Joint minority shareholder Mark Attanasio and sporting director Ben Knapper revealed a data-driven strategy to target a Premier League return at the club’s annual meeting. Knapper is working on a January transfer plan, but finance and operations director, Anthony Richens, emphasized that there is no pressure to raise funds to pay down the club’s borrowings, which football finance expert Kieran Maguire estimated to be £96m.
Richens clarified that the club’s approach is to maximize the value of their assets and not make decisions with a gun to their head in regards to player trading. He stated that there’s no pressure to sell players simply to raise cash, and the goal is to develop assets for the long term. The club’s debt is primarily to the supportive owners, which is a significant difference compared to debts to financial institutions.
Richens also mentioned that the club aims to build an organization and a football team of Premier League standard, focusing on finding players that can be developed into Premier League players. The vision is to prepare for promotion to the Premier League and ensure that they can stay there once promoted. Additionally, the club wants to have the capability to turn down offers for players, even if the offer exceeds the current valuation, because they believe there is further value to develop.
In a wide-ranging interview for football business site, Off the Pitch, Richens discussed harnessing data and increasing matchday revenue incomes, emphasizing that there is no quick fix to the club’s goals. He reiterated that the club’s focus is on building an organization and a football team that are of Premier League standard, and their actions are directed by this vision. They are not solely focused on promotion, but on preparing to be an established Premier League club.
