UK Sports Sector Kicks Late Payments into Touch, But Some Clubs Still Fumbling

The UK sports sector shows significantly better payment practices compared to the national average, yet performance varies widely across different organizations and regions.

The Numbers

• Companies analysed: 20
• Average PaymentCheck Score: 73.9/100
• UK average: 50.0/100 (Sports is 23.9 points above)

What Stands Out

The sports sector's average PaymentCheck score of 73.9 is a whopping 23.9 points above the UK average, indicating generally healthier payment practices. However, the large gap between the best and worst payers – a difference of nearly 60 points – reveals a stark contrast in how different organizations prioritize timely payments. It appears football clubs are disproportionately represented at both ends of the spectrum.

Best Payers

1. PFPL PROJECTS (EPPING) LTD - 96/100
2. SWANSEA CITY ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED(THE) - 93.77/100
3. THE WELSH RUGBY UNION LIMITED - 89.9/100
4. CHELSEA FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 89.05/100
5. NORTHAMPTON RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 88.91/100

Worst Payers

1. THE DERBY COUNTY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED - 36.1/100
2. THE BLACKBURN ROVERS FOOTBALL AND ATHLETIC LIMITED - 46/100
3. CELTIC F.C. LIMITED - 52.2/100
4. PFPL PROJECTS SURREY HEATH LTD - 58.33/100
5. THE GOODWOOD CLUB LIMITED - 60.6/100

Regional Patterns

Wales boasts the highest regional average at 91.8, based on just two companies. London, with the largest sample size of nine companies, has an average of 74.3, indicating a respectable but not outstanding regional performance. The North West lags behind with an average of 68.9 across three companies, which is below the sector average.

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While the sports sector outperforms the UK average by 23.9 points, Derby County's score of just 36.1 shows some clubs are playing a very different game when it comes to paying their bills.