Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre is confident the robustness of the club’s commercial operation will help them overcome any shortfalls from a lack of European football.
The Reds’ debt rose by £21.8 million to £87.2 million in the 10 months between August 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012 – a restructured accounting period designed to bring alignment with the football season.
However, the loss of £40.5 million was less than the £49.3 million made the previous year and done against the backdrop of no Europa League action, although Liverpool did get to two cup finals, winning one.
With Brendan Rodgers’s side currently seventh in the Barclays Premier League and European football far from a certainty next season, Ayre is convinced off-field performance – turnover rose by £5 million – will help bridge any gap.
Other areas
“It’s good to see that even in a year where we have a downturn in fortunes by not playing European football, we can bolster our revenues by performing in other areas,” he said.
“It shows that we have a very strong and growing business that sits behind the football club.
“And as we approach things like Financial Fair Play and that type of environment, that puts us in a very strong position.”
The figures do not include the record £25 million-a-season six-year sponsorship deal with kit manufacturers Warrior, which came into effect last summer and could net the club a similar amount through associated merchandising.
“We’ve had record sales of their products throughout this year,” Ayre added.
“We’ve also seen new sponsors come on board, notably Chevrolet and Garuda Airlines.
“If you have got a successfully performing team and you have got an infrastructure which we now have and the business ability to deliver revenue, then both of them coming together would be a fantastic solution for the football club all round.”
Some of the deficit was as a result of investing heavily in the transfer market – and the costs associated with bringing in the likes of Stewart Downing (£20 million) and Jordan Henderson (£16 million) in the weeks preceding the accounting period – while offloading other players at a loss.