Premier gives warning to shareholders

Premier Management Holdings, the UK-based football agency run by Barry Gold, today warned shareholders it expected to report an operating loss for the full year after a quiet January transfer window dampened the second half.

The company, which represents more than 250 professional footballers, said that it completed five player transfer and loan deals during and since the transfer window.

Its major deals were the transfer of Jamie Clapham from Ipswich Town to Birmingham City and the loan of Moroccan international footballer Adil Ramzi from Dutch team PSV Eindhoven to Cordoba in Spain.

Veteran football agent Mr Gold, who is chairman of the group, said: “Although the first transfer window under the new rules has been very quiet, the company is pleased at its share of the total transactions.”

The loan of Adil Ramzi emerged from Premier’s increased focus on its overseas offices, which it revealed at the time of the previous interim results.

Despite the deals, Premier said: “The operating contribution for the second half-year to April 30 is almost certain to be lower than the first half-year with the likelihood, subject to trading before the Nationwide League transfer deadline in March, of an operating loss for the period and the year.”

A review of operations and strategy undertaken earlier in the financial year has been completed, Premier said, and the company has moved its offices from the City of London to Essex.

“The board believes that the company is now better positioned to operate in today’s much tougher football environment,” the statement said.

Premier said it remained committed to its long-term strategy of identifying, signing and developing younger footballers with talent. Half its 250 players are under 25 years old and a quarter have represented their countries.