Seagulls Over Burwash Article -March 2024
Transfers, Financial Fair Play. Expectations
11.00 pm on Thursday 1st February the January transfer market came to a close. January, the first of the twice yearly transfer markets sees the transfer of players from the Premiership down to the non league clubs. During this period speculation is always rife as to who will be bought and who will be sold. Even Clubs fan bases seem to be ‘in the know’ with social media sites hot with conversations. Apps can also be downloaded, supposedly giving all the information that’s needed on the movement of players.
Without doubt the transfer market, particularly the Premiership, not only generates a huge amount of money for clubs and players but also creates a vast interest from Fans and the media alike from regions all over the world with the many overseas players that now dominate the leagues. Brighton now has a growing fanbase in Japan due to their star winger Kaoru Mitoma. It’s also not unusual to see Japanese fans in the stands at the Amex.
During this transfer window the Premier League Clubs spent £96.2 Million -a drop in the ocean compared with last Summer’s signing of £2.44 Billion! This was only the second time in 13 years where spending this January was less than £100 Mil. This may have been due to many Premiership Clubs being ‘handcuffed’, so to speak, in dealings due to the restraints which the new financial fair play rules now put on clubs. This now means that clubs are put in a position where they may need to sell players in order to buy. In November 2023 Everton Football Club were handed out a 10 point deduction in their league status for non compliance of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules. Everton recorded losses of £124.5m over a three year fiscal period, that’s £19.5m over the permitted limit of £105.00 Mil for the same period. The 10 points deduction meant that Everton were put in the relegation end of the League where they still remain after playing 23 games. This came as a huge shock to all Premiership clubs who are now wary of not falling into the same trap, although there are still question marks against Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea. This event was undoubtedly a contributing factor to the fall in this January’s transfer market. Whether or not this recovers in the Summer window remains to be seen.
New Financial Sustainability Regulations came into force on 1st July 2023 as a result of complete and comprehensive review gained from experience from past years and changes of the football industry. These now revolve around three main pillars: Solvency, Stability and Cost Control.
It is well known that Brighton & Hove Albion’s owner Tony Bloom isn’t a big fan of the January transfer window. but the Club have prudently invested in young players for the Development squad and in particular Valentin Barco from Bocca Juniors in Argentina. At the time of writing The 19 year old is still playing in Argentina and is not expected at Brighton until the middle of February. Unlike other youngsters Barco is expected to join the club’s first eleven after a settling in period.
There was also strong speculation about a move from Leicester City’s midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, this didn’t materialise in the end as both clubs could not agree on the price Leicester valued him at.
Tottenham Hotspur’s Bryan Gil Savatierra, a Spanish left winger, was also widely being mentioned for a loan move to Brighton but this didn’t transpire as we understand that the player didn’t want to go out on loan.
This was all very disappointing for Brighton manager Roberto DeZerbi who was desperate to see
‘reinforcements’ arriving due to the high level of players sidelined with injuries. The club has been sustaining injuries since last year with some long term.
Brighton players who were not involved with the African Nations and Asia Cup competitions took full advantage of a winter break, with warm weather training in Qatar. This undoubtably helped those sidelined with injuries and refreshed those ready to start again on the 30th January with a visit to Luton Town. Brighton were expected to win this game bearing in mind Luton’s lowly position in the league. However, past encounters at Kenilworth Road have never favoured the Albion and true to form this ‘hangover’ was there yet again and a resurgent Luton side duly took a lacklustre Brighton team to the ’cleaners’ with a 4-0 drubbing. A similar score line of 4-1 Brighton handed out to Luton on the opening game of the season at the Amex.
This was obviously the wake up call the Albion needed for the return local derby ‘needle’ match with Crystal Palace at the Amex when on Saturday afternoon 3rd February the fans of Brighton and Hove Albion were treated to a display of football that quickly saw many of the Palace fans leaving the terraces. Brighton ending up 4-1 winners!
On the evening of Thursday 1st of February Seagulls Over Burwash fielded a team of ‘Quizzers ‘
headed by our esteemed Chairman Mr. Teskey O’Neil at the BHA Foundation quiz night. The team finished in a very creditable seventh position on the night.
For further information on joining Seagulls Over Burwash and details of forthcoming events, meetings or coach travel please visit our website at www.seagullsoverburwash.co.uk or email simon.forster@seagullsoverburwash.co.uk
Alternatively, please feel free to contact our Chairman, Mr Teskey O’Neil, on 01435 884344 or tesbar80@btinternet.com
Allan Napier