Manchester City to scale back spending
Reuters - Friday 01 October 2010, 17:17
MANCHESTER - Manchester City will
scale back spending on players because they have built a strong
enough squad, the world's richest club said on Friday after
posting a big loss due to a transfer market splurge.
City posted losses of 121.3 million pounds in 2009/10, with a wage bill exceeding turnover in the year
ending May 31.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has spent more than 300
million pounds on big name signings since taking over City two
years ago and the club are confident they will not need to spend
quite so heavily for some time.
"It is safe to say that player acquisitions on the scale we
have seen in recent transfer windows will no longer be required
in the years ahead now that we have such a deep and competitive
squad," chief executive Garry Cook said in a statement.
In search of their first silverware since 1976, City have
paid big fees and huge weekly wages to bring in the likes of
Carlos Tevez, Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Gareth Barry,
Joleon Lescott, Yaya Toure, James Milner and David Silva.
Spending on wages came to 133.3 million pounds, exceeding
turnover of 125.1 million in the year ending May 31.
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By finishing fifth last year, the club just missed out on
their goal of a top-four finish and a Champions League berth but
were confident they could achieve their aims this season.
"In 2009/10, we narrowly fell short of our goals on the
pitch, but still achieved nine club records including our best
ever result in the Premier League," said Cook.
"Under the management of Roberto Mancini, the team is in
ideal shape for the 2010/11 season and is committed to providing
the fans with the result we are all hoping for."
City, who host Newcastle United on Sunday, are fourth in the
standings, four points behind leaders Chelsea after six games.
The club said they saw positives in the fact they had
achieved record turnover in 2009/10 which they put down to
attracting new sponsors, the team's best Premier League
performance and increased numbers of televised matches.
The results, though, come at a time when football finances
have been in the spotlight with European governing body UEFA
imposing financial fair play rules to oblige clubs to live
within their means.