Bristol City: Robins attribute £18.6m loss to lack of player sales

City CEO Tom Rawcliffe said: “Although the loss is evidently larger than last year, it is in line with expectations and highlights the positive financial impact a large player sale and successful player trading model can have.”

Under EFL profit and sustainability rules, club losses are not permitted to exceed £41.5m over a rolling three-year period.

City maintain they are in “a strong position” but stated “in the absence of further player sales, the club will be much tighter to the threshold in the 2026-27 season”.

Bristol City Holdings Limited’s revenue fell by £2.5m, which the club attributed to a lack of summer concerts staged at Ashton Gate as the stadium was preparing to host matches for the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Revenue earned from that tournament will appear on accounts for next year.

Staff costs also increased by £1m from the previous year because of a larger playing budget and higher employer national insurance contributions introduced by the Government in April 2025.

A decline in ticketing revenue for matches at Ashton Gate was another factor which fell by 4% to £7.4m. The report mainly attributes that to lower crowds for Bristol City Women following relegation from the Super League.

Bristol City Women were sold in September to multi-club ownership group Mercury13 with City majority shareholder Lansdown now no longer having a controlling interest.