Following their Premier League-record earnings for the 2022–2023 season, Brighton should “throw a party” for Chelsea chief Todd Boehly, according to Everton’s former executive chairman Keith Wyness.
The 66-year-old, who ran a football consultancy advising elite clubs after serving as CEO at Goodison Park from 2004 to 2009, said the Seagulls had Boehly “with his pants down” after he became Blues chairman. He made this claim while speaking on the most recent episode of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast.
Last Friday (2 April), Brighton released their 2022–23 financial statements, which showed a Premier League record profit of £122.8 million and a club record turnover of £204.5 million.
The record transfer fee of £115 million that Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo is not included in those numbers; the transaction is scheduled to be included in their 23–24 accounts.
The Blues’ acquisitions of Marc Cucurella and former manager Graham Potter had a significant role in Brighton’s profit of record breaking.
The south coast team qualified for the Europa League last season despite a string of player and management departures, and they are expected to finish in the top half again this year.
According to Wyness, Brighton “have been living off the Chelsea pension fund.”
Wyness lauded Paul Barber, the club’s CEO, as a “very good operator” and described Brighton as a “well-run” team.
He stated on the Insider Track podcast of Football Insider: “I believe Todd Boehly deserves a party.”
“This record number is the result of the money he has been investing in Brighton.”
Paul Barber is an excellent operator, and I know him well. However, I doubt that even he will argue that they deserve all the credit, given that Graham Potter’s remuneration and the significant player sales have contributed to this.
They had been enjoying a wonderful life on the Chelsea pension fund.
“I wish I could claim it was just good judgment and expertise. They are undoubtedly well-run, and they’ve done a great job at substituting managers and players.
“But the prices they were able to get for those players and the way they handled the transfer dealings, God bless them.
“They’ve broken transfer records in the Premier League – and they’ve caught someone new to the game and had their pants down.”
In other news, Brighton on track for £20million transfer windfall, says expert.
