League Cup final - a welcome financial boost for Bradford and Swansea | inside World Soccer

League Cup final - a welcome financial boost for Bradford and Swansea

Friday, February 22, 2013

For the biggest clubs in England the League Cup is an afterthought with the prestige and financial reward of excelling in the Champions League and Premier League.

Swansea City take on Bradford City in the final of the Capital One Cup at Wembley
Even the Europa League and FA Cup are seen in a superior light to the Capital One Cup, however for the participants in this year's final it is arguably the biggest game in their history.

This Sunday Swansea City take on Bradford City in the final of the Capital One Cup at Wembley (one of the world's largest football stadiums), with much on the line.

The Premier League side have never won a major domestic trophy. Bradford are only the second-ever club from the fourth tier of English football to reach the final, and they have only ever won one major trophy; the FA Cup, all the way back in 1911.

Swansea will look to build on their growing reputation as a solid Premier League outfit by delivering a cup success, while Bradford are eager to complete their giant-killing adventure, with Arsenal and Aston Villa already victims along the way.

However, both club chairmen will look at progression in the trophy as a financial bonus also.

Bradford especially have benefited from their cup run, with an reported extra £1.3 million pocketed already.

The Valley Parade side have fallen from grace since their demotion from the Premier League in 2001, suffering two administrations and three relegations over the last 12 years.

The city of Bradford has been in the press itself for the struggle that the inhabitants have had due to the global financial crisis, and tougher times in the UK.

Prize money is not distributed throughout the League Cup process, rather after the competition, with the finalists and semi-finalists rewarded.

The winners of the tournament will receive £100,000, with the losers pocketing £50,000.

For Bradford both will be more than welcome, as they are not the favourites to get automatic promotion from the npower League 2.

In the long run the success on the pitch this season allows the Bantams the financial security of holding onto their main players and manager Phil Parkinson, instead of selling up to balance the books.

On the pitch this can only be positive as the side stays together, however they are currently 11th in League Two and looking a fair distance from promotion.

Bradford's average attendance was 10,491 last season, and the club had 10,887 attendees at their last home game against Gillingham.

Compare this to the 22,245 that watched the side beat Aston Villa and the 23,971 that witnessed the falling of Arsenal and the financial benefit from gate revenue is apparent.

For Swansea, prize money of £100,000 would certainly be welcome but not last long due to the size of their wage bill and Premier League overheads.

However, what will be of more interest to the Welsh club will be the potential qualification to the Europa League for next term if they beat Bradford.

While the bigger English sides in Europe's second-tier tournament such as Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle concentrate predominantly on the Premier League, European competition for Swansea would be something momentous.

Added to the prestige however would be more prize money on offer should the club excel, more money through the gates at a packed Liberty Stadium on European nights, and the opportunity to attract a better grade of player due to the chance for players to play against teams from the continent.

Instead of the usual weakened teams in the cup competitions, Swansea have fielded their top players, with Michael Laudrup even resting players in the Premier League against Liverpool last weekend ahead of the Capital One Cup final.

This may have backfired with a 5-0 defeat at Anfield, but it shows that the Danish manager and the Welsh club are taking the final, and the financial benefits it can bring, very seriously.

Instead of some of the top Premier League sides competing in the final of the Capital One Cup, it is refreshing to see two teams that will walk out on Sunday full of desire to win the trophy.

For both sides it is the chance to win some silverware for the first time in decades, go down in the history books and, maybe most importantly, add some well-deserved and needed revenue to the club's coffers.

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