Brighton recorded losses of £53.4 million ($69.8 million, 63.7 million euros) for the 2020/21 season, the Premier League club have announced.
The south coast side played all but three of their competitive home games behind closed doors during the campaign because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nevertheless, the Seagulls’ accounts show a £13.8m reduction in losses from the £67.2m deficit of the previous season.
Turnover rose from £132.9m to £151.6m compared to 2019/20, an increase of 13.4 percent, while the latest figures do not include the transfer of Ben White to top-flight rivals Arsenal, which was worth a reported £50 million but finalised after the concluding date for these accounts.
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber said “roughly half” of the loss could be attributed directly to the global pandemic.
“While we are once again reporting a loss, which is never ideal, we have seen an increase in turnover and reduction in the losses, despite the pandemic impacting the entire season,” he told Brighton’s website as he acknowledged the financial “stability” provided by chairman Tony Bloom.
“Our matchday, commercial and event turnover was all but wiped out for the entire season, and we incurred various additional costs for providing a Covid-secure environment for players, officials, staff and fans.”
Barber added: “Inevitably, these factors combined to have a significant bearing on our results, and roughly half of our total loss can be attributed directly to the coronavirus pandemic.
“Thankfully, we have now emerged from that uncertain period, and we hope we can move forward with more certainty.”
Brighton, promoted in 2017, finished 16th last season, 13 points clear of the relegation zone.
They are currently 13th, 11 points better off than the bottom three.
But Graham Potter’s side are on a run of six straight league defeats heading into their match at home to basement club Norwich on Saturday.
AFP
