ANALYSIS
By Wayne Veysey | Chief correspondent
Most of Arsenal's senior players have renegotiated new contracts over the last 18 months, which might just have been another shrewd move by the club?s bean counters ? as there has now probably never been a better time to ask for a pay rise at the Emirates Stadium. The club released their latest set of annual figures this morning and have delivered another set of sparkling financial results. MORE...
Arsenal announce record pre-tax profits of £56m Premier League Preview: Arsenal - West Brom The Pougatch Perspective: League Cup has become an Arsenal target No other Premier League club is swimming in as much self-generated cash as Arsenal. They recorded pre-tax profits of £56 million for the year ending May 31, 2010, group turnover grew from £313m to £379.9m and the club are now turning a handsome profit on their Highbury Square development, the flats built at their former stadium. Further analysis of the 26-page document shows the club have remarkable cash reserves of £127.6m, which is a £28m increase on the previous financial year. This is a result of the £15.2m profit made by their property portfolio and a £13.6m surplus from player trading, generated mainly by the sales of Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure to Manchester City. The knock-on effect is that Arsene Wenger will have more money at his disposal in a January transfer window than he has ever had before. Even allowing for £31.5m held in specific debt service reserve accounts related to the new stadium financing, £6.6m reserved for property the club own in Queensland Road and around £50m believed to be season ticket money received in advance and earmarked to cover football costs during 2010/11, a conservative estimate is that £40m will be available to Wenger in the mid-season window alone. Next summer, as the club sell off the remaining 53 of the 655 flats built at Highbury Square, the Frenchman could have around £60m at his disposal, which would make him one of the most cash-rich managers in Europe. The rosy financial picture will please some fans, but may leave others asking why Wenger has been reluctant to strengthen his team with more established stars, particularly among his goalkeepers. Chairman Peter Hill-Wood offers a partial explanation in the annual report: ?Over recent years we have pursued a policy of investment in exceptional youth,? he writes. ?Arsene is confident that each year this current group of players is progressing and getting closer to achieving their potential.? The money, the club?s hierarchy stress, is there if Wenger wants to use it although there is appreciation for the manager?s shrewd stewardship. ?He contributes to the responsible management of the club?s financial resources and his conscientious approach is fundamental in the development of the club for the long-term, as well as short-term, success,? adds Hill-Wood. ?Not only does Arsene analyse and work within his player budget, but he understands when to extract value.? Building for the future | Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood backs Wenger youth policy Worthy as those achievements are, they might fall on deaf ears should Arsenal fail to sustain a title challenge until the end of the season, or not replenish a trophy cabinet that is gathering more dust by the year. Supporters will want the free cash to be spent on improving a squad that has fallen at the last hurdle on a number of occasions since Arsenal last won a trophy in 2005. Chief financial officer Stuart Wisely insists that the money is at Wenger?s disposal. ?Our policy for the player investment budget is such that any budget not spent in the current year, including all proceeds from sale of players, is carried forward and added to the available budget for the following season.? Yet there will be some relief among the Arsenal hierarchy that they have finally paid off the Highbury Square loans. They were initially forced to extend the bank repayment deadline of April this year to December after the property slump first hit. Since then the development has prospered and the debt - which once totalled £133million - has now been repaid in full. That means Arsenal's only debt outstanding is for the Emirates Stadium, which is costing around £16m a year in interest and will be paid off by 2031. By contrast, Liverpool and Manchester United are paying around £45m and £50m a year in interest. Chief executive Ivan Gazidis insists that some of the free cash will be used ?to support long-term investment in Emirates Stadium, to ensure it remains a best-in-class spectator facility for our fans an reflects and celebrates Arsenal?s history and traditions." Investment will also be made in player training facilities, including pitches that are of the same standard as the Emirates pitch, and a new medical wing will be built at London Colney. Although the club view the property profits as a ?one-off? and stress that growth must come from other areas in future years, the vast matchday revenues ? down £6.2m from £93.9m because the club staged five fewer home matches compared to the previous year - and broadcasting income ? up from £73.2m to £84.6m ? leaves commercial income as the one area where growth can be achieved. Arsenal's results show the self-sustainability model can work but there is always room for financial improvement. Our provides the best breaking news online and our football fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!
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