https://www.totalrl.com/castleford-tige ... g-process/ How low did IMG set the bar when Cas are close to being granted a grade A license.

https://www.totalrl.com/castleford-tige ... g-process/ How low did IMG set the bar when Cas are close to being granted a grade A license.

Bradford's 2023 accounts have finally appeared. No sign of the lease being capitalised. They made a profit of £22k but had net liabilities of £863k. I'm assuming they managed a profit through sponsorship income?

There is no related party note meaning the directors (or their businesses) mustn't be putting in their own money and the £1.3 million "other creditors" is coming from folk not associated directly with the club. Quite odd, if I was loaning the club loads of money I would want a seat on the BOD to make sure it's being spent wisely.

That seems to tie in with the lottery winner investor rumor then. Was told that the money put in was ring fenced for playing squad only but the irony is that maybe that money spent on off field investments may have got them that extra point or two which would have seen them get in SL. They have put together a quality squad for next year and should have a chance of winning the league but its not going to help them when it comes to getting in the closed shop.

A few more 2023 accounts re Championship clubs:

Sheffield - Loss of £283k; net liabilities of £209k

Widnes - Loss of £280k; net liabilities of 34k

York - Loss of £380k; net liabilities of £580k

Swinton - Loss of £60k; but wait for it .... NET ASSETS of £75k !!!!! They're solvent! But the assets include £150k of goodwill re the purchase of a business, so god knows what that is and if it really is worth that much?

Quote: Tony Fax "A few more 2023 accounts re Championship clubs Any mentioned of Swinton receiving an initial loan of £100 grand from Salford Council with another one for the same amount being approved and to follow? https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ww ... FRD8fEp0aw

Quote: Tony Fax "A few more 2023 accounts re Championship clubs Any mentioned of Swinton receiving an initial loan of £100 grand from Salford Council with another one for the same amount being approved and to follow? https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ww ... FRD8fEp0aw

A significant portion of their debt will be owed to Andrew Chalmers: when he 'sold' the club to Wood and Co he said he wouldn't (ever) try to recoup it, but it didn't get written off

Doesn't make sense. There was a dispute between Leeds and the Tax man quite a few years back when certain Leeds players claimed they were self employed as they were selling their image rights rather than working (as a player) thus saving on not paying NI (employee and employer). Needless to say the Tax Man won. Other sports folk also tried it on, even Harry Gration on Look North and the Super League Show! So could be a tpo on the Swinton accounts. I'll dig out employee numbers on other clubs.

The latest club re 2023 accounts - Wigan. They lost £1.6 million and had net liabilities of £10.5 million, which included an asset of £2.2 million re the training ground at Orrell. They owed £9.4 million to ex director Ian Lenagan's company (he resigned last December). They had 119 employees (less than Bradford!).

Sounds as if the game is in rude health

Good job IMG negotiated an improved Sky TV deal to get more money into the game. Jeez. Why can’t our sport find one single good administrator

I thought the sky deal was reduced again last time but IMG are tasked with trying to improve it although it is never going to happen barring a miracle.

The last championship clubs' 2023 accounts I've dug out is Batley, for the time being, so 8 in total so far. They lost £227k and had net assets of £1.3 million because they own their ground included in fixed assets of £1.9 million. Of the other clubs - Barrow, Whitehaven, Featherstone and Doncaster have later filing deadlines (they may have tinkered around with their year end dates to extend the deadline), Toulouse of course being French don't file their accounts at Companies House, and cannot find Wakefield's new company name since Matthew Ellis took over so help appreciated tracking them down.

To summarise the 8 clubs so far in order of balance sheet strength:

Batley - £1.3m net assets; £(227k) loss; 32 employees
Swinton - £75k net assets; £(60k) loss; 6 employees
Widnes - (£34k) net liabilities; (£280k) loss; 34 employees
Sheffield - (£209k) net liabilities; (£283k) loss; 30 employees
Dewsbury - (£345k) net liabilities; (£100k) loss; 42 employees
Halifax - (£540k) net liabilities; (£200k) loss; 33 employees
York - (£580k) net liabilities; (£380k) loss; 36 employees
Bradford - (£863k) net liabilities; £22k profit; 133 employees

So (so far) we're all basically skint. Wouldn't be surprised if Batley sold their ground to keep afloat. Despite it's ridiculous slope that really would be a tragedy.

I will add the others when they become available and finish the Super League clubs later. Might even have a look at League 1.