Excellent piece in the Telegraph today about clubs having to spend more and more money to compete with the big boys in the Premiership. It outlines how such clubs as the big four, Man City, Villa, West Ham etc (essentially the ones with new backers) are forcing the smaller clubs to spend way more than they can afford to, EVEN with the new TV package coming into play.

Also raises the point that more so, the new money is not going into the balance of the clubs, but is increasingly going straight to players as not only transfer fees, but also wages sky-rocket.

Interesting little piece, which ends by explaining that the Championship might be where the REAL risktakers are, but i was just wondering, who do you guys think might be the next Leeds, and why? (probably from the Prem or the Champ).

Found the link to the article - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2007/08/07/sfnmon107.xml

I don't know, i really doubt there is somebody out there right now that can pull such a downfall, going from CL knockouts to 3rd highest division in the country and 15 points behind. That's even worse than what Sheffield Wednesday did.

You know what i mean though, someone who might have to sell players and be relegated.

I doubt anyone will ever capitulate like Leeds have.

I think it depends on which millionnaire benefactor gets bored with his plaything first. Abramovic has poured over £500m into Chelsea, and the club are still massively in debt. Same with the Glazers - with Malcolm, Avram and Joel securing Manchester Uniteds assets against their huge debts, the club would implode should they swiftly pull out.

All this is the exact reason why Leeds United are in their demise - overspending by managers and chairmen who think money will last forever.

True, but i'm becoming less and less convinced that these big investors are gonna jump ship, if for the simple fact they have TOO much invested interest. I think it's gonna be one of the smaller clubs, with people such as Risdale as chairman (who havent as much money) who will try and spend more than they have, essentially, the CLASSIC situation.

All this is the exact reason why Leeds United are in their demise - overspending by managers and chairmen who think money will last forever.


If you were abramovic you'd think that too (H)

yea..Risdale's over-spending didn't work out very well + Bates on front no wonder Leeds are in League One..:(

btw Manchester City is spending their money pretty good also :p

Man Utd, American economy is getting ready to fall apart, Glazer's money comes from specialty items that people won't be using for awhile.

I think City will be having some problems. I wanna wait and see how they do first, but unless they make UEFA, and frankly I don't think they will, they're gonna start having problems.

BTW, I don't think Chelsea are in debt. In debt means that you owe some people money. Everything has come directly from Abramovich. They haven't got a return on all their outgoings, though, but unless Abramovich suddenly loses everything, it doesn't look like they will be doing a Leeds any time soon or in the next 10 years, probably.

Maybe City if their owner gets thrown in jail, but they've spent their money pretty well, got lots of young players without paying way over the odds. Sunderland have spent a fair bit and looking at their squad they I wouldn't pick them to beat relegation, Fulham as well have spent poorly, but it will probably be excessive wages that will bring a club down and my pick would be West Ham.
Although I would be surprised if anyone matches Leeds downfall, they budgeted on reaching the CL semi finals every year and ended up not qualifying.
There was also the story of Seth Johnson, he went to meet with Ridsdale with his agent planning to hold out for 13K a week, Ridsdale offered them 38K.

Manchester City.

Yeah think i agree with most here, if Sinatra has problems in Thailand then Man City could have some real problems with the money they've spent, also, i'm yet to be convinced by some of the signings theyve made to be honest.

Sunderland are the only team who have spent lots without a big-backer though, Quinn doesnt have masses of money, which tells me theyre possible speculating to accumulate (a lot). Let's hope it doesnt all go tits up for them... Unless you're a toon fan.

Let's hope it doesnt all go tits up for them... Unless you're a toon fan.

wahhahahaha (6)

but seriously why does everyone seem to think that sunderland will survive from relegation this year?

Because they have a better squad than Wigan, Birmingham and Derby.

Poor old Derby...

Sunderland are the only team who have spent lots without a big-backer though, Quinn doesnt have masses of money, which tells me theyre possible speculating to accumulate (a lot). Let's hope it doesnt all go tits up for them... Unless you're a toon fan.

Yeah, we spend a bit over the odd... 5m for Chopra and Richardson... But the problem is, if we don't spend over the odd, we can't buy anyone who looks like Premier League quality... Our wonderful Premiership record really hurt us a lot... 34 pts in 2 seasons

Spurs spend 16m on Bent makes spending 9m on Gordon pretty reasonable...

9m on Gordon pretty reasonable...
that will be pretty reasonable when you consider how good hes going to be soon, let alone how good he already is! :-paul:

Jury's still out for me, you see, sure Spurs spent way too much on Bent, but Spurs also know theyll almost certainly be playing European football for the next three years. Sunderland don't, £9m for a 'keeper who's never played in the Premier League is a slight gamble.

The thing is with the bigger clubs, there will always be another person to step in and clean up. Smaller clubs are more prone to it because they are not as big brands.

That doesn't really explain the demise of Leeds or Sheffield Wednesday though, up to a number of years ago, they were amongst the biggest eight teams in the country. Especially Leeds, but you'd be wrong to discount Wednesday as a small club.

Jury's still out for me, you see, sure Spurs spent way too much on Bent, but Spurs also know theyll almost certainly be playing European football for the next three years.


Isnt that what Leeds were assuming and Leeds were playing in the Champions League.

Yeah it was, but Spurs have a better backer than Leeds did, the TV money is more and the team is budgeting for Europe, not the Champions League. There's a huge, massive gap between the UEFA cup and the Champions League, that's where the two teams differ.

On a side note, Leeds have failed to reduce the 15 point reduction theyve been given in League One this year.

Its a shame really. Leeds were one of the great teams and their fall from the prem was so drastic and shocking. i used to actually really like the team they had at one point. the likes of batty, smith, viduka, kewell, harte, bowyer and all were on top of their games which made for great football. i cant see many other great teams falling from grace like that though i think it was a big one off with leeds

Fiorentina is always good for a bankruptcy or two.....have they been mentioned?

S****horpe