According to the Deloitte Football Money League, Newcastle United are higher-placed in the global league of richest clubs than they are in the Premier League. Newcastle, who are 18th in English football's top-tier, three points adrift of safety with three matches to go, are placed 17th in the Deloitte 2009 Football Money League – something that is poised to change dramatically should the Tyneside club be relegated to the Championship on the 24th May.
Owner Mike Ashley had taken the club off the market earlier this year in the hope that stability on and off the pitch would contribute to both financial and footballing improvement. The £25.9 million commercial revenue that Newcastle received in 2008 was contributed significantly by long-term sponsorship deals with Northern rock and kit-supplier adidas. Newcastle’s financial strength, despite having not participated in a European competition for two years, comes through Premier League broadcasting deals and average league attendances over 40,000.
However should Newcastle fall into the second-tier of English football come the end of the season, there could be catastrophic consequences. When Sheffield United announced their intention to sue West Ham United over the illegal signing of Carlos Tevez and their resultant relegation, lawyers placed the cost of relegation to “between £30 million and £50 million.”
For more details on the Deloitte Football Money League, contact Dan Jones at sportsteamuk@deloitte.co.uk
Source: Deloitte Football Money League 2009
