Parachute payments in English football: Softening the landing or distorting the balance?

This paper examines the impact of parachute payments in English league football in relation to the competitive balance of the second tier (the Championship). League results and parachute payment fees data were collected for the 11 seasons between 2006/07 and 2016/17. Overall competitive balance was analysed as well as specific aspects of competition that are fundamental to the league - promotion, survival and relegation. Our results show that an increase in the number of clubs with parachute payments and the overall value of these payments coincides with a reduction in competitive balance in the Championship. Furthermore, clubs with parachute payments are twice as likely to be promoted to the English Premier League and considerably less likely to suffer further relegation to the third tier (League 1). The paper therefore proposes either a re-distribution of parachute payments, the abolition of them completely, or a handicap points system to improve competitive balance

Staring into the abyss? The state of UK rugby's Super League

Rugby League's Super League was formed in 1995, due to unprecedented turmoil experienced in rugby league in Australia and a desire to run a season parallel to the Australian game during the British summer. The predicted outcomes of the Super League included greater uncertainty of outcome, increased attendances, and higher revenues for clubs, ultimately leading to the transformation of rugby league from a northern minority sport into a national/international sport. However, twenty years on, it appears that the Super League is running short of the objectives that it set itself. This paper analyses the financial health of Super League clubs alongside trends in attendance and participation. In summary, all three indicators of performance are poor in relation to the objectives set. These factors point to a bleak future for the sport and rugby league needs to produce a sustainable business model to keep both the clubs and the sport alive

Sourcing complexity factors on contractual relationship: Chinese suppliers’ perspective

To reduce cost and gain competitive advantage, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) around the world have continued their aggressive sourcing from China. However, sourcing in China has never been a straightforward process and OEMs face both tangible and intangible sourcing complexities with significant negative impact on both expected positive benefits and their contractual relationships with the Chinese suppliers. We developed sourcing complexity model using comprehensive literature review and multiple case studies in various industries to understand the suppliers’ views on sourcing complexity in China. We employed Analytic hierarchy process technique to prioritise identified complexity factors and to derive managerial insights. Our results indicate that tangible complexity factors highly influence the Chinese suppliers’ contractual relationship with OEM’s. Number of suppliers available to OEM’s to procure a component is identified as a primary dominating tangible factor, while differentiation in technical capabilities and operational practices between OEMs and suppliers represents the second biggest issue for Chinese suppliers in establishing contractual relationship with OEM’s

Actual and ideal roles of school staff to support students with special needs: Current needs and strategies for improvement

To optimise school-based service delivery for students with disabilities, it is important to understand roles and needs of school staff. This study aimed to clarify ideal and actual roles of school staff (teachers, special educators, administrators) working with students with special needs, and to identify potential strategies to support actual roles. Ninety-five school personnel (64% teachers) from 3 different elementary schools and school boards in Quebec completed a 14-question survey. Open-ended responses were coded and analysed thematically. Common actual roles included task adaptation, offering individualized support, being available, and teamwork. Respondents felt roles could improve through in-context professional support, continuing education, teamwork opportunities extending to partnerships with families, and access to resources. Clarifying roles and expectations within a tiered-model to best support students also emerged, emphasizing the importance of sharing responsibilities across all service providers. Findings can guide implementation strategies and processes for providing effective services, enabling inclusion for students

Professional Sports Firm Values: Bringing New Determinants to the Foreground? A Study of European Soccer, 2005-2013

Since 2004, Forbes has proposed a list of the most valuable soccer clubs. One year later, Transfermarkt began to estimate European soccer players’ value. This article estimate the determinants of firm values in European soccer over the period 2005-2013 incorporating player valuations, clubs’ operating income, and new ownership, three variables not included previously. The results of this study demonstrate that these variables are significant factors in club valuations. More generally, club assets including stadium age, club ownership type, supporter numbers and income, and past sports performances all have a significant impact

The geographies of access to enterprise finance: the case of the West Midlands, UK

The geographies of access to enterprise finance: the case of the West Midlands, UK, Regional Studies. Whilst there is a long history of credit rationing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, the financial crisis has seen banks retreat further from lending to viable SMEs due to a reassessment of risk and lack of available capital. In so doing, the credit crunch is thought to be creating new geographies of financial exclusion. This paper explores the financial inclusion of enterprise through community development finance institutions (CDFIs) which provide loan finance to firms at the commercial margins in the West Midlands, UK. The paper concludes that CDFIs could partially address the financial exclusion of enterprise as an additional, alternative source of finance to that of mainstream banks

A methodology for the evaluation of competition policy

The paper develops a methodology for the evaluation of competition policy. Based on the existing literature and experiences with policy evaluations in other areas of economic activity, the three-step / nine-building-blocks methodology provides guidance for evaluation projects and also assists in the identification of avenues for further academic research