Club Budgets

[Herbert Anchovy]

I don't pretend to know much, if anything, about player and transfer budgets in football but it's often a subject that crops up so I thought I'd ask the question of people who know much more than me.

How important is budget to the success of a club?

I realise that it's probably 'easier' to have and maintain success if you have a larger budget than your rivals, but is there any clear correlation between budget and success? How aligned are the two? How much of a 'guarantee' is one to the other?

Listening to a Championship show on 5live recently and they were talking about how Preston and Hull ( I think) are right up there with the pack at the top of the table but don't traditionally have the largest budgets in that division. In Hull City's case, it seems that they're skint and under some form on transfer embargo too. At the other end of the scale there's Norwich City who were in the Premier League 3 years ago so must have received a nice little parachute payment and yet they're struggling?

What are your thoughts?

[NickDRFC]

There’s definitely a correlation and a bigger budget gives you more chance of success but just as important is how the money is spent. A small budget spent well will go further than a big budget frittered away.

[Sprotyrover]

There’s definitely a correlation and a bigger budget gives you more chance of success but just as important is how the money is spent. A small budget spent on well will go further than a big budget frittered away.

Who is running Norwich, is it a Hedge fund?

[GazLaz]

It’s easy to take a snapshot of any one team at a point of time to prove or disprove an argument. Over a period of time teams that spend more will be more successful than those that spend less.

[TheFunk]

Carlisle had one of the top budgets last season and that worked out well for them.

[NickDRFC]

Carlisle had one of the top budgets last season and that worked out well for them.

There are always going to be outliers but the top 3 would have had top of the table budgets, whilst Morecambe and the others who made up the bottom 4 (Accrington & Newport) would also have been amongst the lowest spenders.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

The scale of championship budgets is mental, not a prayer we can compete in there now.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

It's a no win debate as the size of all clubs budgets are relative to their standard of living and existing commitments. Some clubs may be able to make lower budgets stretch further with disposable income.

It's just common sense really as others have said, it's how you use it, not necessarily the total amount.  The definition of success again, is relative so for every club who succeeds in a season, there are five times as many who might be seen to have failed. .

I've often thought, if it were possible, there could be an alternative league table based on £s per point. I'm sure it would be eye opening. 

[Chris Black come back]

It doesn’t take genius to see the impact of having a higher level of resource. In recent years when we cut back on budgets we were a disgrace. When we decided to spend again we were far better. All that really differs is the cohort you are competing against. We could flick the switch in League Two and we were pretty much set for promotion. That’s a much smaller relative switch in League One.

We also spend our budget at the very best, in an average fashion. There is no added value from our transfer business. Nothing. Pound for pound, it’s not great.

[i_ateallthepies]

You only have to look at how Manchester City have risen to the top in the last 20 years to answer the budget question but there are far too many examples of clubs who have 'invested' with the only outcome being insolvency to suppose that it's the holy grail.  Money is a massive factor but only one of many.

[graingrover]

How did the enquiry into the Man City financial irregularities go ..I lost track it was so drawn out ,

[Glyn_Wigley]

You only have to look at how Manchester City have risen to the top in the last 20 years to answer the budget question but there are far too many examples of clubs who have 'invested' with the only outcome being insolvency to suppose that it's the holy grail.  Money is a massive factor but only one of many.

Gambling on a player working out within reason is all well and good, all clubs can have that wriggle room built into their budgets, but gambling the entire future of a club on something working out is just madness.