Bolton should scout the Scottish League --->> Debts in Scottish Premier League

[Marado]

Debts in Scottish Premier League

The world economic crisis continues to spread at European football. This time we talk about the clubs in the Scottish Premier League (SPL). The Scottish club were finally to submit annual budgets according to their reality and can even balance your accounts and find funding to pay its debts.  With the economic recession at the end of 2008, new challenges arise to the Scottish League clubs, which plunged to a new economic crisis and sports.

Scottish clubs have historically high levels of debt and are faced with reduced revenues from box office, catering and merchandising were forced to drop prices to keep the fans near the stadium at a time of difficulty.

The clubs have median debt to its considerable size, for example the Heart has a debt of 28.5 million Euros, the Kilmarnock 13 million Euros and Aberdeen 7.5 million Euros. However the problem does not affect only the small clubs, see the Rangers who succeeded in June 2008 to reduce its debt of 84 million Euros to 25 million euros, however it was out of the Champions League, thereby losing revenue worth at least 13.5 million euros.

Source:
http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=_t&hl=pt-PT&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.futebolfinance.com%2Fdividas-na-scottish-premier-league&sl=pt&tl=en&history_state0=

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Players to Watch and maybe buy in a near future:

Artur Boruc: Celtic

Celtic's Polish goalkeeper was one of the five goalkeepers short listed for the FIFPro world team of the year last season after his stunning performances for Poland in the 2008 European Championships and Celtic's European campaign. The 28 year old is one of Europe's most coveted keepers but I hope he stays in Glasgow as he helps add to the quality to the Scottish game.

Known as the "Holy goalie or the Holey goalie" depending on what side of Glasgow you are in because of his religious believes and a recent penchant for letting in a clanger. (bbc Scotland)

Allan McGregor: Rangers

The Rangers number one and Scotland number two (three caps) has like Boruc, not had everything his own way this year after last years heroics but there is no doubting his class. The 26 year old was a large part of Rangers run to the UEFA Cup Final last season with some fantastic performances. If he was English, he's be the national number one 1 but he is not and will have to play second fiddle to Sunderland's Craig Gordon for now.

He has two Scottish Cups and three League Cups to his name but will be hoping that this season brings that illusive League title win.

James McCarthy: Hamilton Academicals

Hamilton's young starlet is wanted by Barcelona if you believe the papers.

The centre midfielder is quick, skilful and calm as a cucumber on the ball. The young Scot, who has decided to represent the Republic of Ireland at international level, was named the Scottish First Division's young player of the year last season. A season he started, aged just 16.

Scott Brown: Celtic

Celtic's diminutive midfielder is a real livewire, thing Scotland's answer to Wayne Rooney but in a different position. The former Hibernian midfielder already one of the first names on the team sheet for club (has already over 200 first team appearances) and country (14 caps) at just 23. He has a great career ahead of him.

The hard tackling, hard working midfielder cost Celtic £4.4 million (a large amount between two clubs in Scotland) but continues to interest English suitors including Everton, Tottenham Hotspurs and Middlesbrough.

Brown though, is determined to add to his League Cup winners medal (won with Hibs) and Scottish League winners medal with Celtic.

Pedro Mendes: Rangers

The only UEFA Champions league winner on the list after winning with FC Porto in 2004 under Jose Mourinho. The twice capped Portuguese international funnily enough made his international debut against Scotland but has only recently been involved again with the Portuguese national side.

The 29 year old is actually shorter than Scott Brown but is famous for his long range goals. In his one and only Old Firm appearance so far, he secured a place in Rangers folklore with a 25 yard screamer sunk Celtic.

Mendes has already won a player of the month award in Scotland and the creative midfielder will be aiming to add to last season's FA Cup Final win with Portsmouth by the time the season is over.

Steven Fletcher: Hibernian

Another player who has caught the eye of Spain's finest. Fletcher has been linked with Real Madrid in the past and big striker is one of Scotland's hottest prospects.

The 21 year old however, spends more time on the physic's bed than on the pitch and this has affected his form this season. He has managed to accumulate over 150 first team appearances with 47 goals in his relatively short career and there is no doubt, on his day, he is Scotland's finest front man.

Fletcher has only two caps for his country due mainly to injury but if he can stay fit there is a bright future ahead. Winning last years Scottish Football Writers Young Player of the Year award is testament to his potential.

Aiden McGeady: Celtic

Aiden is another bright Scottish born prospect who has chosen to represent the ROI. The 22 year old winger is Scotland's answer to Cristiano Ronaldo and on his day is capable of being just as dangerous.

McGeady has already amassed 20 caps for his chosen country and was last year chosen as Scotland's Player of the Year as well as Players Player of the Year on top of being voted the Clydesdale Bank SPL Young Player of the Year.

Approaching 200 games for Celtic, McGeady has already won three league titles, two Scottish Cups and one League Cup.

Barry Ferguson: Rangers

Rangers hard working centre midfielder Barry Ferguson is the clubs Captain who led Rangers, not only on the hunt for a quadruple last season that ended with defeat in the UEFA Cup Final but also Scotland's heroic European Championship qualifying campaign which saw them beat France twice and get within a whisker of qualifying for Scotland's first major finals since France 98.

The 30 year old is arguably Scotland's best player and has what is known as BMT (Big Match Temperament). The midfielder rarely lets down club or country and was recently honoured with an MBE (member of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II.

Ferguson has played 44 times for Scotland and played over 450 professional games. In 2003, he moved to Blackburn Rovers for £7.5 million but injury halted his charge in the English Premier League and ended with a return north of the border.

Last season he played vital games for Rangers with pain killing injections before games. These included three cup finals (Scottish Cup, League Cup and the UEFA Cup Final).

Barry has four League, four Scottish Cup and five League Cup winners medals to his name.

Kris Boyd: Rangers

What can you say about Rangers striker Kris Boyd? Lazy, technically poor and maybe not the best attitude but who cares when he scores goals like this (Partick Volley). Actually he scores all sorts of goals and pretty often.

The Rangers hit man scored 25 goals in 41 games last season (most of which were from the bench) and amazingly still found himself on the bench at the start of this season. It didn't last long however and Boyd has bagged 17 goals in 19 games this season.

In total, it is 88 goals in 125 games. Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Robbie Fowler eat your heart out.

For all his goal scoring (7 in 15 games for Scotland), Boyd has only won one League Cup and One Scottish Cup but he did score two goals in each final.

His fallout with national team boss George Burley means he'll not be seen in a Scotland jersey for a while but Rangers are certainly benefiting.

Christophe Berra: Heart of Midlothian

The Hearts captain as you may of guessed, is half French but we need some sort of breaks, losing too many players to Ireland as it is.

Berra has so far been capped three times by Scotland and the 23 year old defender is one of the brightest stars out with the Old Firm. He is a true British centre back, tall, strong and pretty hands on shall we say.

The Edinburgh born defender is getting better and better and is a future regular in the Scotland defence.


Scottish League Youngsters and Risers:

Dimitru Copil: Heart of Midlothian
Romanian Wonderkid, the next George Hagi

Anyone? I don't know any more eheh

[Manny]

The only thing is, taking players from Scottish clubs is usually a gamble because the quality of the SPL is the same as the Championship in England.

Obviously, there would be some good players up there, but ones worth signing are of a small minority IMO. Only ones I rate from that list is Boruc and McGeady.

[Hazzy_2009]

I rate quite a few of these players, I think Boyd is awesome, Mcgeady is a good solid player, Ferguson and Mendes are tireless workhorse midfielders. Theres alot of talent to be poached in the SPL!

[Sluffy]

I share Manny's view.

As proof - Christophe Berra went to Wolves, Kris Boyd nearly went to Birmingham (both in the Championship) and Barry Ferguson failed when at Blackburn when he was a younger player (and captain of Scotland if I recall correctly).

Artur Boruc is a decent keeper but makes some absolute howlers (he seems to have personal problems of the pitch allegedly) and even Pedro Mendes only seemed to have us interested in him.

Yes all the Premiership club managers could be wrong but somehow I doubt it.




I saw this article a few weeks ago which some might find of interest - comparing Celtic's financial model with Bolton's.  Basically it says the Scottish clubs depend very much on the fans coming through the turnstiles (we depend on TV deals) and that a fall in support (maybe starting with the credit crunch would hurt them badly.

http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/2009/01/debt-mountain-continues-to-dwa.php

I think we are all becoming familiar with the income streams flowing in Scottish football but I thought it would be interesting to highlight Bolton Wanderers figures, which were released yesterday.

For year end June 2008 show a turnover of £59.1m, an increase of nearly 16%.  A repeat performance this season would put them in second place in the Scottish money league behind Celtic, who earned £72.9m last season, but Bolton still made a loss of £8.1m and saw debts rise to a staggering £53.5m.

It's when you break the figures down that contrasts become acute.  Bolton saw match day revenue drop to £6.8m, a figure which would wipe Celtic, who earn £38.5m on match days, out of business.

However, Bolton's income from Sky TV was a fantastic £34.2m, up over £8m as a result of the new TV deal.  Celtic earned £18.2m from all multimedia sources, mostly through the Champions League but including Setanta and Channel67.

There is something inherently unstable about the Bolton business model.  They are losing money, are deeply in debt and have one single debtor to thank for the majority of their income.  A blip in the wrong place would be fatal.

This story is not uncommon; in fact it is the norm in the FA Premier League, where enormous increases in income have been squandered without producing sustainable business models.  When borrowing conditions tighten (sound familiar), or Sky TV decide they don't want to pay just as much money for a product whose market has matured, English football will be bankrupt.