Short-changed?

  • by Staff Writer
  • Friday, 29th August 2008

West Ham United's Icelandic owners have spent approximately £10million less on transfer fees since taking over the club than previous Chairman Terry Brown did in his final two years.

Brown, who was often criticised by supporters during his tenure for failing to invest sufficiently in the squad spent a total of £24.15million net on players in the last four transfer windows his regime oversaw - an average of £6.04million per window.

That total net figure is almost £10million higher than that which the current Board - led by banker Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson - have committed since purchasing the club almost two years ago. As we revealed earlier this week, just £14.8million net has been spent by the Icelandic board on transfer fees in the four transfer windows since they gained control of West Ham United.

In contrast to Brown's average window outlay of £6.04million, the current administration have spent an average of just £3.7million per transfer window.

Brown's highest transfer fee paid was the £7million Norwich received in exchange for Dean Ashton. Gudmundsson's is higher, though not by much - Craig Bellamy being the club's record signing from Liverpool at £7.5million.

Although the current transfer window remains open for another three days, the club are not thought to be planning any further major outlays.

Brown's Transfers - Ins

August 2006: Carlos Tevez/Javier Mascherano - £5m* (Corinthians, fees paid to agent); Robert Green - £1.5m (Norwich); George McCartney - £600,000 (Sunderland)

July 2006: John Paintsil - £1m (Hapoel Tel Aviv); Carlton Cole - £2m (Chelsea); Tyrone Mears - £1.9m (Preston)

June 2006: Jon Spector - £500,000 (Man Utd)

January 2006: Dean Ashton - £7m (Norwich); Yaniv Katan - £100,000 (Maccabi)

July 2005: Clive Clarke - £275,000 (Stoke); Yossi Benayoun - £2.5m (Racing Santander); Danny Gabbidon - £2m (Cardiff); James Collins - £1m (Cardiff); Paul Konchesky - £2m (Charlton)

Brown's Transfers - Outs

July 2006: Carl Fletcher - £400,000 (Crystal Palace); Clive Clarke - £400,000 (Sunderland)

June 2006: Elliott Ward - £1m (Coventry); Chris Cohen - £250,000 (Yeovil)

January 2006: Luke Chadwick - £100,000 (Stoke); Gavin Williams - £300,000 (Ipswich); Tomas Repka - £750,000 (Sparta Prague)

Totals

Expenditure 2006: £19.6m
Expenditure 2005: £7.75m
Total Expenditure: £27.35m

Receipts 2006: £3.2m
Receipts 2005: £0m
Total Receipts: £3.2m

Transfer Expenditure 2006: £16.4m
Transfer Expenditure 2005: £7.75m
Total Transfer Expenditure: £24.15m

* Best estimates of undisclosed fees.

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