Thedelldays Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 maybe it is me in that dont think I could face saints going into meltdown financially...again but everywhere we look we worry, snipe and point the finger at football in general consuming itself...in every league there are teams in the crap financially and now it seems some teams are going to pay for it.. we do worry, and rightly...then on the other hand we are applauding the signing of fonte (who would not be excited)..I mean, how many clubs in league 1 in recent years spend this sort of money to bring a player who is supposed to be "way too good" for league 1...then it seem (by so many sources) we are going for stock..again, another player "way too good for league 1".. whilst other league 1 clubs are picking players up for peanuts.. people will say "pardew is building"..he is, but that does not make the finances look any different...we are in the pocket of one man.. I simply cannot believe that our spending this season in transfers, wages and (sadly) agents is matched by our incomings.. I just hope that in 5 years down the line (or when ever) we are not paying the same price as we are starting to see at other clubs dont think this is a moan, just a a slight concern with all the talk of MORE players coming.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Money is all football's got at the moment, at least our bloke has got lots of it. If he changes his mind we're as screwed as anyone else in that position (which is pretty much anyone). I'll worry about it when he talks about selling the club rather than buying players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 11 January, 2010 Author Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Money is all football's got at the moment, at least our bloke has got lots of it. If he changes his mind we're as screwed as anyone else in that position. I'll worry about it when he talks about selling the club rather than buying players. you are right...but I guess, we should just enjoy the ride whilst it lasts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Karloff Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I just think he wants to take us to a higher level asap and then will look at balancing the books. Don't think it's anything to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I share your concern, mainly because for us to be behaving like this right now is slightly vulgar considering the current economic condition. It seems we are currently guaranteured by Markus Leibherr and as such our finances are secure, but it is all part of a long term plan, a loss leading period so we can get to the Premiership. I would worry if that period lasts too long, but until that event occurs I am enjoying the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Made in Southampton Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I would say it is something all saints fans should keep in the back of their mind, least we forget the past at our peril. I for one am enjoying the here and now. I guess the only thing we can all conclude at the moment is that in ML, NC and AP we trust. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WATERSIDEIFASAINT Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 We dont have a mortgage on the stadium anymore which puts us in a very strong position financially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 If or when we get to the financial promised land of the Premiership I am sure ML will see a healthy return on his out lay. Businessmen, especially ones who are billionaires do not plan projects that will make them money or whatever on a strict 12 month turn round. It has been much mentioned that this is a 5 year plan or project as it now seems to be getting called and I would think at the end of the 5 years ML will take stock of his financial outgoings and weigh it up against possible profit in the long term or even, God forbid, balance it against the enjoyment it has bought him personally watching a football club that was virtually dead spring to life under his ownership. The money is is the Premiership, ML will be well aware of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 To make any money on his return we clearly need to get out of this League ASAP. He must have taken heart with our gates this season, and would have seen that Pards has spent any money given to him wisely. He seems to be taking the exact approach most wanted Rupert to take. Investment in good players, which wil pay back in terms of better performances and higher gates. It's not an exact science, but there must be a element of "speculate to acumalate". Provided it's sensible and sustainable we should be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebel Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I would guess the transfer fees are being funded by Liebherr and the club itself is paying the wages with a 20,000 average gate, no mortgage on the stadium, and most of the big earners from the last season gone I would imagine there is room on the wage bill for a couple more players on average League 1/CCC wages Saganowski and Thomas are probably the only players left at the club who are on big wages now and I have a feeling both will be leaving on loan or free transfers this January plus a couple more of the fringe players will be going out on loan - Mills, Lancashire, Gobern, McClaggon, Pulis, Holmes, Forecast, Paterson possibly even if we doubled Lamberts wages when he joined us I don't expect he's on anywhere near £10K a week - and a step up from £3K a week to £6K is still quite a jump for anyone! the clubs turnover is probably something like £15 million - so a £10 million player wage bill is quite do-able. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saint lard Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 There will always be peaks and troughs when supporting your club,for this moment in time i am going to enjoy the ride while it lasts. Considering the attrocious past couple of years,this feels wonderful. I will worry about the flipside when/if it happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Under Weststand Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I can agree with your concerns TDD. but I think that we are a loss leader at the moment. NC & ML both new it would take a few bob to rehabilitate the whole place. We all know we were just a shell when they took over. And whilst they are spending massively for league-1 & including CCC standards, they are building for the future. Over this transfer window & the summer, I expect that there will be a lot of dead wood shifted out, to reduce the wage bill, we do seem to be going for better quality players now. So for now lets just enjoy the ride, BUT never forget where we've just been. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkie Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 We haven't spent that much yet have we? Most of it is speculative gossip at best... WE are a millionaires toy and he wants success, hence he is pumping money in now - he can't wait by the looks of it! He's obviously asked AP what he needs and there is a shopping list - how much it costs is irrelevant to a multi-millionaire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 11 January, 2010 Author Share Posted 11 January, 2010 If or when we get to the financial promised land of the Premiership I am sure ML will see a healthy return on his out lay. Businessmen, especially ones who are billionaires do not plan projects that will make them money ow whatever on a strict 12 month turn round. It has been much mentioned that this is a 5 year plan or project as it now seems to be getting called and I would think at the end of the 5 years ML will take stock of his financial outgoings and weigh it up against possible profit in the long term or even, God forbid, balance it against the enjoyment it has bought him personally watching a football club that was virtually dead spring to life under his ownership. Yes, I think you are spot on..just we nearly went pop and you only have to look down the M27 to see what a mess looks like.. anyway, is ward coming? lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Smith Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 We dont have a mortgage on the stadium anymore which puts us in a very strong position financially. Which means, once the player has been purchased, there is no other outlay and the lack of previous overheads weighing us down, all of the ticket prices go straight to the club and not the overdraft. We can therefore sustain a higher wage bill, but I suggest we need to get promoted before ML leaves, but I have every confidence that we can do that, in the next two seasons, if not, we need a re-think. I understand your worries, but what we have in ML is someone that wants to build a sustainable business, not a glory ride to fame fortune and destruction. He is building the platform and this is costing a bit as we were deeply in the mire. But, with the training ground improvements and the care in the background staff (the manager, coaches, scouts, tea lady etc) we are building a business that will cope with the pressures of higher league football, the only concern therefore is if we don;t make it. Re-visit this thread again after next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Delldays still trying to put a downer on everything, I see... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheaf Saint Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 We dont have a mortgage on the stadium anymore which puts us in a very strong position financially. Yeah this is the way I'm viewing it. OK we are big spenders for this division, and although our attendances may not cover the outlay completely, they probably come close because our averages are among the highest in the league (which contains other fairly big-players like Leeds, Norwich and Charlton remember) and at least we are not spending stupid money like Notts County for instance. The fact that we now have zero debt as well makes a massive, massive difference, because there are very few clubs in England that can make such a claim. I believe that ML is prepared to lose a little bit in the short-term, in the knowledge that when (according to the 5-year plan) we get back to the prem, the attendances will be back to what they were. If we get up to the prem in the next few seasons and start throwing money about in the way Pompey have, then I will start to get worried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Fan CaM Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Don't agree. Any sensible and successful business person will know that in times of depressed demand it is best to invest in new design and improved infrastructure ready for when a market picks-up. In football terms and particularly Saints, it is clear that Markus and Nicola consider now is a good time to invest in their business to reap the rewards of the future (and on behalf of the supporters also). It is THEIR money - their risk - so why not? While I appreciate your concern, I think it is completely misplaced and somewhat daft also. We've spent 10 years bleating on about a lack of investment in the club and now we have it, something is wrong?! It's our turn in the sunshine - why not enjoy it while we can without all the navel gazing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SOTONS EAST SIDE Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 We haven't spent that much yet have we? Most of it is speculative gossip at best... WE are a millionaires toy and he wants success, hence he is pumping money in now - he can't wait by the looks of it! He's obviously asked AP what he needs and there is a shopping list - how much it costs is irrelevant to a multi-millionaire.Yorkie we are a BILLIONAIRES toy. And yes its irrelevent to a MULTI-BILLIONAIRE! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Made in Southampton Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Delldays still trying to put a downer on everything, I see... Actually I think it's a fair point when you look at football in general an the mess down the M27. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 You don't spend £12m (or whatever) buying a club in order to play in League 1. I see this as part of a long-term plan to get the club properly capitalised and working its way back up the leagues. Most companies are undercapitalised and that's where they have problems because they cannot weather the bad periods. In our case this does not apply. Relax and enjoy the ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Actually I think it's a fair point when you look at football in general an the mess down the M27. Personally I think he's saying it just to take the moral high ground and so that IF things go down the pan he can say "I told you so". Remember his "Wotte will keep us up" threads? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 People complain rightly that Rupert Lowe didn't spend or invest any money whilst at the club. Now Saints get a very rich chairman that wipes out all debt, paying off the stadium mortgage and starts spending on players and the training ground to get back to the Premiership and people complain. Markus Liebherr's business philosophy is not to have any debt. Saints are in safe hands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pip Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 The thing is that we are being very clever about the way we spend our money. We are buying players who can hopefully compete in the Premiership but on League 1 (or a little above - no doubt things will be written into contracts) wages. A lot of teams go up a division and then have to buy a completely new set of players while still trying to offload the existing ones (and their wages) that got them there. We are showing a bit of forward planning - lets hope we've got it right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
del boy Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Yes, there's not enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyb1 Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Actually I think it's a fair point when you look at football in general an the mess down the M27. Agreed, this is great don't get me wrong. There is just always a nagging feeling its all too good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank's cousin Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I dont think we need to worry... I suspect that our club is now self sustaining in terms of wages and other overheads relative to our income. Which would mean that provided we containue to maintain our average gate, we would not need a rich owner... What we may see (as with teh odd recent purchase) as was indicated by NC and ML at the time of their takeover was there 'may be investment to help the promotional push within an appropriate range for our league position' The only way we should worry about this is is if this money was only 'loaned' to the club by the owner and that he may want it back at any time... but from what MLand NC said I dont think this is the plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Somewhere In Northam Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 how much it costs is irrelevant to a multi-millionaire. he has billions not millions if you pay peanuts TDD you get monkeys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthamSteve Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 The way I see it, supporting any football club works in phases. I've had a season ticket for 20 years, in that time it's, generally speaking, been 5 years good 5 years not so good or bloody woeful. Other clubs have the same, some have differing aims to us but the good times come and go. We're currently in the pits looking up and things are starting to turn our way, I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts because, at some point, we will have more difficult/disappointing times in the future, I'm sure. So my advice would be, strap yourself in and live it for all it's worth, take the **** out of your non-saint mates, drink with your saints mates and make some memories. This is going to be fun, milk it and say ******** to the consequences because you can't really do a lot about it anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sour Mash Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I actually kind of agree with Dell Days here. While I'm certainly happy we have owners who are happy to put up the money that will help to achieve success, it does beg the question how sustainable it is? We must be in a good financial position as a club, but some of this money must be coming directly from Liebherr's own pockets? And how much would he need to put in to make us a success at Prem level? What would the fans reaction be if we did go into debt to try and achieve success? Would you rather we balanced the books, but were a settled mid-championship side? Or gamble again with debt and aim higher? Or rather than not relying on a wealthy benefactor or debt, the club were to put ticket prices up to finance future success? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torres Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 As long as we are in a position where we can meet our ongoing financial liabilities should Markus decide to walk away tomorrow I don't care how much we spunk up the wall on transfer and signing-on fees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFC Forever Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I watched us rise from division 3 fifty odd years ago and am going to thoroughly enjoy watching us rise again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthamSteve Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I watched us rise from division 3 fifty odd years ago and am going to thoroughly enjoy watching us rise again. That's what I was trying to say, in a nutshell. But I'm only 28! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1976_Child Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 So how much do you reckon was paid to secure the services of Jose from Palace? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonnyLove Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Don't forget though they came in with a budget for this season and I am guessing that this is what they are spending. It was probably a case of £2m in the first half to see where we got to then depending on where we are another £3m in the Jan market to give the playoffs a real go. I believe there was talk of spending a total of (give or take) £5m for the season. We haven't spent that yet. Another point to make is that we also don't have any debts like a massive mortgage on a stadium and other loans to pay, so money is not as tight as it used to be. Also finally we are so used to selling players and not signing anyone that we seem to have forgotten what it's like to be in a position to spend a bit of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junior Mullet Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 maybe it is me in that dont think I could face saints going into meltdown financially...again but everywhere we look we worry, snipe and point the finger at football in general consuming itself...in every league there are teams in the crap financially and now it seems some teams are going to pay for it.. we do worry, and rightly...then on the other hand we are applauding the signing of fonte (who would not be excited)..I mean, how many clubs in league 1 in recent years spend this sort of money to bring a player who is supposed to be "way too good" for league 1...then it seem (by so many sources) we are going for stock..again, another player "way too good for league 1".. whilst other league 1 clubs are picking players up for peanuts.. people will say "pardew is building"..he is, but that does not make the finances look any different...we are in the pocket of one man.. I simply cannot believe that our spending this season in transfers, wages and (sadly) agents is matched by our incomings.. I just hope that in 5 years down the line (or when ever) we are not paying the same price as we are starting to see at other clubs dont think this is a moan, just a a slight concern with all the talk of MORE players coming.... Hey, we did this one on another thread last week. In a nutshell and very generally, each club can break even provided it does not exceed it's natural stature. Saints have a very good solid base to build on - stadium, wealthy part of the country, large catchment area, proud history, loyal fans (most importantly) etc - enough IMO to found a solid Prem club on and Liebherr and Cortesse know that. Pompey on the other hand do not have a sound base and instead have a CCC/Div 1 following, low average wealth per fan, fickle fans (they were there when they won the FA Cup but where have they all gone now?), poxy ground etc. They have been punching above their weight and are payiung the consequences for that. I will not be concerned about the club's finances until we are in the Prem and Liebherr goes mad and pumps in tens of millions more for a push for the Champions League. Personally I cannot see that happening. I reckon they, like many of us fans, would happily see us stabilised in the Prem making a good crack each year at the Europa places, as we did before without breaking the bank. Think Fulham as a model. TDD, enjoy your football mate. No worries. Rejoice in the fact that the PLC structure (AKA the main thing responsible for our demise) has gone and that will never return in your life time. COYS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 (edited) I watched us rise from division 3 fifty odd years ago and am going to thoroughly enjoy watching us rise again. I still think it was better fifty years when we did it without spending loads. Of course it is different now and success can only probably be bought So the more we spend the more we will be successful. I think that SFC is worth more now than what ML has invested so there is no problem Edited 11 January, 2010 by John B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Mockles Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 maybe it is me in that dont think I could face saints going into meltdown financially...again but everywhere we look we worry, snipe and point the finger at football in general consuming itself...in every league there are teams in the crap financially and now it seems some teams are going to pay for it.. we do worry, and rightly...then on the other hand we are applauding the signing of fonte (who would not be excited)..I mean, how many clubs in league 1 in recent years spend this sort of money to bring a player who is supposed to be "way too good" for league 1...then it seem (by so many sources) we are going for stock..again, another player "way too good for league 1".. whilst other league 1 clubs are picking players up for peanuts.. people will say "pardew is building"..he is, but that does not make the finances look any different...we are in the pocket of one man.. I simply cannot believe that our spending this season in transfers, wages and (sadly) agents is matched by our incomings.. I just hope that in 5 years down the line (or when ever) we are not paying the same price as we are starting to see at other clubs dont think this is a moan, just a a slight concern with all the talk of MORE players coming.... No, think it's just you & wanting something to moan about. Do you know Alpine?! Some moan when we've got tight fisted meddling, incompetent, divisive chairmen like Lowe & Askham who had no ambition & would rather use the club to feather their own nest. Then we get professional, top draw businessmen intent on putting the club back in the top flight with a PROPER management & coaching set up (people with actual football pedigree rather than Lowe's cheap/washed up nobodies that he knew best) & a wise, well planned business model, shrewd transfers, culminating in a great winning run once our season gathered pace...now being further strengthened with very good signings like Fonte (& many rumoured others) and the response...worry?! FFS. You can't win. I think the Swiss have acted impeccably in their business activities. No Man Utd, Chelsea or Liverpool (or the Skates pretending they had money) multi-million spending or huge loans. Just a stadium that's paid/owned by the club. Good training facilities currently being improved (to help attract better players & streamline the club no doubt) & a steady financial footing funded by extremely profficient, well balanced & media shy/professional professionals. I'd not lose too much sleep over that. Unless they decide to leave the club but, from what Liebherr & Cortese have said (& judging by their actions) , that's not about to happen soon. They're in it for the long term! Lighten up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthamSteve Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Rejoice in the fact that the PLC structure (AKA the main thing responsible for our demise) has gone and that will never return in your life time. Don't bank on that.... but here's hoping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 To be honest, we should be worried if he weren't spending this money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Block 5 Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Delldays........you gots to chill....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toadhall Saint Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Delldays still trying to put a downer on everything, I see... I think he has his own personal roller coaster - one minute its "Were the Man City of League 1" then its "anyone concerned about our level of spending". Can't have it both ways. FWIW and to answer TDD - yes a little but we really need to off load some players, our squad is far to large and is not sustainable given our income (nothing to do with ML's money). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CB Fry Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 (edited) I think TDD makes some valid points. Let's remember that ML and NC don't love Saints like we do (I don't expect them to), they are business people and at the moment are making calculated punts. But the challenge with English football is you can get promoted to the CCC and you won't make money - if we are buying £1m players now, the expectation is to be buying £3m players then. And you can easily get promoted to the Prem and not make money - in our very best season up there we made £500k profit if memory serves, and that was a lifetime away when we were paying pauper wages. Even Hull have racked up debts and they seem to have spent pretty conservatively. Your Boltons etc aint never going to make no money. So we do have to watch the size of the bubble we are blowing up. The plan I have no doubt from ML and NC is to get us to the Prem as quickly as possible and after a season or so sell high to the next passing arab/F1 owner/yank. It's a fine plan and I support it. They bought low and will sell high. But that was Madjeski's plan too and that didn't quite work. So I am loving the current spending and don't question any motives from our owners. It's exciting and I love it. But let's not kid ourselves that ML is Steve Gibson. The ML era will have a finite lifespan,whereas Gibson looks like he is there for life and for love, which brings its own problems. But at the moment we all have the same agenda - Promotion, then Promotion. In a way, getting there is the easy bit. So let's worry about that for now, because it is enough to worry about. Edited 11 January, 2010 by CB Fry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shurlock Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 (edited) Can't say we've really spent that much though the caution is understandable. Our biggest outlay was Lambo -and you can't achieve anything without a quality striker. As the season as gone on and we've shipped goals, a CB has become a priority - hence fonte. Other than that we've spent 200/300K on Hammond and got a ton of frees (Murty, Harding, Connolly, Jaidi notwithstanding their wages) - indeed, only a little while ago DD was moaning about the number of loanees. Its blindingly obvious that we need a CM/AM - so yes we may invest a few bob there. But we're only seeking to plug key gaps (I would be surprised if we signed both Danns and Stock rather than one or the other) which is normal given AP is rebuilding from scratch and the summers firesale. As time goes on and the team settles, I expect activity to slow down. Similarly, I'd rather spend a few bob now on quality which can take us all the way up the footbally hierarchy than go cheap and have to keep replacing players once we get promoted. Its only when we start ******ing money on squad players (Robhino a la Man City) or players who are only marginally better than what we have that I may worry. Otherwise im enjoying the ride. Edited 11 January, 2010 by shurlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madsent Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Markus Liebherr bought our club for a bargain price considering he got the training ground and the stadium with the club for a reported £12.5m. The beauty of the deal was that the club wasn't sitting on any season ticket revenue despite being bought in July. As soon as he took over, something like £3m came through the door in season ticket sales. The revenue generated by signing Rickie Lambert (and his subsequent goal output) probably more than covers the cost of his signing and wages. According to the Ugly Inside, over 1200 half-year season tickets have been sold which probably covers the transfer and wages of Jose Fonte. Considering that the club has been averaging 20,600 fans per home game (9000 greater than the number of season tickets) and that probably brings over £200k in revenue per home game, I would not be surprised if the club was running close to break-even despite the apparent largesse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 I think that the feeling that things are too good to be true would be understandable given the charlatans that have been running the club the past decade or so. Then, the people in charge had a background as solicitors, accountants and city types, few of whom had experience in running real businesses. Markus Liebherr is a self-made man. He decided to part ways with the family Crane business that his father had built up from nothing into a multi-billion pound Global enterprise and proceeded to form his own multi-billion pound Global business. Both father and son had strict business principles that dictated that they would not borrow money to build their businesses, so I do not see how ML will have changed that philosophy with this one. Presumably, the financing of these players and the running costs are mostly covered by revenue raised through the turnstiles and other revenue strings and he pays for anything else out of his pocket. As others have said, there is undoubtedly an element of speculating to accumulate too, but effectively the expenditure on players at this level is small potatoes compared with the returns that would be realised when we get back to the Premiership. Even then, the players bought in have a value themselves, which in turn could well escalate if they grow in ability with us, so they are also an investment. As for Nicola Cortese, his ability in the financial World would make the previous incumbents look like pygmies. Probably nobody appreciates better than him how ML likes to do business and I'm sure that ML is entirely comfortable that NC has his hands on the purse-strings. I'm certainly enjoying the ride at the moment and not anticipating having any feelings of doubt or worry for several years to come. Even if ML's health deteriorates so that he needs to consider selling up, I'm confident that when that time comes, we will be a very saleable commodity, attracting a much better calibre of buyer than the lot down the M27. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsland Red Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 The timing for ML is perfect as clubs with far smaller gates / support currently above us will contribute to our own rise up the leagues by failing themselves financially. Cometh the hour etc. I'm enjoying the ride after previous events at SM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Quite correct, CB Fry. An associate of mine is friendly with Daniel Levy at Tottenham. he said that the first two years were fun, meeting other chairmen and all that stuff. Then it all started to get a bit repetitive. But we are not Tottenham, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St Marco Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 Actually were in a very strong financial position right now. No debts and lot's of assets i.e stadium, training ground etc. If Markus got to the point where he thought he was putting in too much money and wanted out then like i said prior to going into admin (which i got shot down for) someone will buy us. Saints will only go out of business if we get to a similar situation as Portsmouth. At that point it is more important who is running the club. If you have people who take out a **** load of loans that are un-realistic to the level of the club then your going to get screwed one day. Where as if you run the club as a business i.e spend a bit when it is needed not just because you can then your be ok. While i am happy to see us spending money on decent players again in the grand scheme of things it is actually very little. £1m on Lambert, £800k on Fonte with additions and around £400k on Hammond. The rest were loans or free's etc.. So say we spent around £3m on 3-4 players that is not that much at all. Nothing to worry about. It is when we start spending £10m on 1 player who is not very good when you need to worry. Saints are a big club in this league, we have far more resources then most of the clubs in this league regardless to having a billionaire owner. I just see it as using those resources. Where as in the last couple of years we have not been able to do that due to the out of control stadium debt etc.. We are living within our means i think right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Le God Posted 11 January, 2010 Share Posted 11 January, 2010 An associate of mine is friendly with Daniel Levy at Tottenham. he said that the first two years were fun, meeting other chairmen and all that stuff. Then it all started to get a bit repetitive. Daniel Levy just has the same old Premeirship chairman to meet, year in, year out. Mr Cortesse and Mr Liebherr have many years of meeting chairman at ever improving stadiums left... League One chairman Championship chairman Premiership chairman European chairman Will keep them occupied for many years! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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