Everton made a record profit of £28.2m and reduced their debt by more than £17m to £28.1m, according to the club’s annual report for 2013-14.
Roberto Martínez’s first season as manager brought a record points total for the club in the Premier League era, a fifth-placed finish and featured more games live on television, enabling Everton to increase gate receipts by £1.9m on 2012-13’s figures to £19.3m. Sponsorship, advertising and merchandising revenue also rose from £7.6m to £8.4m.
But it was the first year of the record-breaking broadcasting deal that had the greatest impact on finances at Goodison Park.
The club enjoyed a 39% increase in turnover thanks mainly to the new TV deal, from £86.4m in 2012-13 to an Everton record of £120.5m in 2013-14, while its operating profit before player trading increased from 0.7m to £23m.
A profit on player sales during Martinez’s first summer as manager, such as the £27.5m transfer of Marouane Fellaini to Manchester United, helped support this summer’s investment in the likes of the £28m Romelu Lukaku and though Everton’s wage bill rose by 10% to £69.3m, the sum represented a fall from 73% to 58% of the record turnover. The club also used the new broadcasting revenue to reduce its net debt from £45.3m in 2012-13 to £28.1m.
The chief executive Robert Elstone said: “Our financial results highlight growing revenues, costs remaining under control and debt reducing, and when we combine that solid financial base with a playing squad that continues to improve and increase in value, we have every right to be confident and positive on future prospects.”
