29 Jul 2009Reduced television broadcast finance impacting Aberdeen's transfer ambitions

Football Clubs News | Football Sponsors/ Sponsorship and Media

The reduced amount of finance received by clubs in the Scottish Premier League from television broadcasts has been blamed by Aberdeen for their inability to make three new signings.

BSkyB and ESPN recently agreed to a football broadcast deal with the division, although the sum paid throughout the length of the five-year contract was only half of that previously agreed by Setanta, before it fell into administration.

To try and make up for this financial loss, Aberdeen's managing director Duncan Fraser has indicated that the club would need 4,000 extra supporters to turn up to every game.

This drop in finances has led to manager Mark McGhee looking set to miss out on buying Reda Johnson and failing to bring in Steve MacLean and Jim Paterson on loan because of the players' wage demands.

Fraser said: "We are in a situation where we have to operate with an annual budget of £600,000 less than originally budgeted for next year.

"That has the potential to rise to over £1 million over the coming couple of years."

Aberdeen finished fourth in the Scottish Premier League last season behind Rangers, but have been champions four times in the past.

They also won the European Cup Winner's Cup in 1983 under the guidance of current Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson by beating Real Madrid in the final.

Written by Mark Thompson

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