The Ownership of Manchester City Football Club traces back to 1894, when Ardwick A.F.C. dissolved and were reformed as Manchester City Football Club Ltd. Over recent years, the ownership and finances of Manchester City Football Club have been tumultuous with various owners of contrasting fortunes much in line with their inconsistent trend on the pitch and the club's hierarchy maintain the club is in a period of "significant transformation".[1]
In the 2009-10 season, the club are the fifth richest football club in England by revenue and overall are the 11th worldwide with a revenue of €144m according to Deloitte, and have been consistently in the top 20 for numerous years.[2] The club's most recent annual financial report [1] revealed revenue increase rose 40% to €144m, strong figures for a club who were not in European football in the 2009-10 season. The club posted a loss of £121m which included the approximate £125m spent on transfers in the 2009/10 season. The club's hierarchy have noted that heavy investment on new players and modernisation of facilities has created the loss, investment is expected to abate in coming years now the club's infrastructure has been modernised and the squad has the necessary strength to challenge at the top.[3]
As of September 2009, the club has been fully owned by Sheikh Mansour, one of football's wealthiest owners, with an estimated individual net worth of at least £17 billion with a family fortune of at least $1 trillion[4] US dollars. Since taking over he has wiped off Manchester City's £305 million debt,[5] and has donated to charitable causes linked with Manchester City Football Club[6][7][8][9] whilst improving the club's infrastructure for staff[10][11] and supporters.[12][13] Large scale redevelopment of the land around Eastlands is currently being planned with the project being led by architect Rafael Viñoly with plans which will turn the city into a "European Mecca" for football with a new training facility and leisure complex.[14][15]
More publicly, the club's spending has focused more on the acquisitions of new players. It was estimated that since the takeover by Sheikh Mansour in September 2008 the approximate spend on incoming transfers has been £300m[16] not taking into account revenue which contributes to the transfer budget. At the time of the September 2008, Sheikh Mansour set £500m aside[16] for the club to invest in transfers at immediate utilisation with the ulterior objective of pushing Manchester City to the zenith of English and European football.[17][18]
Contents |
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Chairman | Khaldoon Al Mubarak[19] |
| Executive chairman | Vacant |
| Board director | Simon Pearce[20] |
| Board director | Marty Edelman[20] |
Since the Robinho shock signing on the transfer deadline day in September 2008, the club have been branded "the richest club in the world" by the media and the Robinho signing heralded a new era of spending for the club with Sheikh Mansour willing to invest in the club off the pitch and on it by signing new players. Net spending in the Premier League era is comparable with Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool after yo-yoing between divisions in the late 1990s and early 2000s.[21]
Having spent in approximately £320m on transfers[16] from the arrival of Sheikh Mansour in September 2008 to September 2010 it was reported that owner Sheikh Mansour had earmarked £500m for transfers - regardless of any revenue during that two-year period. The report highlighted the club's immense spending power, meaning as of September 2010 there was a surplus transfer budget of around £175m[18] after the transfer window of summer 2010.[17] Since September 2010 up to September 2011, approximately a further £100m has been spent, but with players being sold this is around £80 to 85m in net expenditure.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Football administration officer | Brian Marwood[22] |
| Football administration officer | John Williams[23] |
| Football development executive | Patrick Vieira[24] |
Since September 2008, the club is owned fully by Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon Al Mubarak is Chairman on his behalf. Al Mubarak has been Chairman since September 2008, when he took over from previous owner, Thaksin Shinawatra.
Garry Cook has been Chief Executive Officer since July 2008, after he was previously one of Nike Inc. top hierarchy.[25] His tenure at the club has been marked by improvement in facilities for supporters, players, and staff, but one marred by numerous gaffes.[26][27]
Brian Marwood has been Football Administration Officer' since March 2009. Then Manager Mark Hughes was concerned about the club bringing someone in a Director of Football role and thus Football Administration Officer was the title given instead.[28] Its main role signing transfer targets, whilst improving the club's infrastructure off the pitch.[28]
Patrick Vieira, who retired from football in July 2011, is currently Football development executive. The job entails a number of different roles, such as overseeing the development of the youth players, working with commercial partners and helping City's award winning City In The Community charity programme. Vieira has stated his intention to acquire his UEFA coaching badges while in his Football development executive role.
| Season | Revenue | Change | Deloitte Money League |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05 | €90.1m | 17 | |
| 2005-06 | €89.4m | €0.7m | 17 |
| 2006-07 | €84.6m | €4.8m | N/A |
| 2007-08 | €104m | €19.4m | 20 |
| 2008-09 | €101.2m[29] | €2.8m | 19 |
| 2009-10 | €144m[30] | €42.8m | 11 |
The club posted a loss of £92.5 million for the fiscal year ending 31 May 2009, up from £32.5 million in May 2008.[31] Under the new ownership, the club embarked on a complete transformation of the club by acquiring new players such as Carlos Tévez, Robinho, David Silva, Yaya Touré and Mario Balotelli, while improving training facilities.
In March 2010, the club signed an initial agreement with Manchester City Council and the New East Manchester Agency to explore alternative leisure attraction proposals to replace the doomed Supercasino which was originally planned to be built next to Eastlands.[32] Furthermore the agreement of understanding gave the club permission to build and expand the new facilities it wishes to build.[32]
In July 2011, it was announced the area where the developments will be built will be called the Etihad Campus.[35] In return Etihad Airways will pay sponsorship to Manchester City F.C. for ten years, and for Manchester City Council who own the stadium, Etihad will create a British hub for Etihad Airways at Manchester Airport creating further jobs[35] and helping to fuel the £600m Manchester Airport City project.[36] When complete, revenue from the Ethihad Campus will go towards helping the club meet the new Uefa Financial Fair Play Regulations [37]
The club is currently planning to move from its current Carrington Training Centre complex to east Manchester nearby the City of Manchester Stadium. The new training complex will be based on AC Milan's Milanello training complex,[38] which is understood to be one of top training complexes in world football.[38] It is believed the new £50m million training facility will house all aspects of the playing staff as the youth academy will be moved from its current site in Platt Lane to join the new training complex.[39]
Preliminary preparation began in April 2010 with remiadiation of the 17 acres (69,000 m2) of empty land around the Eastlands stadium.[40][41]
After increasing tickets figures and a sell out all 36,000 season tickets for the 2010-11 season[42] the club is believed to be looking at increasing the stadium's capacity. The stadium is currently leased to Manchester City and the owners are believed to want to buy the stadium outright[43] The increase in the capacity has been speculated but is unknown, plans for at least 60,000 by adding a third tier to the north and south stands which are behind the goal have been touted.[34] A capacity increase to 75,000 has been touted also and are believed to be encouraged by the club's attempt to make sure the stadium is big enough to host key international if England win the right to host the 2018 World Cup.[44] Reports have also emanated in media circles have speculated at an attempt to create the largest stadium in English football to match with the owners ambitions of creating the best possible football club on and off the pitch.[45]
The lease on the stadium was renegotiated in October 2010, with Manchester City paying Manchester City Council a flat base rate of £3 million a year rather than the council taking half of the revenue of ticket sales over 35,000. This previous system pocketed the council approximately £2 million a year,[46] whereas the new, higher £3 million single payment agreement signals the club are looking to expand the stadium.[46] The agreement is linked to Manchester City's willingness to "considering potential development as part of a contribution to the regeneration of east Manchester", proposals which are being planned.[46]
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| 1964–1971 | Albert Alexander Jr. |
| 1971–1973 | Eric Alexander |
| 1973–1994 | Peter Swales |
| 1994–1998 | Francis Lee |
| 1998–2003 | David Bernstein |
| 2003–2007 | John Wardle |
| 2007–2008 | Thaksin Shinawatra |
| 2008-present | Khaldoon Al Mubarak |
The modern day Manchester City Football Club became a registered limited company on 16 April 1894.[47] Shares in the club were owned by a number of club figures, who all had one share each. The first Chairman was John Chapman, a local publican. In 1902 City were relegated and Hulton took charge. An early board member was newspaper owner Edward Hulton, who held influence at the start of the 20th century.[48] In the 1920s Lawrence Furniss was Chairman, he had served the club in various capacities since playing for them when the club was still Gorton AFC in the mid 1880s.
After the end of hostilities in the mid-1940s the Chairman was Robert Smith. In the mid-50s Walter Smith became Chairman before Alan Douglas took over between 1956 and 1964. Douglas stepped down due to ill health, allowing the Alexander family to gain control.
Albert Alexander Jr., son of the man who had founded the Manchester City Academy in the 1920s was chairman during the 1960s and his son, Eric Alexander took over in the early 1970s, as a compromise choice after the board split over support for making coach Malcolm Allison manager, until October 1973.
Peter Swales took over from the Alexander's and became Chairman[49] and held the position for more than 20 years. Swales time in charge was one of impatience with him sacking eleven Manchester City managers in 21 years, however he had reputation as a generous chairman when providing money for transfer[50] Swales was remembered for his gaffe with manager Malcolm Allison after Swales sanctioned the purchase of Steve Daley from Wolves for £1,450,000, a then British transfer fee record. Daley turned out to be a flop, and Allison always claimed that he had agreed a much lower fee with the then Wolves manager for Daley. Allison later claimed Swales intervened on a chairman to chairman basis and secured the transfer instantly but at a much higher, possibly rip-off price.[50]
After over 20 years of frustration delivering little success, Swales fell out of favour with the Manchester City supporters who led a long anti-Swales campaign. Momentum gathered in the 1990s, in the form of a movement named Forward With Franny, backing former City player Francis Lee's attempt to gain control of the club.[51]
In 1994, with Swales was ousted from his chairmanship by former City player Francis Lee, whose paper business F.H Lee Ltd. had made him a multimillionaire. Lee gained control of the club by purchasing £3 million of shares at a price of £13.35 per share.<ref="After all that... This">"After all that... This". http://www.uit.no/mancity/mcivta/demise.html. Retrieved April 15, 2007.</ref>
Swales was offered a role as life president at the club upon his departure but he never returned to Maine Road. It was a sad departure for a chairman who loyally invested large sums of money into Manchester City in search of new success and greater parity with a resurgent Manchester United.[50] Swales died on 3 May 1996, 3 days before a now yoyo club, Manchester City were relegated from the top tier of English football.
Upon becoming Chairman, Lee made a series of extravagant claims about his plans for the club, announcing that, "This will be the happiest club in the land. The players will be the best paid and we'll drink plenty of champagne, celebrate and sing until we're hoarse."[51] The club floated on the OFEX exchange in 1995, valuing the club at £8 million.[52]
In 1996, Lee appointed his friend Alan Ball as Manager, but the appointment proved unsuccessful and the club was relegated. Both Ball and Lee stated later that Swales had left the club with catastrophic debts which had undermined their plans.[53] Lee stepped down in 1998, with the club on the brink of relegation to the third tier of English football, a fate which Lee had dismissed at the previous annual general meeting by saying that he would, "Jump off the Kippax" if the club was relegated.[54] He was replaced as Chairman by Financial Director David Bernstein.
Chairman Franny Lee tried to new investors into the club, one of which was Saudi billionaire Prince Walid who was interested in making a £75m investment in 1996, but Lee refused to show Walid the club accounts and Walid cooled his interest.[55] City shareholders also attempted to woo Wigan chairman Dave Whelan into investing in the club, but City's precarious position without a manager at the time didn't convince Whelan.[55]
In November 1999, broadcasting company BSkyB purchased a 9.9% stake in the club for £5.5 million, plus a further sum for media rights. The deal was part of a series of acquisitions by BSkyB which included a similar stake in Leeds United.[56] A share rights issue announced at the same time as the BSkyB purchase saw JD Sports founders John Wardle and David Makin increase their stake and become the club's largest shareholders.[57]
Bernstein resigned on 5 March 2003, believing that differences of opinion regarding player transfers had undermined his ability to lead the club.[58] Bernstein had favoured a fiscally conservative transfer policy, but manager Kevin Keegan and major shareholder John Wardle wished to spend heavily on new players, such as Robbie Fowler.[59] Wardle became Temporary Chairman, taking the position on a permanent basis two months later.[60] Bryan Bodek, who had been a board member since February 2000,[61] was appointed as his deputy.
In December 2006, the club issued a statement regarding a possible takeover,[62] prompting press speculation about potential buyers. On 24 April, former City player Ray Ranson announced interest in making an offer for the club,[63] though the club denied press reports that a bid had been made.[64] On 1 May 2007, it was announced that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had been granted access to the club's accounts.[65] The deal, however, was thrown into doubt when Thailand's Military Government froze £830 million of Shinawatra's assets after they investigated allegations of corruption made against him.[66] On 21 June, the Manchester City board accepted an £81.6 million offer for the club from Thaksin Shinawatra and advised the shareholders to accept the bid. On 6 July, Thaksin finally acquired a 75% share in the club, enough to take full control of the club and delist it as full owner.[67] One of his first moves was to schedule a press conference to announce former-England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson as his new manager.[68]
Under Eriksson they made a positive start to the season. However, City's form in the second half of the season was weak, as they finished 9th in the final table but finished with their highest ever Premier League points total and the season included double victories over rivals Manchester United. Months of speculation started in March 2008 as the season drew to a close over Eriksson's future. Manchester City fans launched a "Save our Sven (SOS)"[69] campaign to prevent his sacking. This was to no avail as Eriksson's one-year reign as manager ended on 2 June 2008,[70] following weeks of speculation about his future.[71]
On 5 June 2008, Mark Hughes was unveiled as Manchester City's new manager on a three-year contract.[72] The appointment of Hughes as manager placed a veil over Thaksin Shinawatra's endless trouble with the Thai authorities and now had his £800m fortune frozen in Thailand and did not wish to go back to Thailand to clear his name.[73]
Throughout August 2008, media outlets claimed that the club was in complete disarray and that City were on the brink of financial meltdown with Shinawatra asking a now disillusioned former chairman John Wardle for a £2m loan[74] and new manager Hughes threatening to resign unless finance problems were sorted out and the board stopped trying to seemingly sell Stephen Ireland and Vedran Corluka behind his back.[75] Manchester City supporters were also getting restless with Shinawatra, supporters who had seen many false dawns in the lives, the situation looked bleak and an "out with Shinawatra" tone was beginning to gain favour with some City fans,[76] much in the same manner of Peter Swales departure in 1994. Rumours started to spread around the footballing world in August 2008 that Shinawatra's position as owner of the club was just not viable because of his frozen financial backing and it was believed he was considering selling Manchester City to a new owner(s).[77]
The dream of bringing back the glory era to City set out by Shinawatra just a year before now seemed doomed.[78] But what was about to unravel was something manager Hughes and the Manchester City supporters would have probably never thought about, never mind anticipated - as within the coming months Hughes would find himself placed in a financial position which would become the envy of many a football manager and one which would hopefully change the course of Manchester City's inconsistent history for good.
In August 2008, it became increasingly likely that Thaksin would fail to retrieve his frozen assets from Thailand. His wife, Pojaman Shinawatra, was convicted of acquiring large tracts of land for grossly-underpriced values and sentenced to three years imprisonment on 31 July 2008,[79] and following this news, Thaksin's own court dates approaching, and Pojaman's bail, a visit by the Shinawatra family to the 2008 Beijing Olympics led to them using the opportunity to leave the country for London, where they then applied for political asylum in the United Kingdom.[80] This led to the Thai courts issuing an extradition request to the British Government, and the courts beginning to try them in absentia, effectively ending any hopes of the money being released and further affing the possibility that Thaksin would come to breach Premier League rules on club ownership, which prevent owners convicted of corruption charges from retaining control of their club.
In response to this, Thaksin offered to resign his position on the board, an offer which was rejected by Garry Cook, Man City's Executive Chairman,[81] and also began attempting to sell minority stakes in the club for investment. After being rejected repeatedly with counter-proposals to buy majority stakes numerous, it was then announced on 1 September 2008 that the club were in talks with the Abu Dhabi United Group to sell Thaksin's entire stake, a deal which was agreed later in the day.[82]
As part of the takeover, Doctor Sulaiman Al-Fahim, a board member of the company and the man both leading the talks and mooted to be the new Chairman, promised a top four finish within three seasons, indicating that he would give a show of his intent by capturing at least one world class signing, naming such players as Mario Gómez, David Villa, Dimitar Berbatov, and Robinho as in his sights, having made bids for all four on behalf of his new club. With the deal for the sale of the club going through on the last day of the summer transfer window, negotiations were forcibly limited, but while a deal for Berbatov was accepted by the club but not by the player, with a few minutes remaining in the transfer window, Manchester City were able to confirm the signing of Robinho from Real Madrid for a British transfer record £32.5 million, concurrently the seventh largest transfer fee in the history of football.
The period of due diligence ended on 21 September, with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, owner of the Abu Dhabi United Group, and Thaksin Shinawatra agreeing the transfer of the club on 23 September.[83][84] As part of their new board, Doctor Al-Fahim's presumed position of Co-Chairman was conspicuously filled by Khaldoon Al Mubarak instead, with Al-Fahim's loose-tongued comments about buying an all-star team cited as the reason for his demotion, his comments having produced much negative media backlash and having gone against Al Nahyan's more long-term and rather more restrained plans for the club.
In the months following the takeover, Thaksin held the position of Honorary President, but was removed from the position in February 2009 after a Thai court convicted him for corruption.[85] The following month, the club ceased their operations in Thailand.[86]
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