The publication of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Operation Resolve report in December 2025 represents a watershed moment in the modern history of British policing and state accountability. Concluding […]
Manchester United (a) version II – the football regulator and City of Liverpool infrastructure
Welcome to a re-recorded edition of Talking the Blues, with Andy and George Costigan in fine and joyous form following our victory earlier this week at Old Trafford. We look at the […]
Talking the Blues – Victory at Old Trafford – after all these years I only needed to get one thing right!
Welcome to this week’s momentous Talking the Blues’ Podcast. After all these years Andy and George get to celebrate an Everton victory under Moyes at Old Trafford. I only needed to do […]
Systemic Risk Assessment: The English Premier League in the 2025–2029 Cycle
The fragility of dominance The English Premier League (EPL) enters the 2025–2029 cycle as the undisputed commercial hegemon of global association football. With aggregate revenues that eclipse its European rivals and a […]
The Analysis Series: Analysis of the Premier League’s New Financial Regulations: Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) and Sustainability and Systemic Resilience (SSR) Rules
The Premier League clubs have voted to implement the new Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) and Sustainability and Systemic Resilience (SSR) rules from the start of the 2026/27 season. This overhaul is […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – another international break, Pickford, bad pitches from the past
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with George and Andy Costigan. It’s another international break so after a little bit of chat regarding Everton we turn to a variety of […]
Talking the Blues Podcast – Fulham (h) & what is happening with transport infrastructure?
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with George and Andy Costigan. We look back on our 2-0 home win against Fulham – a result which lowered the blood pressure in […]
Analysis Series: Governance Structure of Association Football: Integrity, Financial Regulation, and Strategic Failure
I have written for many years about the relationship between governance and the fundamental wellbeing of an industry and its key participants, customers, owners, operators (companies) and suppliers. By almost any metric […]
Talking the Blues Podcast Sunderland (a) at the stadium of sweetness and light?
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues podcast with George and Andy Costigan. We look back at the Sunderland game, and ask was it all sweetness and light? Legendary stuff as usual […]
The Analysis Series: An Analysis of Rights and Media Funding Limited (R&MF)
The Opaque Architecture of Football Finance: Rights and Media Funding Limited (R&MF) has established itself as one of the most significant, yet least transparent, financial institutions operating within European football, specialising in […]
Talking the Blues Podcast, Spurs at home, and is it time we heard more from the owners about their plans?
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with Andy and George Costigan. In a far wider ranging conversation we discuss the game but also the whole squad and what are we […]
The Analysis Series: The role of US banks in financing Premier League clubs
JPMorgan JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) occupies a highly influential position within the financial architecture of the English Premier League (PL). The bank’s involvement extends beyond traditional corporate lending, including M&A advisory, […]
The Analysis Series: Analysis of BDT & MSD Partners: Corporate Restructuring, Global Credit Platform, and Football Financing
The Michael Dell investment complex The entity formerly known as MSD Capital has undergone a decisive transformation from a proprietary single-family office (SFO) into a globally significant, institutionalised merchant bank, BDT […]
The Analysis Series: Ares Management Corporation: Credit, Capital Structure, and the Football Investment
ARES and football investment Ares Management Corporation (ARES) is an established, leading global alternative investment manager, distinguished by its asset-light, fee-centric business model. The firm’s strategy encompasses complementary primary and secondary investment […]
The Analysis Series: Financial and operational risk analysis of Eagle Football Holdings Limited
With media reports of a potential interest in acquiring Wolverhampton Wanderers for a suggested price of £400 million, it is worth considering the current state of John Textor’s primary multi-club investment vehicle, […]
A poetic review of Everton’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur (October 26, 2025)
A Sunday dusk, October’s chilling breath, Where Hill Dickinson dreamt of victory’s wreath. The twenty-sixth, the calendar did mourn, A Premier League encounter, darkly born. The white of Spurs arrived, […]
The Analysis Series: A Comparative Analysis of Financial and Governance Regulation Across Major European Football Leagues
Models of Control and Regulatory Divergence This article details the operational mechanics and statutory bases of financial governance across six major European football leagues, including the Dutch Eredivisie. The analysis reveals two […]
Talking the Blues Podcast, Manchester City (a), Moyes induced groundhog day, or evidence of better times ahead?
Welcome to this week’s Talking the Blues Podcast with George & Andy Costigan. We look back on yesterday’s 2-0 defeat, each with differing opinions as to what we wanted to see, what […]
The Analysis Series: The Penetration of US Private Credit in English Premier League Financing: Exposure, Structure, and Systemic Risk
Author: Paul Quinn The Premier League and US Private Credit Influence The financing landscape of the English Premier League (EPL) has undergone a profound transformation, moving rapidly from traditional banking relationships and […]
The Analysis Series: The Looming Difficulties in US Private Credit
Author: Paul Quinn 19th October 2025 Private Credit at a systemic inflection point The US private credit (PC) market is currently undergoing its first comprehensive stress test since its dramatic expansion following […]