Cash boost for Black Cats

03 June 2009 12:03
Sunderland's return to the Barclays Premier League helped to more than double the club's income. The latest published figures show they club's turnover for the year ended July 31 2008 rose to £63.5million as opposed to £26.2million during their last season in the Coca-Cola Championship. That helped them to reduce a loss of £13.66million in 2007 to £2.3million for the year. Sunderland's turnover was boosted massively by its income from television and other media, which amounted to £35.63million, up from just under £8million during the previous campaign. Increased gate receipts brought in a further £13.64million, a significant rise on the previous season's figure of just over £9million. The club's wage bill increased markedly from £21million to £32.8million, but amounted to around the recommended level of 50 per cent of turnover. Since the figures were filed, the club has sold Dickson Etuhu and Danny Higginbotham to Fulham and Stoke respectively, and signed Anton Ferdinand, David Healy and George McCartney. The document which accompanies them also acknowledges Ellis Short's arrival at the Stadium of Light to take a controlling interest in the club.

Source: Eurosport