Rival Watch

[Snowflake Royal]

wrexham released their accounts the other day

Wrexham AFC Limited today filed its Annual Report and Financial Results for the year ended 30 June 2024 revealing a record turnover for the Club of £26.725 million (2023: £10.478 million), a growth of 155% on the previous year.

anyone who think they wont be able to compete in the champ might need to have a rethink. the revenue would put them in the top 10 in the champ compared to the previous season. And that's Wexham's league 2 revenue up to June 24. Goodness knows what this seasons revenue is and what it would be if they got to the Champ.

Financially they can. But you need to factor in that the other Championship sides already have Championship squads, whilst Wrexham still firmly have a L1 squad that was L2 last season. They have a hell of a lot of changes to make to be competitive, and buy a whole new squad is mega expensive, and rarely works. They just pad about 3 times Smith's price for a player who isn't really Champ standard.

[From Despair To Where?]

wrexham released their accounts the other day

Wrexham AFC Limited today filed its Annual Report and Financial Results for the year ended 30 June 2024 revealing a record turnover for the Club of £26.725 million (2023: £10.478 million), a growth of 155% on the previous year.

anyone who think they wont be able to compete in the champ might need to have a rethink. the revenue would put them in the top 10 in the champ compared to the previous season. And that's Wexham's league 2 revenue up to June 24. Goodness knows what this seasons revenue is and what it would be if they got to the Champ.

Financially they can. But you need to factor in that the other Championship sides already have Championship squads, whilst Wrexham still firmly have a L1 squad that was L2 last season. They have a hell of a lot of changes to make to be competitive, and buy a whole new squad is mega expensive, and rarely works. They just pad about 3 times Smith's price for a player who isn't really Champ standard.

And knowing they have money, clubs (and agents) will try to pull their pants down.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Yup, Wrexham tax. I genuinely think next season in the Championship will be too soon for them, and possibly quite humiliating. They need a couple of years building a squad of young hungry talent with a high ceiling; instead they have Jay Rodriguez and Steven Fletcher. They have the financial resources to do it, it's just happen too quickly.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Not a current rival but looks like Sheff Wed are about to be hit with a 3 window transfer embargo.....their owner Mr Chansiri has held us up as an example of what can be achieved in such circumstances....

[WestYorksRoyal]

The 3 beneath us all have winnable games in the 3pms, but this being L1 I expect at least one will drop points. Hopefully it's Bolton as they're the only ones who can finish the day above us.

[Sutekh]

Not a current rival but looks like Sheff Wed are about to be hit with a 3 window transfer embargo.....their owner Mr Chansiri has held us up as an example of what can be achieved in such circumstances....

They have until end Monday to pay players and taxman or they will be embargoed accordingly.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Second halves going against us, though Cambridge are putting another nail in Shrewsbury's coffin which may deflate them more for Tuesday.

[windermereROYAL]

Amazon prime doing a behind the scenes documentary on Birmingham city, a true footballing miracle on how you can get promoted on a shoestring budget.

[skipper]

Amazon prime doing a behind the scenes documentary on Birmingham city, a true footballing miracle on how you can get promoted on a shoestring budget.

Is this a wind up? Do Amazon Prime know they spent £15m on one player?

[Hendo]

Amazon prime doing a behind the scenes documentary on Birmingham city, a true footballing miracle on how you can get promoted on a shoestring budget.

Is this a wind up? Do Amazon Prime know they spent £15m on one player?

[Sutekh]

Amazon prime doing a behind the scenes documentary on Birmingham city, a true footballing miracle on how you can get promoted on a shoestring budget.

Is this a wind up? Do Amazon Prime know they spent £15m on one player?

It’s Prime, they shelled out £250m+ for Rings of Power so £15m is certainly a shoestring for them.

[Mr Angry]

The Daily Telegraph did a puff piece on Birmingham's promotion that could have been written by the clubs PR department!

The only mention of the ridiculous sums spent was to say that "fans of other clubs will say that the spending won them the league, but that would significantly downplay the massive impact that the Manager has had on the team"



Well, no sh1t sherlock!

[Snowflake Royal]

The Daily Telegraph did a puff piece on Birmingham's promotion that could have been written by the clubs PR department!

The only mention of the ridiculous sums spent was to say that "fans of other clubs will say that the spending won them the league, but that would significantly downplay the massive impact that the Manager has had on the team"



Well, no sh1t sherlock!

Hmmm, was their manager just great, or did he have a lower Championship squad and then improve it by spending an amount that would normally be expected to gain promotion to the Premier League, to win promotion...


Let me think.

[tidus_mi2]

I think there has been enough cases of big teams trying and failing to spend their way out of this league to at least give Birmingham a bit of credit for their demolishment of League One this season but that's about it.

[Snowflake Royal]

I think there has been enough cases of big teams trying and failing to spend their way out of this league to at least give Birmingham a bit of credit for their demolishment of League One this season but that's about it.

I'd be interested* to see how their spending compares to others.

Say your Charlton's, Leeds, Derbys, Sheffield Utds, Forests, Norwichs, Ipswichs, - I bet it dwarfs most of them

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Wycombe have cut the gap to Wrexham from 6 points to a point in 5 days following a stoppage time winner... Wrexham didn't manage a shot on target in a 0-0 draw at Wigan.

[skipper]

Thing is, money is the modern game.

Sure Birmingham bought the league, the title and presumably the points record. But they still had to play what was in front of them. Complaining or even pointing it out, as a Reading fan, just looks like sour grapes.

I fully expect City to ruin the point record when they get put in League 2. (hardy har har)

Really Birmingham should have been expected to break the record. Anything else would have been a terrible embarrassment. Luckily for them, they do look set to beat it and avoid all laughing stocks. Slow hand clap all round, and just a sad reflection of the modern game. Well done Birmingham, you beat what was in front of you.

Regardless of that, what Reading achieved in 06' is on a par with Leicester winning the Prem. That was a fairytale story of genuine clicking of players, manager and fanbase. Have Birmingham had that this year? Not even close. It's not a fairy tale. It's a hollow success. Not that that'll matter one jot when they lift the title trophy.

Even this year, IF Reading get promoted, it will steal all the headlines. "Team under financial embargo, wins promotion against all odds with their youth set up"

I mean.... which is more interesting to read? Make a documentary about? Which is a better refection of the game? English football? Which is a genuine achievement, sincere, honest? Again, Birmingham aren't even in the same park. Not that that'll matter when Amazon make a series about how it.

And will we sound like a collective of sour grapes? Yes. Because we lost our points record, a record any teams fans would be happy to achieve regardless of merit. Especially if they were able to spend big money, have exciting players and win most of their games.

It's just the modern game. Strap in, it won't change.

Here's to "The Reading Way". Here's to not spending millions of pounds on a player, here's to honesty, integrity, here's to the root core of football. Players playing for a shirt, fans cheering for their club. The difference it makes to a community, a town identity.

[The Cap]

Looking at the remaining fixtures, I'd say Bolton pose the biggest threat in terms of a play off position. They got smashed today, however their remaining games seem to fare favourably compared to Orient's.

[From Despair To Where?]

Remaining fixtures

Reading

Lincoln (12th) H
Mansfield (18th) A
Bristol R (21st) A
Barnsley (11th) H

Leyton Orient

Barnsley (11th) H
Cambridge (23rd) A
Wycombe (3rd) H
Huddersfield (8th) A

Bolton

Wycombe (3rd) H
Lincoln (12th) A
Peterborough (16th) A
Stevenage (14th) H

Huddersfield

Cambridge (23rd) H
Stockport (4th) A
Exeter (15th) A
Leyton Orient (7th) H

Blackpool

Stevenage (14th) A
Wrexham (2nd) H
Wigan (17th) A
Birmingham (1st) H
Bristol Rovers (21st) H


I know it doesn't necessarily work like a that but I know who's fixtures I'd rather have.

[morganb]

Wycombe could have quite an influence on the play offs as they play -

Bolton A
Charlton H
Leyton Orient A
Stockport H

Plus they are still fighting for 2nd