Championship thread 25/26! (54 Viewers)

[CovveeBreak]

THIRTY EIGHT POINT NINE MILLION POUND WAGE BILL?

And thats for their league one season! Can you even imagine what it is now?!

 

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[SBAndy]

That much money to be that shit. Incredible.

That’s in their L1 season, let’s be modest and assume 15% growth - that’s a £45m wage bill this season to finish 15th (and it’s probably more than that).

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

THIRTY EIGHT POINT NINE MILLION POUND WAGE BILL?

Spent more on wages in League One than they did in the Champ?

 

[SBAndy]

Spent more on wages in League One than they did in the Champ?

Spent double what Wrexham did on wages.

“As at 30 June 2025 the total amount owing from Birmingham City Limited to Shelby Companies Ltd including interest and loan reassignments is £127.3m”

“The forecasts show that the group needs additional funding of approximately £59m from Knighthead for the period from July 2025 to December 2026.”

All on 11.9% interest. Lucky if they can afford one chimney at this point.

 

[Otis]

I don’t know why anyone would want anything but Millwall and Middlesbrough up with us. 12 points from 4 games vs those two vs 1 point from 4 games vs Southampton and Ipswich. That’s without even considering the greater financial capabilities that Ipswich, Southampton or even Wrexham are likely to have.

Exactly.

If we are going up (which we are), you want the best chance of us surviving in the Premier League. That means as many weak teams as possible to battle against.

Millwall and Middlesbrough would both clearly give us more chance.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Promotion or bust looking at Birmingham’s accounts

 

[SeaSeeEffCee]

Promotion or bust looking at Birmingham’s accounts

Some of these teams literally never learn.

 

[Skybluedogwood]

I agree with wanting Millwall, but Boro might have the potential to splash the cash like Sunderland did whilst Ipswich may have less funds available and were an embarrassment last time so might be les of a wild card. Can't see the top 6 changing now, if Boro beat Ipswich then Southampton has a real shot at top 2 but I wouldn't be confident in Boro finding key results.

 

[TomRad85]

Promotion or bust looking at Birmingham’s accounts

Revenue FC. That's all their fans ever go on about because old egg head was selling them a dream. They'll need a lot more looking at that shit show, they've got one more season to go up or big trouble I reckon.

 

[Grendel]

It's starting to look like Wrexham will fail to make the playoffs. That'll do nicely.

Why? If it’s the argument on spend I don’t see them spending massively at all

 

[robbiethemole]

Spent double what Wrexham did on wages.

“As at 30 June 2025 the total amount owing from Birmingham City Limited to Shelby Companies Ltd including interest and loan reassignments is £127.3m”

“The forecasts show that the group needs additional funding of approximately £59m from Knighthead for the period from July 2025 to December 2026.”

All on 11.9% interest. Lucky if they can afford one chimney at this point.

Is that owed to Arthur 'fucking' Shelby??? Peaky Blinders never let a loan go unpaid!!!!! fuck 'em.

 

[Lamps]

Spent double what Wrexham did on wages.

“As at 30 June 2025 the total amount owing from Birmingham City Limited to Shelby Companies Ltd including interest and loan reassignments is £127.3m”

“The forecasts show that the group needs additional funding of approximately £59m from Knighthead for the period from July 2025 to December 2026.”

All on 11.9% interest. Lucky if they can afford one chimney at this point.

It isn't easy to buy promotion from the Championship. Stoke have been trying for years and couldn't give Robins a decent budget as they were already on their limit for the 3 years.

Hopefully Birmingham will cost them another 100m or so and see if they pull out or get bored.

 

[Grendel]

Promotion or bust looking at Birmingham’s accounts

They will just do what Middlesbrough do and convert losses into share equity

 

[SBAndy]

Is that owed to Arthur 'fucking' Shelby??? Peaky Blinders never let a loan go unpaid!!!!! fuck 'em.

Probably the schadenfreude of the company name tbh.

 

[Grendel]

It isn't easy to buy promotion from the Championship. Stoke have been trying for years and couldn't give Robins a decent budget as they were already on their limit for the 3 years.

Hopefully Birmingham will cost them another 100m or so and see if they pull out or get bored.

These limits are nonsense and easy to get round

 

[SBAndy]

They will just do what Middlesbrough do and convert losses into share equity

Devout fan owner vs American hedge fund mentality. I really doubt they do any equity conversion.

 

[Liquid Gold]

https://www.bcfc.com/pages/en/media-article/birmingham-city-football-club-posts-strong-financial-statement-for-24-25

"The Club has now submitted its 30 June 2025 Financial Statement. It reflects a very positive year, driven by strong progress and continued momentum."

 

[Liquid Gold]

They will just do what Middlesbrough do and convert losses into share equity

That's only practical if they are actually in it for the love of the game/team and have an endless pit to burn through.

Make your own mind up on where you think Wagner sits on that.

 

[Grendel]

Devout fan owner vs American hedge fund mentality. I really doubt they do any equity conversion.

Sisu did it.

 

[Grendel]

That's only practical if they are actually in it for the love of the game/team and have an endless pit to burn through.

Make your own mind up on where you think Wagner sits on that.

I think they will carry on. I think they will build the stadium. Wrexhams owners are obviously massively committed and I don’t see why these won’t either

 

[robbiethemole]

Probably the schadenfreude of the company name tbh.

oops it was a joke mate

 

[CovRes]

That’s in their L1 season, let’s be modest and assume 15% growth - that’s a £45m wage bill this season to finish 15th (and it’s probably more than that).

15% growth covers Kyogo. What about the other players they signed?

 

[Liquid Gold]

I think they will carry on. I think they will build the stadium. Wrexhams owners are obviously massively committed and I don’t see why these won’t either

I think Wrexham and Blues have yet to hit a peak. It's nice and easy to do it with continued progression and achievement with the riches of the PL on the horizon.

If either plateau for too long and start getting tangled up in EFL financial regulations then I can see a point where both move on and use debt to write off profits elsewhere.

 

[Grendel]

I think Wrexham and Blues have yet to hit a peak. It's nice and easy to do it with continued progression and achievement with the riches of the PL on the horizon.

If either plateau for too long and start getting tangled up in EFL financial regulations then I can see a point where both move on and use debt to write off profits elsewhere.

Wrexham have already committed to a £90 million spend on the infrastructure around the stadium. They have always issued £41 million share equity as well - that’s never getting offset as debt

 

[Rodders1]

I think Wrexham and Blues have yet to hit a peak. It's nice and easy to do it with continued progression and achievement with the riches of the PL on the horizon.

If either plateau for too long and start getting tangled up in EFL financial regulations then I can see a point where both move on and use debt to write off profits elsewhere.

Yeah they’ve only just started really. Wrexham one promotion from the prem and Brum are treading water. Both sets of owners are in this for the prem.

 

[SwanLane]

Ipswich look to be in the best position but that’s just for now. Millwall have been losing the odd game at home regularly and then getting straight back to winning ways.

For Ipswich, all the fixture congestion will surely take its toll. Yes they have a big squad but McKenna hasn’t had much joy rotating it. Now there’s a Southampton curveball. An extra 6 pointer they could do without. Still too close to call for the autos IMO. Boro could still come back strong although it does look like their heads have gone now.

 

[Mercian In Anglia]

That’s in their L1 season, let’s be modest and assume 15% growth - that’s a £45m wage bill this season to finish 15th (and it’s probably more than that).

I imagine most of the players they signed in L1 would have had significant promotion wage increase clauses, plus bonuses etc. that's before you even consider the new signings.

 

[LastChance]

Promotion or bust looking at Birmingham’s accounts

Bust, I hope