Rage Online Blog

There's an article that's sort of worth checking out on Soccernet. The piece itself, by Richard Jolly, isn't particularly well written, basically being just a list of First Division clubs' transfers during the close-season, but the article's central premise, that the cash shortfall in football means that managerial ability is more to the fore, is unarguable. Or is it? Why not argue it using the Comment facility? We wouldn't normally highlight an article devoted exclusively to a division that United aren't in, but seeing as the First is our rightful place, and that we appear to be bound back there, why not?

Labels: Money, Transfers

On the front page of today's Oxford Mail is a story claiming that creditors of Oxford United are saying that the Manor Ground was sold too cheaply at £6 million. Unsecured creditors, who had received 10% of what they were owed under the term of the CVA, should also have received 50% of any profit from the sale of the Manor once the secured creditors had been paid off. The money received from the sale of the ground only covered the debts owed to the secured creditors, meaning that the rest (including Stadi Varios and Keith Cox) received nothing. One year later, with planning permission received, the ground was sold to the Nuffield Nursing Trust for £12 million, the extra being profited by Firoka, rather than OUFC. No doubt we have yet to hear the last of this, although it sounds more like one of Firoz Kassam's crafty deals rather than anything particularly dodgy.

Labels: Money, The Manor, Uncle Firoz

Gordon Taylor, of the PFA, is suggesting that the Nationwide league "sells" one of its promotion places to the Premiership for £100 million, according to this report from the BBC. It's surprising that he stops there and hasn't suggested selling all three promotion places, thus saving the Premiership the hassle of having to worry about being too competitive, or of losing its consistently average members like Westam. Presumably that idea's being saved up for when Wolves go up, so in practice it will be on the back-burner for perpetuity.

Labels: Football League, Gordon Taylor, Money, PFA, Premier League

The football cash crisis continues with news from the Guardian that Derby were unable to pay Sheffield United money owing from the transfer of Lee Morris. Leicester are still having problems with their £5 million wage bill (not helped by Denis unWise's demand of half a mill to drop his court case), and now Northampton have to raise half a million pounds by January or face administration. Still, at least FIFA has seen some sort of sense over the ridiculous transfer window business.

Labels: Derby County, FIFA, Leicester City, Money, Northampton Town, Sheffield United, Transfers

Greed begets greed. Some Premiership clubs are threatening to boycott this season's FA Cup according to this report from the BBC, claiming that they want a share of the FA's income generated by the competition. Although all clubs that are members of the Football Association are obliged to enter the competition, some Premiership clubs may possibly field sides that are so weakened they may as well not bother (although they would doubtless take their share of the gate money). Of course these are the same clubs that removed the away teams' share of the gate money which has been a major cause of the gap between rich and poor clubs increasing, and now they want yet more money. They won't rest until they have all the income the game generates, by which time there won't be a game.

Labels: FA, Money, Premier League