The findings of an independent review commissioned by five of Scotland’s top clubs into the game’s finances are set to be unveiled next month. Dave Cormack, the Aberdeen chairman, last night stressed that the report’s judgments will be to the benefit of all Scottish Professional Football League clubs, not just the five who funded the review.
Aberdeen, Hearts, Hibernian, Dundee United and Dundee were the clubs behind the review, which has been undertaken by Deloitte and backed by the SPFL. The clubs believe they could see an immediate spike of more than 20 per cent in distributable revenue were the review’s findings to be implemented.
“The deal with Deloitte says that this is for Scottish football, it’s not for five clubs,” Cormack, who was speaking after Aberdeen’s annual general meeting, said. “They wouldn’t have taken it on otherwise. What you’ll see out of the report is that there is definitely short term, in the next couple of years, the opportunity to significantly increase distributable revenues to the clubs. That will of course require some investments. The return is a no-brainer.
“We are still working through the analysis. In the next month should be when Deloitte can come out and say that this is what phase one has shown up, which we hope will lead to a phase two implementation of some of the initiatives.”
Sky Sports own exclusive rights to broadcast cinch Premiership fixtures in the United Kingdom, but Cormack says there is scope to improve how the game is shown domestically. Sky can televise up to 48 games per season as part of the £125 million deal which finishes at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Advertisement
“We think that there is an opportunity, broadcasting-wise, domestically to potentially put another package together of other games,” Cormack said. “Some of the analysis against other leagues has shown that we don’t give very many games.
“That’s one aspect domestically. I think there’s a strong feeling from this that we could be doing better internationally with selling the Scottish game as an authentic game. That would be the core of this maybe 20 to 30 per cent potential in the next two to three years.
“I don’t have the specific data. But what I can tell you is that it’s our understanding that the viewing of Scottish football with Sky has gone up by at least 30 per cent. When you compare, for example, some of the [English] Championship games that are live compared to even an Aberdeen v Hearts, Dundee United, it’s quite encouraging that there is the opportunity to lift the outcome.”
During a straightforward agm, Aberdeen announced that young full back Jack MacKenzie had signed a new contract until the summer of 2025. A main talking point was a potential new stadium near the club’s spiritual home of Pittodrie, which would be built in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council.
It was revealed that it would be built, at the earliest, by the beginning of the 2025-26 season and would have a capacity of between 16,000 and 17,000. Cormack also suggested it could be the world’s first net zero emissions stadium.
Advertisement
“We’re working with some experts on the field, who have done a lot of research on stadiums,” Cormack said. “It’s probably going to be about a 16-17,000-seater stadium. If we take a look at the crowds, the costs of building a stadium that size versus a 20,000-seat stadium could be £10-15 million more [for a larger stadium].”
