City odds-on but Hornets still look to cash in
ON Saturday, Watford face the unenviable task of trying to halt what appears to be an already well-oiled football machine known as Manchester City when the pair meet at the Etihad Stadium.
Yet to concede a goal and boasting a 100 per cent winning start to their 2015-16 campaign, City are bestpriced at 2/9 to register another three points; the Hornets are offered at 16/1 to cause a major upset and win.
While this one-sided contest will almost certainly result in City’s title odds being cut even further from the currently unbackable 5/6, the financial rewards for Watford of retaining their top-flight status could match those enjoyed by their expensivelyassembled opponents.
According to accountants Deloitte, Watford are guaranteed a revenue uplift of at least £130million simply for making it into the Premier League’s promised land. This is a combination of the extra minimum income they will earn from playing in the Premier League this season plus parachute payments should they be relegated in May.
This figure would rise to around £230million should Quique Flores’ Hornets maintain their Premier League status this term as it would allow them to benefit from the new broadcast deals which commence in 2016/17.
Adam Bull, senior consultant in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said: “The continued increase in the value of promotion to
Qthe Premier League provides newlypromoted clubs the opportunity to make strategic investment on and off the pitch. Inevitably, the short-term priority is usually investment in the playing side of the business, but clubs should also look to make improvements for the medium and long term.”
Given what’s at stake, some readers may feel that taking on the 13/2 odds posted against Watford securing a draw warrants a couple of shillings on the side. THE news that Paddy Power and Betfair have agreed in principle to a possible merger that would create one of the world’s largest online sports betting companies offered a rare and welcome opportunity for equity investors to catch a glimpse of some green numbers on their screens after a fortnight during which a sea of red has been the norm. Immediately following the announcement, Betfair’s shares rose 18.7 per cent, while Paddy Power was up 16.7 per cent.
Paddy Power will become the senior partner in the merger, its shareholders owning 52 per cent of the combined group. Prior to completion, the Irish company’s shareholders would also receive a special dividend of €80million.
Hopefully, any merger would also see the demise of at least one series of particularly annoying TV commercials in which both companies seem to specialise.