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Wolves calculated that if it were not for a deferred amount of broadcasting income, the club would have made a small profit of around £ 20 million. Although income reduced in 2019-20, the £ 132.6 million was still the second highest total in the club’s history. In 2019-20, they paid £ 8.6 million to intermediaries, some £ 20 million less than each of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea. Only Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal have incurred a higher negative transfer balance than Wolves’ £ 220 million between 2016-17 and 2019-20.

Manchester United United could well have won the title on the final day of the season, but their local rivals, Manchester City, won 4-3 at Newcastle United and the reigning champions slipped-up at home to Sunderland. On March 6, Rangers went top after beating Coventry 4-1 and after overcoming Manchester City 1-0, they were one point ahead of Manchester United and Derby and two in front of Liverpool. In the FA Cup, they were beaten at the semi-final stage, going out to Manchester City by 1-0, ironically at Villa Park. Other teams worthy of honourable mention: Sheffield United (1899-00), Aston Villa (1902-03), Manchester United (1946-47), Wolves (1949-50), Preston North End (1952-53), Leeds United (1964-65), Manchester City (1976-77), Liverpool (1988-89), Manchester United (1991-92) and Chelsea (2007-08).

Public transport is another problem, the prospect of packed buses, trains and underground railway all challenge the concept of safe travel and safe distancing. A packed crowd, celebrating a goal, creates a petri-dish of bacteria and body fluids, and the spectators sit and stew in this pot-pourri of potential infection. This football fever may only apply to younger fans as the most vulnerable demographic may decide to wait and see and only tentatively return to the stadiums. Year after year, at events like the World Economic Forum in Davos, experts have spoken about the destabilising effect of a pandemic.

Leicester’s position for 2019-20 was undoubtedly helped by the £ 63 million profit on players sales. Leicester sold central defender Harry Maguire to Manchester United for £ 80 million and over the past few years, regular big money sales have helped the club’s balance sheet. The club acknowledges that 2016 was the springboard to change Leicester City from an also-ran into a club on the fringes of the “big six”. Leicester City may also win some silverware in 2020-21 although they still have to beat Southampton to reach the FA Cup final, and then it would be Manchester City or Chelsea.