This exactly. What do you do when you have billions and don't need the money. You're bored of buying and selling companies and making investments. I have met several of these very rich people, they are extremely competitive and ruthless. None of them like making a loss, the aim will be to make the club a success while also making a profit. Its a challenge and just chucking money at it would be far too easy. As for making money, selling a football club can make you a fortune. If you can buy a club in division 1 and take it to the premier league then sell it the profits would be massive. London clubs are particularly attractive because of owning the real estate in the centre of London. Chelsea have restaurants, hotels, apartments and even a large live music venue, all which are packed 7 days a week. You have to spend money to make money, in lots of cases the money is raised from sponsors and investors and is not just personal finance. Business at this level is complex, it is not as simple as adding up transfer fees, bought and sold and saying we made a profit.
Mate, I'm waiting to hear back from an estate agents over there. I'm looking at a one bed apartment next to Arnhem town centre, I ****ing love that town. It's only a couple hundred quid a month (not a bad property either!) and I tend to get over there regularly so might pay 6 months rent upfront, so I can travel back and forth for the rest of the year without having to stop in hotels...
point taken, kinda although we ain't in London or league 1. He really hasn't speculated either has he. Seems more to be balancing the books. Your right tho its complex and the kinda money being talked about is just fantasy to me ! You hear all the time "$20 million yeah ok just spend it Ellis you tight fisted bastard " like its nowt
The business I consult for is a global motorsport franchise, they have gone through millions and millions to get it established, Even though it's lost a fortune it was bought by a massive media company last year for a huge amount of money. Don't believe everything you see on Dragons Den, those Dragons are peasants compared to people like Short, Branson, Sugar, Ecclestone or Ashley. At this level its all about branding and audience. The really big companies will pay a fortune for sponsorship and brand awareness, that is why it's so important for Premier league clubs to have an international presence.
Which to some extent begs the question, doesn't ES appreciate the fact that you have to spend £25-30m JUST to stand still in the PL? That isn't big money or excessive spending! That's your annual operating plan opening budget. If you want to do better, usually (but not always), you have to spend more. Thats the cold hard light of day facts if you want SAFC to be a world-wide brand in the PL. All that investment and global interest will disappear like summer snow with relegation.
I am not sure mate as I have not looked at our accounts, but you can make the books show just about whatever you want. Look at the bother Tescos got in manipulating theirs but they are a public company.
