Rooney sale puts Everton top of the financial pile

Everton made the most profit of any club in the Premiership last season - thanks to the sale of Wayne Rooney.

Chelsea were one of only four clubs to be in the red – and Roman Abramovich’s losses were a staggering £140m in 2004-05 according to a Financial Times survey.

Everton outstripped Manchester United, Arsenal and neighbours Liverpool with profits of £23.5m but the encouraging news for the Premier League is that, excluding Chelsea, the other 17 clubs who have published figures made a combined £75m profit compared to a £27m loss in 2003-04.

The figures signal most clubs have been trying to take a more sensible attitude to matching wages to income – indeed Everton’s wage bill dropped from three-quarters to half of the club’s turnover.

Everton chief executive Keith Wyness said however, the sale of Rooney to Manchester United in the summer of 2004 for £30m was the key.

He said: “We would have to sell a Wayne Rooney every year for five years to consistently beat the big clubs in a table such as this.

“I do sense there has been a much more professional attitude to handling the financial housekeeping in the Premiership.”

Norwich City’s one season in the Premiership adventure saw the Canaries bring in pre-tax profits of £9.2m.