Brighton under scrutiny after new ‘Bank of Chelsea’ claim
Brighton have scored another off-pitch win after revealing their accounts for the 2023-24 campaign – which showed the club banked a £73.3million pre-tax profit.
The Seagulls’ accounts show revenue surged from £204.5million in 2022-23 to a club-record figure of £260.9million.
Commercial revenue at the Amex Stadium improved from £17.9million to £20.9million, while Brighton‘s matchday and broadcast income also increased.
The board at the Amex has undergone a reshuffle over the past year after former Brighton directors Derek Chapman and Marc Sugarman left the club last summer.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has claimed Premier League rivals will be watching the south coast club closely.
Brighton showing ‘no signs of stopping’, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted clubs will be looking to follow Brighton’s principles after their recent success on and off the pitch, which he said has been supplemented by the “Bank of Chelsea” following moves for players like Moises Caicedo and Marc Cucurella.
Fabian Hurzeler replaced Roberto De Zerbi last summer and his side now sit eighth in the Premier League and are challenging for European qualification once again.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | GD |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 27 | 43 | 13 |
| 8 | Brighton | 27 | 43 | 5 |
| 9 | Fulham | 27 | 42 | 4 |
| 10 | Aston Villa | 27 | 42 | -5 |
Wyness praised Brighton for “sticking to their fiscal rules” after chief executive Paul Barber revealed the club are unlikely to break their transfer record again in the coming years.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I know Paul Barber well. Many people have patted him on the back, he’s run the club well with Tony Bloom.
“He said recently that £40million was the highest transfer fee the club have spent, and that figure won’t be breached again.
“I like to hear that, rather than them having a rush of blood to the head.
“They are cash-rich right now but they’re trying to reinvest for the future and trying to stick to their own fiscal rules.
“We often wish governments could stick to that as well as football clubs like Brighton.
“Their strategy is paying dividends and there are many things to learn from Brighton, but every club is unique.
“There’s no point trying to replicate everything they are doing, but there are principles that can be followed.
“I’m sure every club is looking at what has happened and seeing where they can go.
“Certainly, succession planning is the thing that has allowed them to sell players to the Bank of Chelsea and make a lot of money.
“They then have the players to step in and fill the gaps. They’ve got good data and good common sense checks.
“It’s a testament to how well-run they are, and there’s no sign of that stopping, which is the key thing.”
Brighton director gets six-figure pay rise
As revealed in the accounts, Brighton’s highest-paid director has received a six-figure pay rise.
The figures showed the club’s highest-paid director, which is believed to be chief executive Paul Barber, saw his annual salary rise from £2.37million to £3.2million.
Barber has been with the Seagulls since 2012 and has had previous roles with the Football Association and Tottenham.
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