SOCCER: ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE:GARETH BALE could head the list of players leaving Tottenham Hotspur if they fail to qualify for next season's Champions League after their chairman admitted a strategy of squad "streamlining".
In comments contained in Spurs’ half-year accounts for the six months to December 31st, 2010, Daniel Levy told the Stock Exchange that the squad had become unwieldy.
“We have hosted one of the largest squads in the Premier League during this period,” he said in his chairman’s statement. “Whilst this large squad eased our progress in the Champions League, we shall continue to look to streamline our squad where appropriate.”
Bale has recently signed a contract extension until 2015. But manager Harry Redknapp said on Monday a world-record bid for the player would lead to his release though though he also expressed his reluctance to countenance any approach for Bale because “we’re trying to build the club”.
However the financial realities at Tottenham – as displayed by the latest balance sheet – point to straitened circumstances ahead.
Spurs are five points adrift of Champions League qualification and risk missing out on Europe’s elite competition next season. That would come at a significant cost for a club who appear to have become rapidly reliant on Champions League revenues.
Turnover for the six-month period increased by very nearly 50 per cent to €91 million. Champions League-related income growth amounted to €26 million of the total of €29.9 million rise in overall revenue. But expenses reached €70 million – a net growth in costs of €14.7 million.
Guardian Service
