The sales of Connor Wickham and Jon Walters saw the Blues make a rare profit of £136,000 before tax and interest in the year ending June 2011. But while Town made a surplus of £10.85 million on player trading, they made an operating loss of £10.72 million with the club’s overall debt now standing at £66.17 million.
The figures are revealed in an information sheet sent to shareholders in the PLC, which owns 12.5% of the club, outlining Town’s overall financial position. It is sent along with the PLC’s annual report and accounts ahead of its AGM, which will be held in the Sir Bobby Robson Suite at Portman Road on Monday 5th December.
In addition to the headline figures, player and coaching staff costs rose from £13.45 million in 2009/10 to £13.73 million in 2010/11. As a percentage of turnover player and coaching staff costs were down from 86.1% to 79.6%.
Overall staff costs were down from £17.08 million to £17.05 million, that’s 98.9% of turnover, compared with 109.4% in the previous year.
Turnover was up from £15.62 million in 2009/10 to £17.25 million in 2010/11, mainly due to an additional solidarity payment from the Premier League, with commercial income down from £5.22 million to £5.11 million with the P!nk concert included in the previous year’s accounts.
Income from the Football League, including TV and radio fees, was up to £5.5 million from £4.01 million a year earlier, with the Carling Cup semi-finals against Arsenal contributing to that rise. Gate receipts were up from £6.39 million to £6.64 million.
Direct costs rose from £19.3 million in 2009/10 to £19.9 million due to "player wages and additional match costs”, while the club made a "small saving” on administrative costs.
The £136,000 profit becomes a £3.17 million loss after interest on the club's debts is taken into account.
Town have given more information on the overall debt than previously. Last year’s total figure stood at £57.03 million with that figure increasing to £66.17 million by June 2011.
Largely that increase relates to "other group loans" (non-interest-bearing, £22.44 million, up from £15.63 million in 2009/10), which refers to additional funding from owner Marcus Evans. Aside from £2.04 million in loan notes made available in the period after the club’s administration, the debt is owed wholly to Evans and not to any outside institution.