Adam Williams

Head of Football Finance & Governance Content, GRV Media | Trying to break down the business of football for fans | No AI | Views mine | [email protected]

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

🧵 The Crystal Palace sage is the tip of the iceberg. By my count, 16 Premier League clubs are part of some sort of multi-club network

Spurs, Wolves, Burnley, Fulham - if you don't see your club's name, your team has ties to another somewhere else in the world

Here are all 16🔽

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

Fine margins! If Sunderland finished 8th in PL, they risked being kicked out of Conference League

Sartori is director at SAFC + Monaco, who qualified for Conference. Not allowed, per UEFA Article 5

Monaco finished higher in Ligue 1, so UEFA would've awarded them spot over SAFC

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

@PESNONMODS @philreeves08 I'd have been sued within an inch of my life by now if this was false, and rightly so.

The case filing is literally on the HM Courts and Tribunal's official system. I've spoken to the club, who thanked me for bringing it to their attention.

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

Further on this... The club say they have now brought all HMRC liabilities up to date. HMRC filed the winding-up petition last Friday, but it appears Ebbsfleet weren't made aware until today.

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

🚨 Exclusive: HMRC file winding-up petition against Ebbsfleet United

“We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and only file winding-up petitions once we’ve exhausted all other options, in order to protect taxpayers’ money," HMRC told me.

(1/2)

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

@robgeorgejack @philreeves08 They didn't, they said that they hadn't "received any notice" of one - different thing. It takes time to actually serve a petition after it's been filed.

I've spoken to the club. They admit there was a petition. I'm glad to hear they've cleared the HMRC debts though!

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

@philreeves08 They don't deny it was filed, only that they weren't aware. Matter of public record now anyway: https://t.co/3Dq5Z0PrzG

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

Utd yet to respond to comment request but 30 Apr end-of-szn statement said:

- "Doing things correctly" w/ HMRC adds 35% to payroll vs clubs who may cut corners
- Player costs for some National Lg Sth = £1m p/a
- Big costs due to proposed ownership change, stadium project delays

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

🚨 Exclusive: HMRC file winding-up petition against Ebbsfleet United

“We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and only file winding-up petitions once we’ve exhausted all other options, in order to protect taxpayers’ money," HMRC told me.

(1/2)

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

@Showmethetears Not unless they’ve got the listing wrong!

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

Arsenal fans, want a private executive box at the Emirates for the final home game of the season against Burnley?

That’ll be £100,000 please

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

@readrovers All club comms across every channel are AI now. So conspicuous across 150th anniversary stuff - the script Shearer read in that video etc. I get the marketing team is probs under-resourced but it’s really disappointing that so little thought goes into how the club presents itself

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

🚨EXCL: Celebrated Liverpool artist Frank Green suing Everton at High Court for copyright infringement

He alleges one of his works used on Goodison Park cladding from 2022-25 w/out consent. EFC yet to respond to claim

Green's lawyers declined to comment. Everton were approached

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

Dictionary definition of a 'clubman'.

RIP, Tony. I like to think he waited until Rovers were safe from relegation last night. Thoughts with Natalie and the rest of family.

[Blackburn Rovers @Rovers]

https://t.co/IWSXDtsvba

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

@WhatMarcDoes Hi Marc. I can't disclose sources because that would be a breach of confidence. But rest assured that it's very reliably sourced. I wouldn't report it if I wasn't 100% confident.

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

🚨 EXCL: AGS Capital Global among groups to have held talks about acquiring stake in Newport County

Owner Huw Jenkins loaned club £1m last season and has been open about seeking third-party investment.

League Two status a key variable.

https://t.co/eyWUu6DrJL

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

🔎 Could a private equity titan buy a stake in Manchester United's new stadium?

For @UnitedInFocus with @KieranMaguire

https://t.co/BqFy9CuYTF

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

🚨 Chelsea co-owner Jose Feliciano says £355m loss is "sustainable" - and BlueCo want to win Premier League "soon."

But with ~£5bn pledged, UEFA restrictions and high-risk player strategy, how do #CFC owners make the numbers add up?

For @CFCChronicle ⬇️

https://t.co/WmAnS4kSxa

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

Might ostensibly sound like dull industry news, but it could change the way fans consume the Premier League. Sale of TV rights (worth £1.7bn p/a & distributed among clubs) is easy and relatively risk-free atm. But long-term, big clubs want D2C as TV cash plateaus and piracy rises

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

Masters also confirms Premier League will launch first direct-to-consumer platform in Singapore market.

Trial run for 'Premflix' (not PL's official name), which some believe is the next big financial quantum leap.

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

A bit more from Masters when asked by @ben_rumsby about how PL can avoid such lengthy processes in future: "I simply can't [comment on City case]. But any regulator wants its judicial system to be efficient and seen to work swiftly. That's about as far as I'm prepared to go."

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

PL CEO Richard Masters' (very predictable) response when asked at @FinancialTimes Business of Football Summit about Man City charges:

"We're still awaiting a decision. As you know, I can't talk about it; I can't talk about the timing of it. So, there's nothing more I can add."

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

Masters also confirms Premier League will launch first direct-to-consumer platform in Singapore market.

Trial run for 'Premflix' (not PL's official name), which some believe is the next big financial quantum leap.

[Adam Williams @Adam___Williams]

PL CEO Richard Masters' (very predictable) response when asked at @FinancialTimes Business of Football Summit about Man City charges:

"We're still awaiting a decision. As you know, I can't talk about it; I can't talk about the timing of it. So, there's nothing more I can add."