Source: Daily_Mail
We're struggling to keep up with the big spenders, admits Blackburn chief
Blackburn chairman John Williams admits the club are finding it increasingly difficult to compete financially with their Barclays Premier League rivals. [LNB]The majority of the Blackburn's £6.6m operating profit from 2007-08 was reinvested in wages, but the club are still falling behind in the salary stakes. [LNB] Watching the pennies: New Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce is having to operate under a strict financial policy at Ewood Park.[LNB]Blackburn spend around 80% of their turnover on wages - £39.7million in 2007-08 - to ensure they can attract and keep the best players. But with modest gate receipts and the absence of a wealthy backer to rely on they are gradually being squeezed out by other top-flight clubs. [LNB]'We would prefer it if our wages were a lower percentage of our turnover,' said Williams. 'It is our lot in life to try to be as competitive as we can and it means we have to control non-football expenditure very tightly and we do. [LNB] Add it all up and who is the most complete Premier League boss? Sportsmail can reveal all...[LNB]Blackburn set to send scouts to check out Egypt midfielder Rabo[LNB]Spurs, Man City and Rovers on alert as Austria star aims for Premier League[LNB]BLACKBURN ROVERS FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] 'That enables us to pay a bit more in wages. We don't play other people's turnover, we play their wage bills. [LNB] 'The most worrying thing is that as our percentage remains stubbornly high, we are falling down the absolute wages chart.'[LNB]Tight ship: Rovers chairman John Williams admits the club can't afford a big mistake in the transfer market.[LNB] Williams conceded Blackburn have to be particularly careful in the transfer market, but insisted they would resist further offers for prize asset Roque Santa Cruz. [LNB]'There is a huge difference between clubs who can't afford to buy but don't need to sell and those who have to sell,' Williams told the Lancashire Telegraph. [LNB] 'It would be very comforting from a balance sheet point of view but we don't actually need the £20million for Roque. The problem is it invariably gets harder and harder to replace on a like-for-like basis. [LNB]'It's all about good scouting, selling high and buying low. Can we keep repeating that trick? I think we can but what we can't do is make a big mistake.'[LNB]And Williams admitted a transfer flop would 'kill' the club. 'You can make a small mistake, everyone does, but we can't go out and spend £5million on a player who is not good enough. That would kill us because our finances are so finely balanced. [LNB] 'If we can keep the profit and finance charge costs in line by finishing mid-table, our model suggests we can still be a trading club because there is no need to sell.[LNB] 'The pressure comes on us if our model starts to come under threat [by] falling down or out of the league or if wage inflation in the league outstrips income growth,' he added.[LNB] Add it all up and who is the most complete Premier League boss? Sportsmail can reveal all...[LNB]Blackburn set to send scouts to check out Egypt midfielder Rabo[LNB]Spurs, Man City and Rovers on alert as Austria star aims for Premier League[LNB]BLACKBURN ROVERS FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB] [LNB]
