2023-24 accounts a 'good marker for financial life in Championship'
- Published
BBC Radio Solent sports editor Adam Blackmore says Southampton's financial accounts for the year ending June 2024 are a "good marker" for what the club can expect should they immediately return to the Championship.
Saints recorded a pre-tax and interest profit of £36.4m and a post-tax profit of £5.7m, following five successive years of reporting losses.
However, this was aided by a mass exodus of players following relegation in 2023.
"They are a good marker for us to look forward to financial life in the Championship next season," said Blackmore.
"Yes, they made a net profit of £5.7m but that only happened from the fire sale of players after dropping out of the Premier League.
"That included Tino Livramento, James Ward-Prowse, Nathan Tella, Romeo Lavia for big money, Mislav Orsic and more. It was well over £100m of sales.
"The biggest problem for clubs dropping out of the Premier League is your turnover drops because of the broadcasting income. Saints' income went down over £60m from £145m to £84.8m and we can expect something similar to happen again.
"They also invested during that period in the Championship - over £4m in infrastructure including safe standing, a new fan zone, stadium wifi - and that's all in place and won't really need spending on again going forward."