Chelsea was eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday. The 2-1 loss will cost at least £40M ($57M) and "even more if sponsors jump ship, while transfers in and out of the club could take a hit too." The club will "have to rely on qualifying the old fashioned way" through the Premier League. At 10th, however, it is looking "more and more like Chelsea will be left in no man's land" -- either not in Europe or, what "some consider worse, forced to compete in the Europa League." The eventual winner of the Champions League this year "will pocket" more than £42M ($60M) in prize money, while the "market pool share" for English clubs can see the biggest earner take £31M ($44M) (London DAILY MAIL, 3/9).
CUTTING TIES: Mercedes F1 Exec Dir Toto Wolff has "sold his remaining stake" in the Williams Formula One team to U.S. shareholder and healthcare exec Brad Hollinger. Hollinger had bought a 10% stake in the team from Wolff "in two prior transactions," with the Austrian saying last year that his remaining shareholding accounted for "just short of 5 percent" of the former champions. Wolff had agreed to divest his holding, which he acquired in '09 for investment purposes, "when he became a managing partner" at world champions Mercedes in '13 (REUTERS, 3/9).
FRANCHISE BRIEFS ...
Sauber has paid the remainder of the February salaries of its Formula 1 staff and there is "no doubt it will compete in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix." Cashflow problems meant the Swiss team was unable to fulfill "last month's wage bill in full." But on Wednesday, the team confirmed that "a solution had been found to ensure every employee had received their salary" (AUTOSPORT, 3/9).
ManU will be able to stay and train at its usual base ahead of Thursday's Europa League game away at Liverpool, "after being awarded special dispensation by UEFA." Under current UEFA rules the visiting side in European competitions "must stay within 27 miles of the host's stadium the day before a game." However, following an appeal from ManU, UEFA "has now granted special dispensation allowing the club to remain in Manchester on Wednesday night" (SKY SPORTS, 3/9).
Scottish Championship side Hibernian CEO Leeann Dempster told fans that "they dictate how strong the squad is after announcing a freeze on season-ticket prices." Just days after admitting that the Championship promotion hopeful is set to make a £800,000 ($1.14M) loss for the second year running, Dempster has "appealed for supporters to snap up seats as quickly as possible to ensure head coach Alan Stubbs can prepare for next term" (Scotland DAILY RECORD, 3/9).
