The English Football League (EFL) Championship is the wealthiest non-top-flight football division in the world, yet it operates with structural insolvency, extreme financial volatility, and continuous reliance on external liquidity. As the […]
Paul Quinn
Talking the Blues podcast – In the words of Everton’s media team “Cottage Pied”
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with George and Andy Costigan. We look back on a fabulous result at Craven Cottage, plus much more besides. Big hello and thank you […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – Brighton (a) and much else
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with George and Andy Costigan. We look back at the away game at Brighton, look at Moyes’s passion, modern refereeing and finish with why […]
Talking the Blues Podcast, Leeds United (h) – a tale of two halves, long term v short term thinking?
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with George and Andy Costigan. We look back at the frustrating draw versus Leeds United, and reflect on where we are as a club, […]
We’re forever Everton
These pages are usually reserved for my hobby (some might say obsession) on football finances. But I’m also a football fan too, just as passionate about what goes on on the pitch […]
BDO’s 20th Annual Survey of Football Finance Directors (January 2026)
This article provides a synopsis and analysis of BDO’s 20th Annual Survey of Football Finance Directors (January 2026), which examines the financial realities of professional football across the English Premier League (EPL), […]
Independent Football Regulator seeks public consultation on its “State of the Game Report”
On the 20th January 2026, the Independent Football Regulator (IFR) set out the proposed scope of its first in-depth analysis of men’s professional football in England. The State of the Game report […]
Talking the Blues Podcast, Aston Villa (a), stunning away form continues…..
Welcome to this episode of Talking the Blues with Andy and George Costigan when we look back on the Villa game at the weekend. Everton and Villa is the most played fixture […]
The events of the last 5 years are a useful context in which to place Everton’s current position
With disappointing recent performances on the pitch, a lack of communication from our current owners, and the recognition that there’s much to do rebuilding the squad and sorting operational issues at the […]
The Analysis Series:Post Diarra (part II), further analysis of the football transfer system (Jan 2025 – present day)
Post-Diarra: A legal, economic, and governance analysis of the football transfer system (January 2025 – January 2026) The governance of global football has historically operated under a unified, vertical command structure centered […]
The Analysis Series – Diarra Judgment Case C-650/22 (Part I)
On October 4, 2024, the Grand Chamber of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) delivered its judgment in FIFA v. Lassana Diarra (Case C-650/22), a ruling that has essentially […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – Sunderland (h) FA Cup 3rd Round – the thrill has gone!
Welcome to the post Sunderland, third round FA Cup edition of Talking the Blues Podcast with George and Andy Costigan. We go through the terribly disappointing events of the day and do […]
Talking the Blues Podcast, Wolves (h)…. absurdity & carelessness reaches new levels
Welcome to the post Wolves (h) Talking the Blues podcast with Andy & George Costigan. We talk about the match but focus also on all the stuff around the game at present […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – Brentford (h), we explore the inconsistencies of this current Everton
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues. After another terrible result (and performance) we get together to try and make some sense of the inconsistencies befalling Everton at present. With Andy and […]
The Analysis Series: The Independent Football Regulator’s Owners, Directors & Senior Executives regime (ODSE)
The Independent Football Regulator has published its response to the their consultation on the new Owners, Directors and Senior Executives regime (ODSE). The regime sets clear standards for those who own and […]
Talking the (Jolly) Blues Podcast – Nottingham Forest (a), what a way to finish the year!
Welcome to the post Nottingham Forest (a) Talking the Blues podcast with George and Andy Costigan. Simply, unbridled joy, and now expectation! Thanks to everyone for listening through 2025 – wishing everyone […]
The Analysis Series: Analysis of dividend regulation in English professional football, rule 34, and capital distributions
Financial regulation in English professional football has evolved from a Victorian-era ethos of community custodianship to a system defined by global capital markets, private equity, and institutional shareholder supremacy. At the beginning […]
The Analysis Series: Analysis of financial regulation in European professional football
The financial regulation of European professional football has evolved from a nascent, disparate collection of national bookkeeping rules into a more sophisticated, multi-layered architecture of economic control. This transformation has been […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – Burnley (a), fixture list compilation, its impact, the Friedkins and the role of money
Welcome to the post Christmas, post Burnley (a) Talking the Blues Podcast with George and Andy Costigan. We skate over the Burnley match as quickly as possible for linking VAR, the fixture […]
Questions to be asked of Roundhouse Capital and the Friedkins
In the past when flagging concerns about Everton’s ownership and governance, going back to Kenwright, then Moshiri, then his choice of potential new owners, I have often been accused of drawing unnecessarily […]