Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

[The Hooded Claw]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

As long as Vincent Tan remains committed to the club (and there’s no sign of any change to that), then the debt to equity subject is really a non-issue.
If another party wanted to acquire the club, they would either have to pay for the equity of the club (if a full conversion had occurred) or the club at its current value plus the debt, so it’s semantics in the end.

[cardiff55]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

The cost of the players we sold that year was written down to zero in the accounts. They had originally cost £14.6m but had been fully depreciated/amortised. The figures then reconcile. We made a profit of £13.7m from selling them so the total selling fees came to £13.7m as we had a nil book value for them. In cash terms we got £2.3m of cash for them in the year and were owed £13m in cash from player transfers instalments at the year end (I am assuming the small difference was a balance of money from transfers made in the previous year).

According to the accounts , the total cost of the players you list who were acquired in the year 2019/20 was £18.5m

Thanks for clarifying Keith.

Tony

[BLUEAWAY]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

The following has just been sent out to Trust members.


"Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis

Trust chair Keith Morgan, accountant and football finance specialist, presents his present expert analysis of the latest audited accounts for the year ended May 31, 2020, submitted by Cardiff City Football Club (Holdings) Limited.


Summary


The club made a net loss for the year of £12.2m in its first season following relegation from the Premier League


As at May 31, 2020, it had net liabilities in the balance sheet of £24m

The directors have received a letter of support from the club`s principal shareholder in terms of his future intentions to provide funding for the club to enable it to continue operating for the foreseeable future.


The directors have expressed their strong confidence that the club continues to be compliant with the financial requirements of Profitability and Sustainability Rules (Financial Fair Play).


The club will continue to receive a “parachute payment” in financial year 2020-21 but not beyond that which will have an adverse impact on income of around £30m.



Financial Result For The Year – Statement Of Comprehensive Income


The club made an operating loss for the year of £23.8m compared to a small operating profit of £2.2m in the previous year to May 31, 2019. After accounting for a substantial profit on player sales and interest the loss for the year was reduced to £12.2m (2019 loss £755k).


The principal reason for the increased losses was the huge decline in income following the club`s relegation from the Premier League. Turnover fell from £125.2m in 2019 to £46.0m in 2020, largely due to a fall in broadcasting income of £70m from £107m to £37m. Gate receipts fell by £4m due to lower attendances at Championship level, and sponsorship, advertising, etc. also fell by £5m.


In addition, the club was badly impacted by Covid restrictions towards the end of the financial year. The postponement of the end of the season and its non-resumption until June meant that some £8.8m of TV revenue was deferred until the following financial year. Also, some £2.1m had to be repaid in respect of the club`s share of EPL refunds paid for matches not played under the overseas broadcasting agreement. Without these two amounts, totalling £10.9m the club would have shown almost a breakeven position for the year.


Despite the obvious great efforts by the club to reduce costs in the year (see below), to cover such a fall in income was virtually impossible but big savings were made, including the following:


Player-related wage costs were reduced by £14.6m from £42.5m to £27.9m. This accounted for a significant proportion of the overall saving in cost of sales of £34.8m.

Administrative expenses fell by £26.7m from £62.1m to £35.4m. This was largely due to the fact that the 2019 figure included a provision of over £19m in respect of the legal case surrounding the Emiliano Sala transfer dispute with FC Nantes. In addition, a reduction in player impairment charges of £11.6m was enjoyed compared to 2019.
In the year to May 31, 2020, the club made a significant profit on the sale of players of £13.7m. In 2019 there was a much smaller profit made of £2.1m.



The Statement Of Financial Position as at May 31, 2020


As a result of the net loss of £12.2m in the year and a technical tax adjustment of £271k, the overall net liabilities of the club increased to £24.0m (assets of £123.8m and liabilities of £147.8m). The main assets and liabilities were as follows:


The value of the playing squad was £24.2m, very similar to that in 2019. £18.5m of player cost was added to the squad in the year and players initially costing £14.6m were disposed of, but those players had been depreciated down to a net nil value at the time of disposal (hence the large player transfer profit referred to above in the profit and loss account). Overall, player value was written down by £17.8m in the year (amortisation).


The Cardiff City Stadium was valued (based on an independent professional valuation carried out in 2018) at £81.0m, with other fixed assets such as fixtures and fittings having a value of £1.2m and training ground improvements of £314k.


As at May 31, 2020, the club was owed £14.4m by various debtors, most of which (£13m) related to future instalments due on player sales. It also had £2.4m of cash at bank and £207k of stocks.


Technically, the club had £118.6m of liabilities as at May 31, 2020, which were payable by May 31, 2021, or earlier. However, in reality, much of this didn`t have to be repaid in that timescale as explained in the following breakdown of some elements of that total figure


£45.9m was due to Vincent Tan and £3m due to his son U-Peng and as principal shareholder, this sum is unlikely to be required to be repaid in the short term. In fact, during the year Vincent Tan put a further net amount of £8.8m into the club by way of loans. There was no debt write-off or conversion of debt to shares in the year. All Vincent Tan loans are secured against all the assets of the club.


There were £37.9m of other loans made to the club as at the year-end, stated to be secured against guaranteed future income streams. This would include future broadcasting money, plus future instalments due from other clubs arising from player sales. There are no charges registered at Companies House other than two in favour of Vincent Tan so it is assumed that the security for these loans is by means of an agreement with Vincent Tan through the security that he holds and has registered.

The club owed £3.9m in future instalments of transfer fees for players bought.

There is a figure of £20.2m for accruals. This included a sum of £8.8m which relates to parachute income and EFL basic award money which (because of the Covid-19 deferment of the season) did not take place until the following financial year which started on June 1, 2020. Also included is £2.1m relating to an EPL rebate due as the club`s share of broadcasting income refunded as a consequence of the deferral of matches at the end of the season.


A sum of £5.9m was due to other parties but not repayable for over one year after May 31, 2020, – secured as referred to above.

There remains a provision in the club`s accounts (as there was in the previous year) in respect of the ongoing legal dispute over the Emiliano Sala transfer. The figure is £20.7m but, as the accounts clearly note, no such sum is considered payable and will be extinguished after a subsequent hearing of the case by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. However, to comply with prudent accounting requirements, full provision continues to be made in the accounts.


Events After The Balance Sheet Date

The year to May 31, 2021, is also going to be very difficult financially for the club as Covid-19 has continued to have a major adverse impact on football generally for the whole of the 20-21 season. The continued cash flow support of Vincent Tan and other funders was mentioned at a recent meeting with fans` groups and the media and there is also some reference in the accounts (Note 29) to further funding of £34.8m received by undisclosed parties between May 2020 and the April 2021 signing of the accounts at interest rates of up to 9%. The same accounts note reveals that part of these funds was used in that period for the acquisition of new players at a cost of £5.2m.


The accounts were approved by the board of directors on April 19, 2021, and signed off as approved by the independent extern"

We can never know what might have been but since VT rescued us he has stood by us. Thankfully it seems that he intends to continue to do so.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

We can never know what might have been but since VT rescued us he has stood by us. Thankfully it seems that he intends to continue to do so.

What is Tan's motive for doing so these days though, I wonder.

[The Hooded Claw]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

What is Tan's motive for doing so these days though, I wonder.

The alternative would be that he’d lose his existing investment and more importantly, his credibility.

[WJ99mobile]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

Alot of thinly veiled digs at Tan, despite him being one of the best owners we've ever had

[WJ99mobile]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

Great summary Keith,

Looks like that headline figure not the true picture with some deferred revenue and costs to come.

[stan butler]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

Alot of thinly veiled digs at Tan, despite him being one of the best owners we've ever had

I get some people don't like Tan but some just keep on slating him for the things he's done and everything the club does.
These fans never stood up to a certain previous owner and never spoke out about him whilst he ran the club like a circus.
I will always speak up against these hypocrites when they bash the club at every opportunity.

[Taunton Blue Genie]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

Alot of thinly veiled digs at Tan, despite him being one of the best owners we've ever had

My own comment wasn't a thinly-veiled dig. Some owners plough tens of millions of pounds into clubs because it attracts kudos or they have a local connection with the club or because they are huge football fans. The kudos aspect has probably dissipated considerably due to City's current level of football and the club doesn't seem to have the feeling of being the start of another exciting project. In such a situation and after a few years of flying close to the sun it would be understandable if Tan's interest were to wane somewhat and whilst still burning a big hole in his pocket. All owners move on eventually after all.

[William Treseder]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

It does make you wonder what his reasons are for staying. He’s never gonna make a profit from the club. He doesn’t spend much time here anymore. Is it just a toy he’s got fed up of playing with, and has left it to gather dust, or are there any financial positives in carrying on?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

Swiss Ramble's take on City's latest accounts;-

https://mobile.twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/1402147425607991298

[Rjk]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

Swiss Ramble's take on City's latest accounts;-

https://mobile.twitter.com/SwissRamb...47425607991298

Thanks, I always like the additional context he gives vs the other clubs in the league, it at least makes me feel like I understand what's going on.

A couple of things stood out to me:

1 - how reliant we are on Vincent Tan
2 - how most championship clubs seem to lose a lot of money
3 - the money from the premier league and parachute payments has been largely squandered, and things will be tight next season.

4 - we would have broken even this season if it wasn't for covid
5 - how little money we have made over the years from player sales

[jon1959]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

Swiss Ramble's take on City's latest accounts;-

https://mobile.twitter.com/SwissRamb...47425607991298

Always interesting commentary. The context comments are most useful to me:

Although #CardiffCity £12m loss is clearly not great, it was around mid-table in the Championship with many clubs reporting much larger losses in 2019/20, including Stoke City £88m, #LUFC £62m (large promotion bonus), Reading £42m, #Boro £36m and WBA £23m.

It is also worth noting that some clubs’ figures have been boosted by the sale of stadiums, especially #DCFC £40m and #SWFC £38m, so their underlying profitability was even worse than reported.

[The Hooded Claw]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

It’s interesting that directors’ remuneration rose 34% at a time when the other salary costs were reducing by a similar percentage.

[Rjk]

Re: Cardiff City's Latest Accounts: Trust Chair Gives His Analysis.

It’s interesting that directors’ remuneration rose 34% at a time when the other salary costs were reducing by a similar percentage.

yes and the two companies we paid a lot of money to that dalman has interests in - what's that about?

we seem to have done some decent work in trimming the wage bill already, with more to follow.
all things considered we seem fairly middle of the road championship club.

however, considering that next season will be the first since 2013/14 that we won't be recieving any additional money from the premier League we should probably be in a more enviable position.
that's 8 seasons of an unfair advantage over other clubs with which to build up the club, and we've basically wasted it all.

the club are now starting to make the right sounds about bringing through youth and identifying players who could be sold at a profit, but it's going to be a lot more difficult without the premier League money. better late than never I suppose.
the main problem for me remains that we seem to have been far too reliant on the manager for transfer policy etc