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The frightening increase in losses in lower league football continues

Discussion in 'City Talk' started by Jordan, Feb 18, 2026.

Page 13 of 15
  1. Jordan

    Jordan
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    They already are in place i believe? I remember about a month ago that Infantino said that they were selling the advertising for the "hydration breaks". ITV have already come out and said they wont be showing ads during those breaks, i'm fairly certain someone local will own the TV feeds that are then sent onto your BBCs, ITVs etc to broadcast? So those on field cameramen best not take it as a break either!

    My guess with our UK feeds, they'll split screen the feed and half show the TV pundits for 2 minutes to breakdown anything that's happened in that first 20/25 mins whilst the yanks advertise. I suppose the breaks are one way of making sure the keepers dont always fake injury? Knowing the break is every 20/25 anyway?
     
    #241 Jordan, Apr 1, 2026
    CRASS and Dennis like this.
  2. Jordan

    Jordan
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    The next "they spent how much?!" thing is out.... agent fees! From early Feb 2025 to Feb 2026. Luton Town had their pants pulled down over the summer and winter windows.

    20260401_165653.jpg
     
    #242 Jordan, Apr 1, 2026
    JonButterfield, Hulmebantam and Blackpool 802 like this.
  3. Interested Bystander

    Interested Bystander
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    So L1 clubs p**sed away £14m of the PL solidarity payments of £17.8m
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
    #243 Interested Bystander, Apr 1, 2026
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  4. Kopendin1964

    Kopendin1964 Impact Sub

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    And there lies the problem possibly? Trying to appease expectant and entitled fans whilst chucking money at it to try and buy success equals trouble.
     
    #244 Kopendin1964, Apr 1, 2026
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2026
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  5. Bigrod

    Bigrod
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    Looks like Lincoln City got ‘value for money’.
     
    #245 Bigrod, Apr 1, 2026
    Fordy117, Interested Bystander and Kevin1954 like this.
  6. Bigrod

    Bigrod
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    Looks like around 45% of the fees were spent by 3 clubs, who will see themselves for a variety of reasons, as being tooooooo Biiiiiig for League 1.
     
    #246 Bigrod, Apr 1, 2026
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  7. Kopendin1964

    Kopendin1964 Impact Sub

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    Didn’t Mike Ashley of Sports Direct buy Newcastle (I believe he’d no interest whatsoever in Newcastle as he’s a southern chappie) just so he could plaster his Sports Direct brand all over the many, many LED advertisement boards in and around the pitch to get worldwide advertisements whilst the game was being played due to SKY TV coverage?
     
    #247 Kopendin1964, Apr 1, 2026
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  8. Kevin1954

    Kevin1954
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    I can’t think of one professional team sport that doesn’t self sustain ?
     
    #248 Kevin1954, Apr 1, 2026
  9. Kevin1954

    Kevin1954
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    That’s exactly what it’s for ! Player welfare ……yer right!
     
    #249 Kevin1954, Apr 1, 2026
  10. Kevin1954

    Kevin1954
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    Yet fans fall for it either “ live” or TV!
     
    #250 Kevin1954, Apr 1, 2026
  11. Hulmebantam

    Hulmebantam
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    Are some agent's fees spread over a period of time, in a similar way to transfer fees? Could there be some legacy stuff in there for the big spenders?
     
    Stop hovering to collapse... Click to collapse... Hover to expand... Click to expand...
    #251 Hulmebantam, Apr 1, 2026
  12. Kevin1954

    Kevin1954
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    Luton and Huddersfield both lower than ourselves , doesn’t it make one smile .
     
    #252 Kevin1954, Apr 1, 2026
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  13. Dennis

    Dennis
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    I regard it as inevitable at the PL level given how many PL clubs are owned by Americans. They have a different philisophy. They expect to make money from their club rather than having to spend their money on sustaining it. Once it's a feature of PL games, it's then only a matter of time before it filters down the pyramid.
     
    #253 Dennis, Apr 1, 2026
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  14. Rogered Tart

    Rogered Tart
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    He did a similar thing with the Ricoh Arena, bought it for £16.5 million and allowed Coventry to play there. Then sold it last year to Coventry for £50 million. Great in terms of business dealing but as a Sheffield Wednesday fan I'd be dismayed if his takeover of the club goes through as he has no interest in them as a football club, merely the means of a venture capitalist
     
    #254 Rogered Tart, Apr 1, 2026
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  15. Birky Bantam

    Birky Bantam
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    First proof of the increased costs in league 1 compared with league 2, this season we've spent more than double what we did last season on agents, last season was £178,548.

    Looking at the figures Luton and Cardiff do skew the league 1 figures compared with last season a bit even without them there is a sizeable increase across the league.

    Some of the big increases:
    • Wimbledon from £61,009 to £179,918 (194% increase)
    • Reading from £185,686 to £716,374 (285% increase)
    • Wycombe from £243,821 to £717,402 (194% increase)
    • Despite relegation Luton have gone from £2,424,713 to £3,334,500 which I think really does show their panic in both windows.
    upload_2026-4-1_19-36-40.png

    On the list of a breakdown of when an agent has been used it is interesting to see Sarcevic listed as contract amended so it would be interesting to see what that is about as it happened either at the very beginning of the summer or last season as it is listed first. There is also an updated contract for Lapslie between Goodman registering and Kelly renewing.

    upload_2026-4-1_19-40-50.png
     
    #255 Birky Bantam, Apr 1, 2026
  16. JonButterfield

    JonButterfield
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    For a second I read the Town payments as for Leyton Orient and wondered what I'd missed lol
     
    #256 JonButterfield, Apr 1, 2026
  17. Kevin1954

    Kevin1954
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    Speculators to a core …”It’s only a piece of real estate” .
     
    #257 Kevin1954, Apr 2, 2026
  18. Kevin1954

    Kevin1954
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    Maybe Sarcevic amendment ? ………Additional clause for promotion / league position at certain points in the calendar?
     
    #258 Kevin1954, Apr 2, 2026
  19. Jordan

    Jordan
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    The jump to the Champ is more alarming if we make it. Over £14m spent in L1, skies up to just under £70m spent on agent fees in the next division up. Ipswich spent the largest chunk on their squad, but even Sheff Weds spent over £500k on agent fees and have barely signed anyone or updated a contract in the 12 month window, you can probably count the number of first team signings or contracts updated on your fingers looking at their list.
     
    #259 Jordan, Apr 2, 2026
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  20. Kevin1954

    Kevin1954
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    I’m becoming to realise “ Agents” are becoming a parasite of the game ?
     
    #260 Kevin1954, Apr 2, 2026
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