Keith Wyness: Tony Bloom to ‘get his debt cleared’ when Brighton sale completed
Tony Bloom’s debt at Brighton will not be cleared in the near future after the club revealed their financial accounts.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who states there has also been a “change” in Brighton‘s player model.
Brighton’s 2024-25 financial accounts showed the club’s gross financial debt to their owner increased from £300million to £407m.
The accounts also showed Brighton spent over £200m on player trading, and revenue fell at the club.
Brighton debt ‘will be cleared’
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 – believes that Bloom’s debt will not affect Brighton going forward.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness states that the club has been investing money to create greater revenue.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “In terms of Tony Bloom’s debt, look, I think Tony Bloom’s accepted the fact that he’s going to get his debt cleared when he sells Brighton, which I don’t think is any time near in the future.
“So that debt doesn’t really mean much to the club, he doesn’t charge them interest, so it’s just sitting there on the books. So it’s not really of any danger to Brighton at all. And as I say, should he decide to sell Brighton at some stage in the future, then that debt would probably be cleared, and it won’t really affect the club.
“So what we’re seeing is certainly investment in facilities to get more revenue. I accept that, which is good and that’s what you should be investing money in is something to create more revenue, but a slight step change in the player model, and we have to see how that works out, but listen given the track record you wouldn’t want to bet against Tony Bloom, Joe Stan Analytics and Paul Barber.
“They’ve proven that they can do it quite well, but it’s certainly a change to be noticed and a bigger investment than they’ve made before, so that’s what I’m concluding from looking at the books.”
Brighton could face major loss
Brighton’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth could prove to be one of the final games in charge of the club for manager Fabian Hurzeler.
Tottenham could make a move for Hurzeler to become their next manager, with Thomas Frank facing the sack in north London.
Hurzeler joined Brighton from St Pauli in 2024, and led the club to an eighth-placed Premier League finish last season.