Money talks: City's financial standing has
improved greatly since the takeover by Sheikh Mansour
Manchester City's rise to prominence on the
European stage has been underlined in spectacular fashion by the
publication of the annual report into football finance by
accountants Deloitte.
Despite the fact that City have still not qualified for
the Champions League - narrowly missing out to Tottenham last
season - figures for the 2009-10 season show that the richest club
in the world have begun improving their moneymaking activities in
keeping with their recently acquired status.
Last year's publication had City in 20th position in
Deloitte's Football Money League, with an annual revenue figure of
£87million. However, in the space of only a year that figure has
rocketed to £125.1m and has moved them up to 11th
spot.
Although Spanish giants Real Madrid (£359.1m) and
Barcelona (£325.9m) still sit in the top two spots with Manchester
United third with an annual income of £286.4m (up by £7.9m), City's
leap up the table is by far the most impressive.
Certainly it reflects well on the efforts of much-maligned
City chief executive Garry Cook and will encourage the club that
they can bring their income and expenditure equation into line with
the FIFA Fair Play rules due to be introduced in the coming
years.
City's enormous jump in revenue is a reflection of
increased income from new sponsorship deals at home and in Asia,
the Middle East and, to a lesser extent, America. If Roberto
Mancini guides his team into next season's Champions League, City
will certainly make it in to the rich list top 10.
Last night Alan Switzer, director of football business at
Deloitte, said: 'The table is based on the revenue generated by the
club, so the factor that Manchester City have a rich owner isn't
the direct reason for their good showing.
At the Double: Chelsea's revenue increased
following their league and cup successes last season
'The main movement for City has been in their
commercial revenue. They have had great success on the traditional
stuff like the shirt sales but they have also excelled in that next
tier of sponsorship. They have been able to look to the Middle East
and across the Atlantic.
'We certainly expect to be reporting another substantial
increase in revenue for City next year. Whether it is enough to get
into that top 10 depends on the results of the club.
'There's an interesting tussle to break into the
top 10 next year, actually. Manchester City have made a big move up
the table without being in the Champions League. But even if they
do qualify it will be close between them, Spurs, Juventus and
Liverpool for that 10th spot.
'It is too close to call because we don't know what Spurs
are going to do in the Champions League this season.'
Elsewhere in the Barclays Premier League, Arsenal have
continued to show promising financial performance, something that
reflects the benefit of their move to the Emirates
Stadium.
The London club are fifth in the table, as they were last
year, with their annual income staying just about unchanged at
£224m.
One club who may wish to worry, however, is Liverpool. The
Merseyside club have slipped one place to eighth in the table and
although their revenue has stayed stable at around the £184m mark,
they will inevitably come under threat from City and Spurs next
year as - for the second season running - they are struggling to
qualify for the cash-rich Champions League.
It is also clear that Liverpool's failure to build and
move into a new stadium is holding them back. Switzer said:
'Arsenal's move to the Emirates is one of the main reasons why they
have moved up the table in the last 10 years.
'Ten years ago they were 13th and now they are up to
fifth. If they continue not to play Champions League football,
Liverpool will be under a lot of pressure from the likes of
Manchester City and Tottenham to stay in the top 10.'
Chelsea remain in sixth spot in the table with an annual
revenue of £209.5m, a slight rise from the previous
year.