TWICE League champions in the 1970s, Derby County are often considered to be a Premier League club in the waiting. But it has been more than a decade since the Rams were last in the top flight, despite going close to winning promotion on a number of occasions. The club has spent big to try and bridge the gap, but the current situation is unsustainable … Continue reading State of Play: Derby County – Yearning for Past Glory
IPSWICH Town have not fallen as far as the third tier of the English game since 1957, but unless something dramatic changes in the closing weeks of the season, the club looks set for relegation. The club’s owner, Marcus Evans, has publicly stated the drop into League One will not create massive financial problems and has tried to present a relatively relaxed profile to the … Continue reading State of Play: Ipswich Town – Decline and Fall
JUST BEFORE Christmas 2018, Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri hinted that he was prepared to sell the club he bought for £ 37.5 million back in 2015. He was speaking at a fans’ meeting and the subject of the club’s finances was being discussed. Sheffield Wednesday had been spending significant sums on wages and continued to make substantial losses. The current situation was unsustainable and … Continue reading State of Play: Sheffield Wednesday – club for sale?
AFTER narrowly avoiding relegation to the third tier of English football in 2016-17, Nottingham Forest went into the current season under new ownership and with hopes of fulfilling some of the club’s potential. Forest are enjoying their best attendances since 1995-96 and going as far back as the glory days of Brian Clough and the two European Cup triumphs, gates at the City Ground have … Continue reading State of Play: Nottingham Forest – finally seeing the woods through the trees?
NO LONDON football club has lost as much support as Charlton Athletic over the past decade. Discontent fans and decline on the field of play have been accompanied by a 52% drop in match attendances at The Valley. Not even a progressive approach to ticketing has been able to prevent crowds falling to their lowest level since 1997. And the stress shows little sign of easing-up on … Continue reading State of Play: Charlton Athletic – a valley of stress
