Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre expects more investment
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool's managing director Ian Ayre is looking forward to more money being invested in players instead of paying off debt now the club's finances are on a more even keel.
The Reds' accounts, published later today, show they made a £20million loss for the 12 months ending July 2010 - the last full year of the reign of former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
However, since then there have been huge developments with Fenway Sports Group buying Liverpool in October, paying off £200million of debt.
And the accounts also do not include income from the record £80million, four-year shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered agreed last summer.
The figures reveal revenues rose to £184million in the last financial year, but net debt increased to £123million, incurring interest payments in excess of £17million.
But Ayre said the arrival of FSG meant everyone was now optimistic about the health of the club both on and off the field.
"As much as we are all aware of the difficult circumstances surrounding these accounts and that period in the club's history, everyone in the world can now see just how much has since been achieved," he said.
"Since the end of the last financial year, FSG has paid off £200million of acquisition debt from the previous owners, dramatically reducing interest payments as a result and meaning we are able to invest more revenue in the team rather than servicing debt.
"We have also enjoyed significant commercial growth since these accounts were finalised, including our shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered, which was the largest partnership contract in the club's history.
"On and off the pitch since the end of the last financial year, the picture is an improving one as we focus on growing profitability and strengthening the first, reserve and academy operations.
"We had an extremely successful January transfer window which saw the ownership and management teams working closely to bring in some high quality players.
"The club is now in an excellent position to move forward and all of us can approach the future with optimism."
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