Revealed: Sunderland AFC miss out on staggering seven-figure sum after League One is cancelled

Sunderland have potentially missed out on an additional £8.4million worth of funding after the League One season was cancelled.
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Figures, calculated by the Echo, show the staggering sum of money that the Black Cats could have achieved if the third tier campaign had continued - and they had gone on to win promotion.

Here’s the key departments where the club have lost funding, and the figures that could have been heading to the Stadium of Light coffers:

UNFULFILLED FIXTURES

Sunderland AFC stand to miss out on over £8million if the League One season is cancelledSunderland AFC stand to miss out on over £8million if the League One season is cancelled
Sunderland AFC stand to miss out on over £8million if the League One season is cancelled
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This lost income would have been the same had the season continued, given that games were set to be played behind closed doors.

Most League One clubs rely heavily upon gate receipts and, while Sunderland are arguably less dependent on this source of income, this still represents a significant gap in the balance sheet.

Based on the club’s 2017/18 accounts, Sunderland earned an average of £285,000 per match day. Given the club had three home fixtures as a minimum remaining in the season, the season conclusion looks to have deprived them of a substantial six-figure sum.

There is also the question of whether the Black Cats and other League One clubs will be the subject of rebates relating to the broadcast income from Sky Sports that had already been distributed.

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Shrewsbury Town CEO Brian Caldwell suggested last week that it would be likely clubs would be asked to repay a percentage of their broadcast income, but indicated that such sums could be paid via small instalments over a number of years in order to ensure they are manageable.

That could also represent lost income, while it remains unclear how much the club will stand to lose from season ticket income - both through posible refunds for unfulfilled fixtures and through fans reluctant to commit to purchasing for the 2020/21 campaign while the uncertainty continues.

Estimated amount lost: £850,000

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BASIC AWARD PAYMENTS

This is where Sunderland could stand to lose the most.

The sporting merit solution used to decide the League One campaign rules the Black Cats out of promotion contention, but the reality is - had the season continued - then they would have been in with a chance of a return to the Championship.

With that would have come substantial financial benefits.

While League One clubs earn a combination of £1.4million in basic award fees from the EFL, and solidarity payments from the Premier League, that figure is inflated to a total of £6.8million

Estimated amount lost: £5.4million

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TELEVISED FIXTURES

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This amount is harder to quantify, given it’s impossible to predict how many televised fixtures Sunderland would have received if promoted.

But given Championship clubs can earn quadruple what their League One counterparts do for a televised game, we can make some predictions.

Sunderland have pocketed £70,000 having been picked to be shown on Sky Sports this term, but that figure could have been significantly higher if the same games were shown as Championship fixtures.

While League One clubs earn £30,000 for hosting a televised game, that figure can rise to as much as £140,000 - depending on the day of the fixture - in the second tier.

There are considerable gains to be made in this area.

Estimated amount lost: £210,000

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TICKETING, RETAIL AND COMMERCIAL DEALS

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This is another area where it’s difficult to estimate just how much Sunderland would have lost - particularly given the club are yet to publish the accounts for their first season in League One, meaning we cannot see how much ticketing, commercial and retail revenue fell following relegation.

But we can safely assume that Sunderland would increase all these areas were they a Championship clubs.

Indeed, a look at Blackburn Rovers’ accounts for the 2017/18 season - when they were in League One - and the following campaign in which they returned to the Championship shows just how much Sunderland could pocket.

Blackburn’s match day and commercial income increased by £2.17million following their rise from League One to the second tier.

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Sunderland would hope for similar financial gains if they were to be promoted.

Estimated amount lost: £2million

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TOTALS

This is arguably a conservative guess, given Sunderland’s worth in the Championship compared to League One.

And while this amount may not be heading to the Stadium of Light this term, it only serves to emphasise how crucial a timely return to the Championship could be.

ESTIMATED TOTAL AMOUNT LOST: £8.39million