Reading FC £90m payday a bigger boost to town, says James Cowper
Reading Football Club’s Championship play-off final against Swansea City on Monday 30 May and hoped promotion to the Premiership could be worth a staggering £90m to the club but much more than that to the town of Reading, says Thames Valley accountants and business advisers James Cowper.
Reading, and the whole of the Thames Valley, will be behind the club when Brian McDermott leads out the Championship-topping side looking for promotion to one of the world’s richest and highest profile football leagues’.
Nick Rogers, a Partner at James Cowper and Reading FC fan said: “Promotion to the Premiership brings enormous financial rewards, and pressures, for a club, with Reading FC estimated to receive some £90m.
“But it is not just the club and its fans that will benefit. A Premier League profile will give Reading national and international exposure and has the potential to increase visitor numbers, attract investors and create job opportunities. It is impossible to put a value on this kind of exposure.”
As Reading FC prepares for its Premiership place, Reading has been named the bookies favourite to become the town promoted to city status as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations next year. The town is expected to submit its bid towards the end of the month.
Nick adds: “To achieve ‘the double’ – promotion to the Premiership and achieving city status – would be an enormous boost to Reading. It would cement its position as one of the UK’s most dynamic places to live and work.
Nick Rogers, partner, James Cowper LLP +44(0)118 9590261 or email nrogers@jamescowper.co.uk
21.05.11