It's a funny old game. A report out this week said England's 92 professional soccer clubs would earn more than £1 billion sterling (€1.5 billion) for the first time this season. But, certainly in this instance a rising tide does not lift all boats. Most clubs remain in the red as those outside the 20-team Premier League spend heavily to try to buy their way into the elite.
Total pre-tax losses for all 92 clubs in the 1997/98 season came to almost £33 million sterling despite the fact that the Premier League clubs posted a profit of more than £20 million - their first since 1994/95.
Manchester United, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal - the five biggest Premier clubs - had a greater combined income than the 72 Football League clubs put together.
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