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £0
Wages: (£12,750,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£0)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£0)
Total Maximum Funds: £23,150,000

Brighton fans will be hoping they get the right appointment to take the Club forward in the close season. With between £23m to £30m in the bank depending on season objective money, it is very unlikely that the Seagulls will invest in Club infrastructure if the fans get delighted by being back in the Premier League where they belong either via straight promotion or the Play-offs.

Apologies Mike it was TBC on the main website sorry for the oversight.

[Gary@Millwall]

Luton Town

Current Balance: £2,050,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 2
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 1
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £75,600,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: 3rd to 8th = £15m to £9m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 0K last season = £0m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £0m Last season = 90% probable £0m this season

Windebank View

Caretaker manager Neil Kirby has worked miracles with Luton Town with them only needing one more point to secure qualification for the end of season play-offs. If Luton Town shock the FFO world and gain promotion the fans will be hoping Neil Kirby remains as caretaker manager so he can use his great transfer market skills to give them a fighting chance in the Premier League

Current Balance: £2,050,000
League Gate Receipts: £5,000,000
League 3^rd Place: £15,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £4,000,000
Wages: (£10,550,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£0)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£0)
Total Maximum Funds: £20,500,000

Luton Town could be cannon fodder if they achieve promotion which shows what a great manager Neil Kirby consistently proves. A master in the transfer market Luton Town will really require those skills but I can’t see any investment in the Clubs infrastructure whether they get promoted or not and they will also find it hard to attract a full-time manager.

[Gary@Millwall]

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Current Balance: £3,400,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 3
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 4
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £79,500,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: 4th to 11th = £14m to £7m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 10K last season = £29m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £53m Last season = 90% probable £45m this season

Windebank View

The last of last seasons relegated Clubs and the first Club with a full-time manager mentioned. Ray Wallace has been at the helm of the Molineux Club for a number of seasons now and has built something quite special for the Black Country Clubs fans to saviour.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are a beast of a Club for the Championship underlined by their FLT final appearance still to come. A Club that should get promoted it will be fascinating to see if they can achieve this feat.

Current Balance: £3,400,000
League Gate Receipts: £7,800,000
League 4th Place: £14,000,000
FLT Winners: £7,000,000
FLT Gate Receipts: £2,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £4,000,000
Wages: (£13,400,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£29,000,000)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£45,000,000)
Total Maximum Funds Deficit: (£44,200,000)

It will be interesting to see what Ray does in the close season especially if Wolverhampton Wanderers realise their ambitions and gain promotion back to the Premier League. If this achieved the scout cost will go up a further £25m, which would leave the Club a £69m blackhole in their finances.

There are rumours abound that Wolverhampton Wanderers are due a £25m windfall from a rich benefactor but it will be interesting to see if Ray cuts back on some of the previous seasons infrastructure expenditure for Season 5.

[Gary@Millwall]

Fulham

Current Balance: £19,600,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 3
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 2
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £69,400,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: 4th to 11th = £14m to £7m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 0K last season = £0m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £0m Last season = 90% probable £0m this season

Windebank View

Long serving Fulham manager Joe Brown is still in with a shout of promotion despite an unusual season where Fulham have had a few games with the dreaded T tactic. Fulham were the pace setters for large parts of the season with a squad that oozes quality and Joe will no doubt wonder what could have been if Fulham do fail to reach the promise land.

Current Balance: £19,600,000
League Gate Receipts: £5,000,000
League 4th Place: £14,000,000
FA Cup QF Prize Money: £3,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £0
Wages: (£12,000,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£0)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£0)
Total Maximum Funds: £34,600,000

Joe has a aptitude for picking up young quality auction players and I am expecting this close season to be no different. With limited resources across the game I think Fulham will follow last season template by not investing in Stadium capacity increases or investing in the Fulham Academy, whatever Division they are playing in next season.

[Gary@Millwall]

Birmingham City

Current Balance: £2,318,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 0
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 2
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £60,600,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: 4th to 13th = £14m to £6m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 5K last season = £6m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £0m Last season = 90% probable £0m this season

Windebank View

Freddie Kaye is having a remarkable season and his Blues are just one point off of 5^th and 6^th as they sit 7^th in the Championship. With one of the youngest squads in the Championship the Birmingham City fans and manager will be chuffed to bits at being in striking distance of a Roy of the Rovers ending to this brilliant season.

Current Balance: £2,318,000
League Gate Receipts: £4,800,000
League 4th Place: £14,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £0
Wages: (£7,550,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£6,000,000)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£0)
Total Maximum Funds: £12,568,000

Although Freddie would love to be promoted I am pretty sure he would prefer one more season in the Championship. Money is real tight at Birmingham City and without any real stars it’s hard to see how Freddie raises cash to invest in their Academy. Freddie is playing the long game and trying to build a legacy in the Midlands. I am pretty sure Freddie will achieve that.

[Mike]

I've been the Brighton gaffer for months bud

[JB@Norwich]

hes just old and a bit thick mate

[Gary@Millwall]

I've been the Brighton gaffer for months bud

Apologies Mike I put a footnote on your Clubs article

[Gary@Millwall]

Brentford

Current Balance: £14,950,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 0
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 4
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £68,900,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: 4th to 13th = £14m to £6m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 0K last season = £0m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £0m Last season = 90% probable £0m this season

Windebank View
Mark Baldwin’s Bees are also just one point off of 5^th and 6^th as they sit 7^th in the Championship. Mark will be hoping his side are able to get maximum points from the remaining two games and results go their way elsewhere to try and get promoted via the play-offs.

Current Balance: £14,950,000
League Gate Receipts: £3,500,000
League 4th Place: £14,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £4,000,000
Wages: (£10,750,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£0)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£0)
Total Maximum Funds: £30,700,000

Brentford have a young dynamic strike force and a well aged squad with most of their best players yet to enter their prime. Would they be able to compete in the Premier League if they were able to secure promotion it’s hard to say but their modest budget and quite small ground of 35k would make it extremely difficult.

It will be interesting to see if Brentford invest in increasing their Capacity and find some funds for the academy. I think there is a reasonable chance Mike will do this if the Bees fail to get promoted this season.

[Gary@Millwall]

Norwich City

Current Balance: £63,600,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 1
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 5
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £71,800,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: 5th to 15th = £13m to £5m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 5K last season = £13m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £0m Last season = 90% probable £45m this season

Windebank View

Carrow Road is buzzing right now after the news that FFO Godfather Jon Banks is to be the long term manager of Norwich City. Jon Banks has gone on record that this is a long term commitment for him and he will be investing the maximum amount in both Capacity increase and Academy.

With Johnboy now sitting just 3 points off the play-offs with 6 to play for it would be quite funny if Johnboy got them a unlikely promotion this season.

Current Balance: £63,600,000
League Gate Receipts: £4,800,000
League 5th Place: £13,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £4,000,000
Wages: (£10,000,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£13,000,000)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£45,000,000)
Total Maximum Funds: £22,400,000

Norwich City will have a reasonable balance despite maximum infrastructure spending in the close season. Jon Banks has already made moves and secured two promoted academy prospects on Loan for the season which will net the Club an additional £10m. A move that was started by Millwall boss Gary Windebank.

Jon Banks is also culling his squad to raise even more funds as he looks to create one of the youngest squads in the Championship.

With a rich history of making average tier 2 Clubs into top Division mainstays Norwich City are in good hands to realise their short to medium term ambitions.

However, history shows that once those ambitions are met if the Norwich City faithful want to win the Premiership one day then Jon probably is not the man to do it.

[Gary@Millwall]

Huddersfield Town

Current Balance: £8,150,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 3
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 4
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £64,100,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: 5th to 15th = £13m to £5m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 0K last season = £0m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £25m Last season = 90% probable £20m this season

Windebank View
Huddersfield Town sit perfectly poised to pounce if the teams above them slip up. They sit in 10^th place just 3 points off of 5^th and 6^th and manager Guillaume Rousseau is putting together a solid young squad at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Current Balance: £8,150,000
League Gate Receipts: £3,500,000
League 5th Place: £13,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £0
Wages: (£9,300,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£0)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£20,000,000)
Total Maximum Funds: £350,000

With money tight at the John Smith Stadium and Guillaume purchasing a scout last season as well as assembling quite a young squad, I would not be surprised to see Huddersfield own invest in a coach this close season. Guillaume may have to lay the transfer market to raise funds to try and add at least 5k seats to the 35k they currently have.

[Gary@Millwall]

Millwall

Current Balance: £74,850,000
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 2
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 3
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £68,900,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: 5th to 15th = £13m to £5m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 10K last season = £15m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £53m Last season = 90% probable £45m this season

Windebank View
Being my own Club this is easy to do. We will be investing the full £60m in infrastructure and also be looking to add playing depth as the 2^nd half of my season imploded following a ridiculous amount of injuries, bookings and sending offs blowing an hole in our attempts to get promoted.

A remarkable FA Cup run to the semi-finals (losing to Liverpool in extra time) and a run to the FLT semi-finals it has been a great season. Even though it is still possible to qualify for the play-offs it is very unlikely as we have not been able to field a full strength side for about 12 games in a row.

Current Balance: £74,850,000
League Gate Receipts: £4,500,000
League 4th Place: £13,000,000
FLT Semi Final: £2,000,000
FLT Gate Receipts: £1,500,000 (missing 500k gate receipts that JB is to add next finance run)
FA Cup Semi Final: £5,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £4,000,000
Wages: (£9,050,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£15,000,000)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£45,000,000)
Total Maximum Funds: £40,800,000

With being a big advocate of the Academy route it is no surprise that I have raised the money to fully invest again this close season. I have also secured a season long loan for a Manchester City Academy prospect and Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy which will net an additional £10m in loan fees.

I have recruited the one OAP a season I am allowed in my Squad at a net cost of £7m by selling my auction buy. The OAP is a superstar AM as I want to rectify the mistake I made by selling Mason Mount as I left myself short of firepower.

I will be promoting my three 19 year old academy players and be raising more cash by selling two more players as I will have 25 players.

I should have enough funds to react to quality young players coming on the transfer market when other Clubs realise how short of cash they are once their finances are up to date. If none come on the market then we will be looking for a auction bargain.

[Mike]

Apologies Mike I put a footnote on your Clubs article

No worries. This is useful stuff to a relative newbie, thanks.

[Gary@Millwall]

Stockport County

Current Balance: £51,450,500
Number Players to be lost due to be over 31 Years of Age with Zero Value: 1
Number of players that can be promoted from Academy: 3
Net Reduction in SHN Value (not including EOS abs): £61,000,000.
Potential Prize Money:

• League Finish: 5th to 16th = £13m to £4m
• Objectives last season = £5m
• Stadium Upgrade 10K last season = £15m to repeat this season
• Academy Improvements £45m Last season = 90% probable £45m this season

Windebank View

Mike Bridge is another manager who has and will be heavily investing in the Stockport County’s infrastructure. Mike has raised a lot of money playing the transfer market and that should continue as he looks to build a really capable and quality squad at Edgeley Park.

Mike always looking for a edge keeps an eye on Millwall and their decisions as he looks to implement any good ideas they come up with.

Current Balance: £51,450,500
League Gate Receipts: £4,500,000
League 5th Place: £13,000,000
Objective Money: £5,000,000
Media: £4,000,000
Wages: (£8,300,000)
Stadium Upgrade 10k: (£15,000,000)
Academy Upgrade (Scout and Coach): (£45,000,000)
Total Maximum Funds: £9,650,500

With infrastructure costs fully funded I fully expect Mike to wave his usual magic wand in the transfer market. Mike will need to raise a reasonable amount of funds with his goalkeeper turning 36 years of age and I am sure Mike will want another striker to play alongside Gudmundsson as he is the only quality striker Stockport County currently have.