Championship Birmingham City

[Marked Ox]

Birmingham City deducted nine points for EFL profitability and sustainability rule breaches

Birmingham City are deducted nine points by the EFL for breaching profitability and sustainability rules.

www.bbc.co.uk

Appears they are getting a 9 point deduction for breaking FL financial rules. Means they will be 5 points above the relegation spots.

I bet Birmingham are closely watching the Blackpool situation with regards points deductions even though it is a different situation.

 

[mooro]

I'm just listening to the office 'football expert' pontificating about this deduction and how he agrees with it etc etc -
He is normally just annoying, but at the moment it is very amusing, because he is under the impression that this points penalty is for the Jack Grealish punch...

 

[SteMerritt]

I'm just listening to the office 'football expert'

One in every office isn't there. Ours is a "United" fan who seems to get all of his opinions from talk sport on his drive in every morning.

 

[Leysboy]

I blame Pep Clotet

 

[Marked Ox]

How long will you let him embarrass himself before you point out, in front of the whole office, what a tit he is?

And please film or record it and share for our amusement.

 

[Sarge]

One in every office isn't there. Ours is a "United" fan who seems to get all of his opinions from talk sport on his drive in every morning.

theres one in my office .... course being self employed thatll be me in my 'office'

 

[Gary Baldi]

So how would this affect how the EFL deals with Blackpool? Different financial irregularity, but even so...

 

[Marked Ox]

So how would this affect how the EFL deals with Blackpool? Different financial irregularity, but even so...

Well if Blackpool don't get a points deduction I can see Birmingham looking at whether legal action over their points deduction is feasible.

 

[mooro]

So how would this affect how the EFL deals with Blackpool? Different financial irregularity, but even so...

I think the situation with Blackpool is different, in that it is not the case of clubs not being able to pay or gaining an unfair advantage by not paying, but instead a (removed) owner refusing to pay. I think they will get a reduced deduction - maybe 3 or 6pts

 

[Marked Ox]

I think the situation with Blackpool is different, in that it is not the case of clubs not being able to pay or gaining an unfair advantage by not paying, but instead a (removed) owner refusing to pay. I think they will get a reduced deduction - maybe 3 or 6pts

I don't think it is really that different other than which type of bad owner/previous owner the club has/had. And not giving the 12 points deduction for me substantially weakens/undermines the rule that covers the Blackpool situation, creating caveats that fans/clubs will be demanding apply to their case under whatever story they have.

That said, I fully expect the FL to either substantially reduce the points deduction or to not give one at all due to PR.

 

[Paul Cannell]

Proportional Representation?

 

[Marked Ox]

Proportional Representation?

That might get Brexit sorted.

Public relations.

 

[tonyw]

The most confusing thing about this situation is how the hell did Birmingham spend so much money, and end up with such a rubbish squad?

Zola and Redknapp between them basically spent 30 million quid to make the team substantially worse. I bet the board wish they could go back and undo Gary Rowett's sacking when they were on the edge of the playoffs on a reasonable budget!

I guess they're the counterpoint to Wolves. Wolves spent a stupid amount of money - but had a good manager who spent it well, and therefore they're now riding high in the Premiership and have a good shot at winning the FA Cup and playing in Europe next year (via Cup or League). Birmingham spent even more money, and wasted it on dross - and as a result are in danger of relegation this year, and presumably in financial turmoil for the foreseeable future.

If this sort of points deduction dissuades other clubs from putting their future at risk......it's probably a good thing.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

They could be the first EFL club to get promotion this season if they beat Peterborough tonight. Goes to show that money does talk.
Their wage bill is bigger than teams like Coventry and Sunderland in our league! It will be interesting how they do next season as spending rules are a lot stricter in the Championship so I am not sure if they will have to offload some of their big earners.

 

[Bornyellow]

They could be the first EFL club to get promotion this season if they beat Peterborough tonight. Goes to show that money does talk.
Their wage bill is bigger than teams like Coventry and Sunderland in our league! It will be interesting how they do next season as spending rules are a lot stricter in the Championship so I am not sure if they will have to offload some of their big earners.

I can’t see them doing anything other then spending big again tbh, similar to Wrexham both clubs generate a serious amount of revenue from the US.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

I can’t see them doing anything other then spending big again tbh, similar to Wrexham both clubs generate a serious amount of revenue from the US.

Wrexham generate money through their TikTok sponsorship and Disney documentary but where do Birmingham get their money from other than their very wealthy owners throwing money in?

Wrexham were clever/lucky because their owners spent big at the start of their journey but they were in non league at the time with no FFP rules at the time. By the time spending rules have come into place for them the club are now generating their own income. I am not sure the same can be said for Birmingham.

 

[tonyw]

Wrexham generate money through their TikTok sponsorship and Disney documentary but where do Birmingham get their money from other than their very wealthy owners throwing money in?

Wrexham were clever/lucky because their owners spent big at the start of their journey but they were in non league at the time with no FFP rules at the time. By the time spending rules have come into place for them the club are now generating their own income. I am not sure the same can be said for Birmingham.

I don't know, I think it can. They spent absurd amounts this year, when they were in League One and SCMP applies - i.e. the rules are that you can only spend a certain percentage of your revenues on salaries. But there is nothing to stop you from spending x10 more than anyone in League One ever has on transfers......so they did.

Next year, there will instead be a cap on their losses. So they may have to think twice about spending £15m on any one player again. But they get reasonable crowds, and probably reasonable commercial revenues as well - they'll still be able to run a decently high wage bill.

If you're going to spend stupid amounts of money on getting out of League One - they did it the right way to not fall foul of the rules.

 

[Northstandboy]

Promoted back to the Chanpionship.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Another club that ended up in league 1 due to being a financial mess buying their way out of the league. Wigan did that too and look how that has gone for them in recent years.

 

[Northernyellow]

Their playing wage bill is reportedly £35M. And they paid £15M for their centre forward, Stansfield...

 

[LowerSouth]

Another club that ended up in league 1 due to being a financial mess buying their way out of the league. Wigan did that too and look how that has gone for them in recent years.

True, but Wigan have been a basket case for many seasons .
Brum seem to have more stability with ownership/ stadium redevelopment etc .
Looking forward to going there again next season

 

[Steve Gilbert]

True, but Wigan have been a basket case for many seasons .
Brum seem to have more stability with ownership/ stadium redevelopment etc .
Looking forward to going there again next season

Their accounts this time next year will be very interesting reading.

 

[greatunclekip]

Their playing wage bill is reportedly £35M. And they paid £15M for their centre forward, Stansfield...

Yep. Utterly pathetic. There’s going for it and there’s rigging the league..

 

[Robie]

Their playing wage bill is reportedly £35M. And they paid £15M for their centre forward, Stansfield...

Bargain bucket.

 

[Scotchegg]

I'm not naive enough to think that football should be like a school sports day where everyone gets a prize. But I do believe that everyone should at least have a chance, with bottom clubs being able to raise their game enough to beat top clubs, or exceptional players/managers taking clubs beyond their natural means.

Birmingham have literally bought the league this year. It's worked for them, which is something that Sunderland and others failed to do. But the level of their spending was just ridiculous, especially for a club with such recent financial issues.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I'm not naive enough to think that football should be like a school sports day where everyone gets a prize. But I do believe that everyone should at least have a chance, with bottom clubs being able to raise their game enough to beat top clubs, or exceptional players/managers taking clubs beyond their natural means.

Birmingham have literally bought the league this year. It's worked for them, which is something that Sunderland and others failed to do. But the level of their spending was just ridiculous, especially for a club with such recent financial issues.

That’s the food chain though - why should everyone be on an equal footing ? Fair play to Birmingham, they’ve courted the investment, they’ve got it and they’ve blitzed the league. I doubt they’ll blitz the Championship next season so they will sink back in to their natural habitat - and probably have a moan about the three teams coming down with £50m parachute money. Just because your neighbour has a Rolls Royce doesn’t mean you should have one.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

Their playing wage bill is reportedly £35M. And they paid £15M for their centre forward, Stansfield...

Absolutely absurd.

 

[TheDukeOfBanburyshire]

I hope it all comes crashing down around them, frankly. I've never liked BCFC, these days even less so.

 

[ECYellow]

Modern day football epitomised by how Birmingham have gone about it.

All about how much money you can throw at it, rather than sporting competitiveness/relative level playing field, and it all starts at the top of the pyramid.

The Premier League is one of the most boring divisions in European football; the title is done and the three teams going down is done. Sky () are clinging on to the ‘top 4’ race for something to talk about.

The Manchester Derby on Sunday was a cringe fest of cuddles and swapping shirts at the end, after a dire 0-0 draw. Nobody cared on that pitch what the score was. They are picking up their £100’s of £1000’s, so there is no jeopardy in it for them.

if you aren’t owned by a state, oligarch or some American superstar looking for a play thing, then you’ve literally not got a chance of breaking into the elite of this country.

The three at the top of the Champ - all with parachute payment leg up’s in the last season or two. It filters down.

I’d love to see Birmingham go pop, again and drop a league or two. Personally, I can’t see it as they will continue to throw money at it and results will become increasingly predictable, as the playing field becomes increasingly lop sided.

 

[Blox21]

As my family come from Birmingham and most support Blues , I say good luck to them and look forward to visiting St Andrew’s ( or whatever it’s called this week ) next season