Post by QPR Report on Jul 21, 2009 6:30:49 GMT
Find that very, very, very hard to believe
Guardian Snippet/Matt Scott
Manchester City spending spree is just a present from Abu Dhabi
Sheikhs' £500m in wages and transfer fees will not find its way on to the balance sheet
Expenditure on the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor will not find its way on to the Manchester City balance sheet. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA
Manchester City's record-breaking transfer-market splurge is effectively being written off as a gift by the club's Abu Dhabi owners. The sheikhs have spent more than £500m in aggregate wages and transfer fees on players such as Carlos Tevez, Robinho and Emmanuel Adebayor. But unlike for owners such as Chelsea's Roman Abramovich, the expenditure will not find its way on to the balance sheet.
Despite his immense wealth Abramovich quantified much of his acquisitions through directors' or "soft" loans, amounting to more than £700m before he converted a slug of it down to equity. That left Chelsea just under £340m in debt to its owner at the last reckoning, with critics saying it would become insolvent if Abramovich's backing were to be abruptly withdrawn.
Although Eastlands sources say the Islamic aversion to imposing debt was not a consideration, City's owners are alive to the widespread debate last yearover the levels of debt in the Premier League.
They feel the current spending is necessary to break in to the Champions League, when the club will be self-sustaining. But although that will reassure City fans, the news will only increase their rivals' sense that Abu Dhabi is "financial doping" its club.
www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/21/manchester-city-chelsea-roman-abramovich
Guardian Snippet/Matt Scott
Manchester City spending spree is just a present from Abu Dhabi
Sheikhs' £500m in wages and transfer fees will not find its way on to the balance sheet
Expenditure on the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor will not find its way on to the Manchester City balance sheet. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA
Manchester City's record-breaking transfer-market splurge is effectively being written off as a gift by the club's Abu Dhabi owners. The sheikhs have spent more than £500m in aggregate wages and transfer fees on players such as Carlos Tevez, Robinho and Emmanuel Adebayor. But unlike for owners such as Chelsea's Roman Abramovich, the expenditure will not find its way on to the balance sheet.
Despite his immense wealth Abramovich quantified much of his acquisitions through directors' or "soft" loans, amounting to more than £700m before he converted a slug of it down to equity. That left Chelsea just under £340m in debt to its owner at the last reckoning, with critics saying it would become insolvent if Abramovich's backing were to be abruptly withdrawn.
Although Eastlands sources say the Islamic aversion to imposing debt was not a consideration, City's owners are alive to the widespread debate last yearover the levels of debt in the Premier League.
They feel the current spending is necessary to break in to the Champions League, when the club will be self-sustaining. But although that will reassure City fans, the news will only increase their rivals' sense that Abu Dhabi is "financial doping" its club.
www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/21/manchester-city-chelsea-roman-abramovich