As a £ figure yes but as a % no
Wages are going up so that would inevitably mean that the overall wage bill in £ would be at its highest but as a % they have been steadily decreasing it in their time
Our highest % was actually 1999/00 when it was around the 90% mark
But in recent times 10/11 was a peak of around 70% they reduced that to 64% in 12/13 and now around 56%
In that time 10/11 turnover was around £185m and now it's around £300m
Just a little more context on this, for my own interest if nobody elses
Looking at the period between 2011/12 and 2014/15
I wont list every clubs turnover and % as it will become very long winded but ill give a league average and some highlights
I'm trying to think of a fair way to put across the figures so I think our % against a league average is a fair starting point and then I think its fair to judge it against what we want to do, where we are in this period and what fair examples can be raised against the rest.
2011/12The average % to turnover figure was 72% across the 20 league clubs
Our % was 70% in this season, so not far behind the average but behind it nonetheless
2012/13The average % to turnover figure was 75% across the 20 league clubs
Our % was 64%, dropping off the average
2013/14The average % to turnover figure was 60% across the 20 league clubs
Our % was 56%, again dropping off of our average and still down on the league average
2014/15The average % to turnover figure was 63% across the 20 league clubs
Our % was again 56%, staying steady as a % but slipping further behind the league average
For point of interest the new tv deal at that point kicked in during 13/14 which because of that injection of turnover slashed the average % from 75% to 60% as a league, the players then must get a little piece of that pie as the league average rises again the season after.
Our Turnover over those 4 seasons
11/12 - 169M
12/13 - 206M
13/14 - 256M
14/15 - 298M
So whilst the turnover has spiked the average % to that turnover has dropped by -14%
Interesting in that period too that Man Utds turnover has increased from 320M to 395M, now that smashes ours still and the money they make is frightening when you look at the figures but during that period of four season their Turnover has increased less than ours, theirs by 75M over that four year period, ours by 129M in the same period, however their % of wages to turnover has stayed the same as a % whilst ours has decreased
I think its interesting to compare where we are to what we want to do and a club or two who have done similar.
You could say that when City were taken over they were similar to where we are now, we have averaged around 6th-8th over the last 6 or 7 seasons bar one year when we went close, City came from roughly that area to win two titles and now be CL regulars
Look at them
2011/12 Their % to turnover was 87% (Their wage bill was also £ wise £83m more in the year)
2012/13 Their % to turnover was 86% (Wage bill £101M higher)
2013/14 Their % to turnover was 59% (Wage bill was £61M higher)
2014/15 Their % to turnover was 55% (wage bill 28m higher)
So what does that suggest? That in their initial push they really over paid in wages to get there, they to get players to get them established were both in bulk and high wages, they really pushed the boat out to get their, in £ and %, now they are established the numbers in terms of players has reduced and the % has come back towards the average for the big clubs with the higher turnovers, but they gambled and pushed the limits to get there. They pushed the limits initially and then their turnover increased as they became successful
Now I know they have done it with the middle eastern backing but % to turnover? Could we do more I guess is what im asking, could we push the boat on wages to get in there, f**k win a couple of league title and establish ourselves in the CL again. We are still the 9th richest club in world football, if we were not finishing 6th-8th regularly then our earning potential eclipses City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs.. Utd are massive and you have to respect that even if it sticks in the throat, yes they have a bigger stadium but everything else? If we were successful again we'd be up there with them.
Think back a bit again, over this four year period our turnover has grown more than theirs, but our % to that turnover has shrunk.. We have cut the wage bill on older high earners but never replaced them, City grew with ambition and paid established stars to get them there, inflating their wage bill, we are trying to do it with potential and reducing the wage bill..
We are living within our means, yes..(maybe too safely) But are others more ambitious in living within theirs?