Pittodrie finances stay within budget, reports Fraser

Published on Friday 30 October 2009 22:20

ABERDEEN yesterday announced they had achieved their operating target for the fifth straight year after publishing their trading results for the year ended 30 June, 2009.

Twelve months after the most successful results in the club's history, the impact of the collapse of the Setanta television deal has clearly had an impact on the Pittodrie side's finances. But despite budgeting for an operating loss of more than 600,000 even before Setanta's demise, the club kept that figure down to 322,000.

Managing director Duncan Fraser does, however, expect the loss of television revenue to cost Aberdeen in the region of 3million over the next three years.

He said: "In delivering the budget year on year, we have demonstrated to our creditors our commitment to keep tight control on the business to avoid the type of drastic measures faced by an increasing number of clubs throughout the country.

"Even allowing for the extremely limited number of cup ties at Pittodrie during the period covered, the club achieved the second highest turnover in its history and the wages to turnover ratio after adjusting for royalties came in at 58 per cent, within the recommended industry targets (2008 was 43 per cent)."

Fraser added: "Since my appointment to the SPL board in January 2009, there has been a new chairman and chief executive brought on board and I believe we can work towards a position whereby we can get a more viable television deal when we go back to the market at the appropriate time."

Fraser said the club, who spent next to nothing in the last transfer window, would continue to promote the development of their own young players.

He added: "The club had the foresight to deliver real investment into youth development and, down to the hard work of the likes of Willie Miller, Lenny Taylor, Neil Simpson and the rest of the staff we are seeing tangible rewards in this area, which the management team is already benefiting from."

In terms of the new stadium, chairman Stewart Milne acknowledged the importance of the identification of the site at Loirston Loch for the proposed development stating: "This project has the potential to deliver a top-class facility providing enormous benefits to the region as well as the club, and it represents the most ambitious new-build stadium in Scotland for many years."

Meanwhile, Director of Football Miller has broken his silence on the decision that led to Aberdeen legend Jim Leighton leaving his job as goalkeeping coach at the Pittodrie club earlier this season.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Sprs to be shown on BBC Alba tonight, Miller discusses how Leighton left the club after the new management team of Mark McGhee and Scott Leitch decided they wanted to hire a coach with a greater range of skills.

"At a football club, things change – a new management team come in and decisions have to be made," explained Miller.

"It was a tough decision to make first and foremost and a difficult one to see through, believe me. But it is done – Jim did a great job when he was here but it is a new team that is on board now."