EPL clubs paid their players and other staff a record $3.03B (all figures U.S.) in '12-13, "up 11% on the previous year," according to David Conn of the GUARDIAN. The clubs made a record $4.55B "combined income, yet nevertheless made a loss overall" of $490M. Of the 20 EPL clubs, 12 "made a loss in 2012-13, with five clubs losing" $84.2M or more: Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers. The figures are "for the final year of the Premier League's last, 2010-13 round of television deals." The proportion of the income clubs spent on wages in '12-13 "was the same as in 2011-12, 67%, above the 50-60% threshold commonly recommended as sensible." The "highest paid director" in '12-13 was Southampton Exec Chair Nicola Cortese, who earned $3.59M. The "next highest paid" was Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis, who earned $3.07M. Salary packages of more than $1.7M "went to the highest paid director at nine clubs altogether" -- Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Norwich City, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich and West Ham (GUARDIAN, 5/2).
