IT HAS been a long time since Dundee United were referred to as part of the “new firm”, but the club’s management are confident the hurdles of the pandemic may soon be consigned to the past. The Tangerines’ finances took a hit in 2020-21, but the club managed to limit their losses to £ 2.5 million for the campaign.
Dundee United aim to be a top six Premiership club and qualify for European football. In 2021-22, they are currently in a Conference League position and are still in the Scottish Cup, their objectives look realistic at the moment.
The club’s turnover in 2020-21 was down by around 2.5% to £ 3.8 million, while their deficit was an improvement on 2019-20 when they lost £ 3 million. Like all other Scottish clubs, the lack of matchday income decimated turnover, but Dundee United fared better than some – Hearts saw their revenues drop by 38%, Aberdeen 22% and Celtic 13%.
With revenues dropping, the wage bill became more of a drain on the club’s finances. In 2020-21, the wage bill was up by 7% to £ 4.9 million and this represented 132% of income. In 2019-20, the wage to income ratio was 120%. Ideally, the club would like to see the ratio closer to 80%, still high but much more manageable.
Scottish football benefitted from the government’s relief measures and Dundee United secured £ 2.8 million from the debt facility which has a zero interest rate and is repayable over 21 years. The club estimates it has lost around £ 4.2 million from the pandemic.
In addition, the club’s owner and chairman, Mark Ogren, a US-based businessman, has made interest free loans of over £ 9 million to the club since taking over in 2018. He is committed to the club in the medium to long term and is aware that success on the field is the best way to get a return on his investment.
Covid has got in the way of his plans and his claim the club is “going places”, and he has received some criticism from a section of the fanbase. However, Dundee United won the Championship in 2020 and returned to the Premiership.
The club expects to return to profit in 2022 partly due to income from transfers involving Lawrence Shankland (who was sold to Beerschot for £ 1 million) and youth product Kerr Smith (£ 800,000 to Aston Villa, rising to £ 2 million), and also a return to normal income streams.
There is also considerable upside to match attendances. In 2019-20, they averaged 8,500 at Tannadice, but the 2021-22 gates are around 6,500. There is potential at Dundee United, although the gap between the “old firm” and the rest of Scottish football is enormous and growing all the time.
The fans have played a major role in assisting the club during the pandemic, with most of the 3,000 season ticket holders waiving their refunds and the Supporters Foundation donating £ 100,000 towards the development of the academy site at Gussie Park.
Dundee United could end 2021-22 in a better financial state and bound for European football, that would certainly be a case of going places, to quote the club owner.
GAME OF THE PEOPLE 