Quote ="Mrs Barista"What's done is done I guess. I think in summary some of AP's investments have been good (academy) others poor at best, but currently we are likely to have insufficient total income to fund a strong academy and a top 3 size/quality of coaching staff and a squad that yields their sort of value. We can rebalance between the three pots which would probably help (and seems to be part of the academy merger thinking) but the maths seems inescapable. We're diluting the academy, and the coaching structure could scarcely be cheaper, so the only place left to cut spending is the first team. Given we've only just made the 8 in a season of few injuries, next year on a reduced cap spend could be jeopardy.
I take the point on Powell at Cas, but still don't think we can challenge the top 3 consistently without a step change in funding. I know the question's been asked already, but presumably there'd be no interest in buying us? RL clubs are generally basket-cases from a returns perspective, so any prospective buyer would have to be unhinged in an FC-nut way.'"
Can you put any numbers to this rather than just speculation based upon costs being cut? What are the turnover & fixed cost comparisons between us, Leeds, Wigan and Saints?
I only ask because you keep saying that we don't have even close to the same level of funds to compete with the spending of the big 3, but (maybe I've missed it) I've not seen any reasons how you've come to this conclusion other than the observation that Pearson has started cutting costs and selling players.
