Morfuni wants eight-figure sum to sell Swindon, says football finance expert
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire said that he had been told Clem Morfuni was demanding £12 million in order to sell Swindon Town.
Having taken over in 2021, Swindon have had three consecutive seasons in which they have finished in a lower league position than the previous under Morfuni.
This has been compounded by off-field issues, which included receiving two charges by the EFL last season and consistent late payments to emergency services.
Many fans have become fed up with this pattern, with the average attendance across this season being 6,933 compared with 9,449 in 2021/22 and a fan action group, The Spirit of '69, launching to request that Morfuni publicly lists the club for sale.
Co-founder of The Spirit of '69, Dan Hunt, was a guest on Maguire's 'Price of Football' podcast this week and the University of Liverpool lecturer discussed whether a sale was possible.
He said: 'Yes they are a viable club [to be bought] because I think that a new owner would spark a greater interest. There has been a lack of professionalism at the club.
'In terms of the price, I have had conversations with people who have asked me close questions about Swindon Town and the constant thing that comes through is that Clem Morfuni has lost money as owner of the club and he wants to recoup that and he is going to try and recoup that with the price that he is asking for.
'I have heard that that price is £12 million.
'On the basis of the numbers that I am seeing, the club is not worth that and trying to get him to see sense might be tough.
'It could be that he has funded his investment in the club externally and so he has external debt which he has to deal with himself, we don't know the intricacies of that.
'Therefore he is caught between two issues here, A) Does he want to get rid of the club? Yes. B) Can he afford to get rid of the club at an appropriate price? I think he has got to take a hit. There is a cause for concern.'
Morfuni has said on numerous occasions that he is willing to sell the club for the right price.
Most recently telling The Adver in November: 'If the opportunity is there and I believe that they will do a better job of running this club then I will sit down with them and talk to them.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Teenage marksman claims gold in shooting competition
A teenage marksman has claimed gold in a shooting competition. Finley, a 13-year-old pupil from Lawn Manor Academy in Swindon, took first place in the Hampshire Open Shooting competition, earning a gold medal and setting a new personal best of 540 points. Advertisement He trains weekly at the Brown Jack Air Rifle Club, based at Swindon Supermarine Rugby Club. Russell Langdown, head of school at Lawn Manor Academy, said: "Finley's dedication to his sport and how he has really excelled in a relatively short space of time is something he should be very proud of. Read more: Jeremy Clarkson's new venture after Clarkson's Farm series four "At Lawn Manor Academy, we believe that physical education and sport play a crucial role in building confidence, focus, and resilience; all of which Finley has clearly demonstrated through his achievements." Advertisement The school has invested in a state-of-the-art gym and offers pupils exposure to a wide range of sports, including introductory golf lessons. Mr Langdown said: "We're also committed to supporting grassroots opportunities too and helping our pupils explore these when even the basics, such as football boots and footballs, might be out of reach for some of our families." Lawn Manor Academy is part of the Ascend Learning Trust.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Ex-England youth international among group returning for Swindon Women
Swindon Town Women have looked to ensure their defensive stability for next season after bringing back multiple defenders to the squad. Richard Wood has continued to build his squad for next season as Swindon Women look to push for promotion from the FA Women's National League Division One South West. Advertisement Swindon have looked to keep much of the group from last season around after they performed well in finishing third and winning the Wiltshire County Cup. The barrage of contract announcements has persisted with the reveal of five defensive players sticking around. Read more: Swindon Town Women complete raft of contract extensions Swindon Women manager signs new contract for next season Key player pens new contract with Swindon Women Goalkeeper Hannah Cox, who made 17 appearances last season, will remain on between the sticks, having established herself after previous spells with Oxford United, Wycombe Wanderers, and Abingdon United. Advertisement Sahara Osborne-Ricketts, who was part of an England under-17 training camp as a young player, will continue to marshal the defence as she agreed to a new contract, having been a key figure in the side last season. Fellow centre-back Isi Meade has also signed on for next season. The defender established herself in the side last season, making 19 appearances, after arriving from Actonians Ladies last summer. Katie Sherwood is a third defender to commit for next season, another with ties to Oxford, but joined towards the end of the 2023/24 season and was a regular fixture in Wood's side in 2024/25. Taylor MacDonald will also remain an option in the middle of the park, where she has shown herself capable of playing in a more traditional role as well as a holder. Advertisement MacDonald has been a big feature of the last two seasons under Wood, making 50 appearances and netting nine times. As well as these retentions, there was also the announcement of a first contract for 17-year-old attacker Elise Clayton after she had a strong year with Chiarna Deller's development side and made eight appearances last season for the first team, netting once. The youngster who has been with Swindon in the academy since 2012 will be given the chance to show she deserves a permanent role in Wood's first team. Wood said of Clayton: "Elise Clayton is an exceptionally talented young player who demonstrated at the end of last season that she is ready to begin training and earning opportunities with the first team. "In training, she has proven capable of competing for a place at this level. To help her thrive, we must support her, ensure she faces no undue pressure, and allow her to continue enjoying her football.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Highly rated fish and chip shop still on the market
A fish and chips takeaway in Swindon is still up for sale over a year after it first went on the market. Swindon Fish Bar in Cheney Manor was listed for sale on April 15, 2024, for £95,000, which includes the opportunity to own the well-established and popular business along with the flat above the shop. The takeaway has been marketed by Commercial Property Warehouse as a 'great opportunity' for those looking to take over a business, and viewings are available to book through the estate agents, with information about business turnover provided on the day. (Image: Zoopla) The listing states: "Located on a busy main road this takeaway has been established for many years and caters for all wide variety of fast food, from fish & chips to burgers to a sneaky kebab. Recommended reading Neighbour's frustration at 'eyesore' house used as drug den Boy, 13, hit by car as driver flees the scene New business to start up in town centre "The shop is fitted with fryers, cookers, potato cutting machines and lots more. Currently they advertise on all portals, including Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats and on its own unique website. "The business has a great clientele and has repeat business from loyal customers throughout Swindon and Wiltshire." The eatery has a 4.5 out of five rating on Google Reviews, ranking within the top ten fish and chip takeaways in Swindon.
