Championship Wage Bills

[KentExile]

This may be more than a bit dry for some, but I found it quite interesting (and it helped me put off a job that I don't want to do, lol), even if it does just reinforce a lot of what we already know.

It's the reported wage bill taken from most recent accounts (figures are in Million £s) of all clubs who were in the Championship in 22/23 and/or 23/24

Due to accounting dates, these figures are essentially for the 21/22 season this will mean that the figures from some teams will be from whilst they were in either the Premier League or League 1

It does show that Rovers are essentially a middle of the road wage payer, aside from those who have spent time outside the Championship over this period, we are amongst a glut of teams with roughly the same wage bill.  There also seem to be a few basket case clubs (Stoke, WBA, Birmingham, Cardiff) who are seriously underachieving based upon wage bills.  Middlesbrough also spend more than most but seem to do much better than the others mentioned.  Special mentions to Coventry and Luton who show that a good league finish can be achieved without overspending, but as both teams recently spent numerous seasons below the Championship, it may be that their wage bills will catch up with others soon (Luton's probably this season in the Premier League)

Just for reference, in League 1, Rovers wage bill was £16.8M, which jumped to £22.4M for their first season back in the Championship.  So it would not be unreasonable to assume that the 'bigger' clubs who were in L1 at the time of these accounts (Sunderland, Ipswich, Sheff Wed) now have wage bills which are at the very least comparable to ours.  Also worth noting Hull seem to be changing their buying strategy since these numbers were publicised and have spent big money on wages on international players last season (Darlow, Pelkas, Seri, Tufan, Estupinan, Traore, Tettah and others)

                                    21/22 Season wage bill (in £M)                                                     Division at the time    
Leicester                                          180.4                                                                             PL
Southampton                                  113.4                                                                             PL
Leeds                                               103.5                                                                             PL
Burnley                                                 92                                                                             PL
Norwich                                               91                                                                              PL
Watford                                             78.6                                                                             PL
Sheff Utd                                           overdue    (previous accounts state 56.5)                 Champ (previous figure used was when in PL)

Stoke                                                 35.6                                                                           Champ 
WBA                                                  37.5                                                                           Champ 
Birmingham                                      31.1                                                                           Champ 
Cardiff                                               29.2                                                                           Champ 
Middlesbrough                                 28.4                                                                            Champ 

QPR                                                   24.8                                                                           Champ 
Swansea                                            24.5                                                                           Champ 
ROVERS                                            24.4                                                                          Champ 
Huddersfield                                      overdue    (previous accounts state 24.6)                 Champ 
PNE                                                    24                                                                             Champ 
Bristol C                                             23.8                                                                           Champ 
Reading                                             22.4                                                                           Champ 
Millwall                                              22.3                                                                            Champ 

Sheff Wed                                        due end of July (previous accounts state 21.1)           L1 (previous figure used was when in Champ)    
Sunderland                                        16.1                                                                           L1
Ipswich    .                                         16.4                                                                            L1
Coventry                                            15.7                                                                          Champ 
Luton                                                 15.6                                                                           Champ 
Wigan                                                13                                                                             L1
Hull                                                    12.7                                                                          Champ (promoted previous season)
Blackpool                                           10.3                                                                          Champ (promoted previous season)
Rotherham                                           5.8                                                                          L1                    
Plymouth                                             5.5                                                                          L1

Please note that I am NOT an accountant, all wage figures have been taken from a (very quick) glance over the accounts (so feel free to 'fact check' me) as reported here.  Wage bills quoted are totals for all staff at the clubs, not just playing staff
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00053482/filing-history

I have no idea why Sheffield Wednesday's accounts are not due until the end of this month

[Ossydave]

I'm interested to know the job you're avoiding?

I've put a new shed up last weekend and so far managed to avoid filling it up with my countless tools. Roll on the football season 🤣

[Cherry Blue]

2 hours ago, KentExile said:

This may be more than a bit dry for some, but I found it quite interesting (and it helped me put off a job that I don't want to do, lol), even if it does just reinforce a lot of what we already know.

It's the reported wage bill taken from most recent accounts (figures are in Million £s) of all clubs who were in the Championship in 22/23 and/or 23/24

Due to accounting dates, these figures are essentially for the 21/22 season this will mean that the figures from some teams will be from whilst they were in either the Premier League or League 1

It does show that Rovers are essentially a middle of the road wage payer, aside from those who have spent time outside the Championship over this period, we are amongst a glut of teams with roughly the same wage bill.  There also seem to be a few basket case clubs (Stoke, WBA, Birmingham, Cardiff) who are seriously underachieving based upon wage bills.  Middlesbrough also spend more than most but seem to do much better than the others mentioned.  Special mentions to Coventry and Luton who show that a good league finish can be achieved without overspending, but as both teams recently spent numerous seasons below the Championship, it may be that their wage bills will catch up with others soon (Luton's probably this season in the Premier League)

Just for reference, in League 1, Rovers wage bill was £16.8M, which jumped to £22.4M for their first season back in the Championship.  So it would not be unreasonable to assume that the 'bigger' clubs who were in L1 at the time of these accounts (Sunderland, Ipswich, Sheff Wed) now have wage bills which are at the very least comparable to ours.  Also worth noting Hull seem to be changing their buying strategy since these numbers were publicised and have spent big money on wages on international players last season (Darlow, Pelkas, Seri, Tufan, Estupinan, Traore, Tettah and others)

                                    21/22 Season wage bill (in £M)                                                     Division at the time    
Leicester                                          180.4                                                                             PL
Southampton                                  113.4                                                                             PL
Leeds                                               103.5                                                                             PL
Burnley                                                 92                                                                             PL
Norwich                                               91                                                                              PL
Watford                                             78.6                                                                             PL
Sheff Utd                                           overdue    (previous accounts state 56.5)                 Champ (previous figure used was when in PL)

Stoke                                                 35.6                                                                           Champ 
WBA                                                  37.5                                                                           Champ 
Birmingham                                      31.1                                                                           Champ 
Cardiff                                               29.2                                                                           Champ 
Middlesbrough                                 28.4                                                                            Champ 

QPR                                                   24.8                                                                           Champ 
Swansea                                            24.5                                                                           Champ 
ROVERS                                            24.4                                                                          Champ 
Huddersfield                                      overdue    (previous accounts state 24.6)                 Champ 
PNE                                                    24                                                                             Champ 
Bristol C                                             23.8                                                                           Champ 
Reading                                             22.4                                                                           Champ 
Millwall                                              22.3                                                                            Champ 

Sheff Wed                                        due end of July (previous accounts state 21.1)           L1 (previous figure used was when in Champ)    
Sunderland                                        16.1                                                                           L1
Ipswich    .                                         16.4                                                                            L1
Coventry                                            15.7                                                                          Champ 
Luton                                                 15.6                                                                           Champ 
Wigan                                                13                                                                             L1
Hull                                                    12.7                                                                          Champ (promoted previous season)
Blackpool                                           10.3                                                                          Champ (promoted previous season)
Rotherham                                           5.8                                                                          L1                    
Plymouth                                             5.5                                                                          L1

Please note that I am NOT an accountant, all wage figures have been taken from a (very quick) glance over the accounts (so feel free to 'fact check' me) as reported here.  Wage bills quoted are totals for all staff at the clubs, not just playing staff
https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00053482/filing-history

I have no idea why Sheffield Wednesday's accounts are not due until the end of this month

As expected Leicester, Southampton & Leeds top of the wages tree so pressure's on their stars to perform. Hopefully not, especially Leeds, but crowds will gather at Ewood to see if we can get one over on the "loads of money" clubs (use to be us!).

Looking up from the bottom you've got to ask what's gone on at Luton, Coventry & Sunderland? Then further up the chain Millwall, PNE & Rovers all doing better points-wise than Watford, Norwich, Stoke & WBA? I'm sure the answer is a combination reasons but overall encouraging for us after a good last season.

As you imply figures not up to date but probably not far from the mark.