LONDON -- Chelsea has posted annual losses of more than $80 million but the Premier League club remains confident of complying with UEFAs Financial Fair Play rules.
Cal Ripken Sr. Jersey . The club slipped back into the red a year after making a profit for the first time since Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovichs takeover in 2003. Chelsea lost 49.4 million pounds ($81.7 million) in the year to June 30, after making a profit of 1.4 million pounds ($2.3 million) in 2011-12. But UEFA, the governing body for European football, allows unlimited investment on infrastructure and youth development, which Chelsea believes accounted for around 15 million pounds ($25 million) in spending in 2012-13. UEFA is allowing losses of up to 45 million euros ($62 million) in the first FFP monitoring period -- 2011-2013 -- without the risk of being barred from European competitions. UEFA wants clubs to move toward breaking even on their football-related activities, and will be preparing in March and April to punish the first clubs for FFP breaches. "We will meet the stipulations set down by UEFA in their first assessment period," Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said Tuesday in a statement giving a partial breakdown of financial results. "And by our own analysis we are progressing from a commercial viewpoint as well as continuing to add trophies to our collection, which we never lose sight of as our most important goal." The 2011-12 profit of 1.4 million pounds ($2.3 million) came on the back of generating around 90 million pounds ($149 million) from the transfer market and a successful Champions League campaign. But Chelseas UEFA income was hit despite winning the Europa League in May because the team was knocked out of the more lucrative Champions League at the group stage. So, although Chelsea posted a record turnover of 255.8 million pounds ($423 million) in 2012-13, it only rose by 100,000 pounds ($165,500). But commercial income grew 20 per cent year-on-year to 79.6 million pounds ($132 million), and there should be a more significant uplift in 2013-14 when the first year of a 300 million-pound ($497-million), 10-year contract extension with kit maker Adidas kicks in. Chelsea has also advanced beyond the Champions League group stage this season and is third in the Premier League, two points behind leader Arsenal. "For Chelsea FC to achieve a record level of turnover despite our first group-stage elimination from the Champions League shows we have structured our business and are growing in the correct way for long-term stability," chief executive Ron Gourlay said. "Our philosophy is we build upon success on the pitch and although in these financial results we havent repeated the sizeable profits made the previous year from player transfers, we believe the age profile of the existing squad means we will benefit from that investment for many years to come."
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Billy Ripken Jersey .com) - The disappointing Ottawa Senators hope to record consecutive wins for the first time since early November, as they visit the Boston Bruins on Friday for the opener of a home-and-home series.NEW ORLEANS -- Dirk Nowitzki was not happy with his play or Dallas defence for most of Wednesday night. He still found a way to end the New Orleans Pelicans three-game winning streak. Nowitzki scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and had the last of his season-high four blocked shots on a crucial possession in the final minute as the Mavericks beat the Pelicans 100-97 at the start of a four-game road trip. Nowitzki gave Dallas the lead with a free throw to make the score 98-97 with 32.3 seconds left. He then got a piece of Eric Gordons driving floater, grabbed the rebound and hit two more free throws with 8 seconds left. "It could have gone either way," Nowitzki said. "Finally, we were on the other end one time in execution and getting some stops and getting some big rebounds. It was definitely a good one to get against a very good team." Nowitzki ran off a long list of negatives that could have cost the Mavericks the game. The Pelicans outrebounded them 58-38. He felt he forced some bad shots in the first half when he was double-teamed, connecting on only 2 of 7 instead of finding the open man. He even missed two free throws after hitting an NBA-best 86 of 91 before Wednesday. The Mavericks also messed up their final defensive possession, giving New Orleans forward Ryan Anderson a wide-open look to tie the score. Anderson, who entered as the NBAs second-most-accurate 3-point shooter at 55.6 per cent, missed it with 2 seconds left. "We switched at the end and left him open," Nowitzki said. "I dont know what happened. He had a clean look from the top of the key, which he probably makes eight out of 10, so we really dodged a bullet." Reserve Vince Carter had 15 points for Dallas and Monta Ellis added 14 points, with the other three starters scoring between 10 and 12. Jrue Holiday had a season-high 26 points for the Pelicans, who played without injured forward Anthony Davis for the second consecutive game. Al-Farouq Aminu tied his career high with 20 rebounds and added a season-high 16 points. Anderson finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. The Mavericks won with balance for three quarters and Nowitzki taking over down the stretch. No play was bigger than his block of Gordon in the lane. He had not blocked more than one shot in any game this year. "Tell them youre a shot blocker now," Carter said jokinglly as Nowitzki talked in the locker room.
Cal Ripken Jr. Jersey. "We have a lot of guys doing a lot of things to try to take the pressure off of him so he doesnt feel he has to put up big numbers every quarter," Carter added. "It can wear him down. Now fourth quarter he can do what he does best." The Pelicans, who outscored opponents by 25 points in the second half while going 3-0 on their recently concluded road trip, tried to pull away in the third quarter with an 8-0 run to go up 73-65 late in the quarter. But the Mavericks answered with a 10-2 spurt, getting 3-pointers from Jae Crowder and Carter. Dallas stayed hot at the start of the fourth. Nowitzki scored on a turnaround to give the Mavericks a 79-77 lead, converted a 3-point play on a tough shot and hit a free throw after the Pelicans were called for a defensive 3-second violation as Dallas went ahead 83-77. That lead didnt last long. Holiday sank a 3-pointer to tie the score at 86 with 6:49 left. Nowitzki hit a face-up midrange shot to give Dallas a 97-94 lead before Holiday sank a long 3-pointer to tie the score at 97, setting up Nowitzkis finish. "Its not very often you win on the road getting pounded on the glass by 20 boards," Nowitzki said. "But well definitely take it." Without Davis, New Orleans could not extend its winning streak to four games for the first time since Jan. 5-11 of 2013. In Davis absence, Aminu was more aggressive than usual. Averaging 5.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, he had a double-double by halftime (10 points, 11 rebounds) of his first in a full game this season. He finished the half with a soaring dunk off a nice pass from Holiday and a reverse layup around Nowitzki. "I always grade myself off wins and losses," Aminu said. "It really doesnt matter what I do. Its a disappointing night." NOTES: Davis talked to reporters before the game for the first time since he fractured the fifth metacarpal when he hit his hand on the rim against the New York Knicks on Sunday. "Of course its frustrating," he said. "You want to be on the floor. But at the same time, theres nothing you can do about it." . Calderon started for Dallas after being listed as day to day with a bruised right ankle. . Neither team led by double digits at any time in the game. . New Orleans, which fell to 9-9, has not been two games above .500 since starting 2-0 in 2011-12. ' ' '