Quote ="SmokeyTA"Thats a pretty naive argument.
Firstly, im not sure where you got your statistics from, secondly, i would limit the attention paid to some clubs profit statements, it isnt a normal business, isnt a listed company, and there isnt much of an incentive to report a huge profit. I know Leeds will often make loans or pay management fees to Leeds carnegie etc which can affect the bottom line profit figure.
Thirdly, they dont just sell jerseys, they sell tickets, they sell sponsorship, they win trophies. Would you find it inconceivable that SBW at Leeds could add another 2k to the gate? If we say Leeds average ticket cost is £15, that would £390k added to turnover, sell 5k more shirts at £30 a pop is another £150k. Thats £540k brought in, ignoring incidentals like the extra food and drink sold on matchdays, additional sponsorship brought in because of the higher profile, and prize money won etc etc, it is better for a club to spend £700k on SBW and bring in an extra £540k than it would be to spend £200k on a Mick Dobson or Blake Green and bring £0 additional income.
And that doesnt even address the less tangible benefits of things like a higher profile which the game needs.
I know your club has run out of money after you defended the signing of a Willie Mason to the hilt, but that doesnt mean the world is falling in.'"
Nonsense, profit on a 30 quid jersey is likely to be around 10 quid and if you think sbw would put 2000 on the gate of any of the top 4 clubs you are kidding yourself. The top 4 clubs are already winning games and consistently contesting finals so fans are used to success. Not that sbw would be the difference between a mid table finish or a GF appearance so would be no point bankrupting yourself for him if your not a top 4 club. We have seen plenty of clubs taking this approach in the 80's and 90's and nearly killing themselves.
As for Mason, I said it would end in tears and it did.
