06 Jul 2026 10:46:04
Reading an interesting article on our debt and interest so we owe around 1.2 Billion on loans and player purchases outstanding. Our revenue was around 700 million, but are paying 60 million on interest alone. We generate more revenue than all other teams in Premier, but cannot use that to our advantage because of the interest payments.
You would really have to wonder where the money is coming from to build the new stadium. There is no appetite to reduce loans so interest will only go in one direction.
06 Jul 2026 13:00:09
I really don't wonder about it at all. Potential methods of funding new stadiums is way beyond my pay grade. Real Madrid are using theirs to generate all sorts of additional revenues, keeping them at the very top of the income list.
City, Arsenal and Liverpool all generated more revenue than us, although next year we should be back up to the same level.
Net interest payments haven't been as high as £60m, but might get there in the future. The new fixed loan is bigger and at a higher rate, but the increase will be used in the short term to lower short term borrowing and correspondingly costs.
But, to your point, £50m in interest payments annually is equivalent to the cost of an extra two £75m players on £200k a week. Definite disadvantage compared to debt free clubs. We would be in an even worse debt situation if Ineos hadn't put some cash into the club. However, both Ratcliffe and the Glazers tend to work of high leverage strategies. If they're not personally guaranteeing anything, then if it all goes tits up, the creditors get stiffed (but they do lose the value of their stock).