Kieran Maguire: Group ‘loathed’ by fans can help Everton close ‘£100m’ gap on the elite
The “prawn sandwich brigade” may be “loathed” by fans but they will be vital if Everton are to close the gap on football’s financial elite.
So says finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the importance of the hospitality income to the Toffees.
Per the Daily Mail last Monday (11 April), Everton lack the space to provide hospitality tickets to friends and families of match officials, as is customary.
Everton are set to move to their new home at Bramley Moore Dock in time for the 2024-25 season, where extra emphasis will be placed on hospitality.
Posh seats will be crucial if the Merseysiders are to close the “£100million” matchday income gap on some of their top-flight rivals, insists Maguire.
“Loathe them or loathe them, the prawn sandwich brigade is essential if you want to boost matchday revenue,” he told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“They are making around £15m per year in matchday income. Man United are on £110m, Spurs are going to be on £120m.
“It’s effectively like starting a race a lap behind everyone else because they have a £100m advantage.
“Hospitality seats aren’t important in terms of noise and they may not be held in high regard by fans, but they are important in terms of the bottom line.”
Everton have posted cumulative losses of £373m in the last three years, leaving them in dire straits under financial fair play regulations.
They have reportedly agreed a real-time monitoring agreement with the Premier League to avoid any sanctions.
In other news, pundit suggests Everton handed relegation boost after “absolutely outrageous” development.