Employee benefit expenses (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2026

Employee benefit expenses

Schedule of employee benefit expenses


		2026		2025		2024
		£’000		£’000		£’000
Wages and salaries (including bonuses)		(263,653)		(271,568)		(316,341)
Social security costs		(32,772)		(35,755)		(41,435)
Share-based payments (Note 28)		(1,773)		(1,581)		(1,969)
Pension costs – defined contribution schemes (Note 29.2)		(3,827)		(4,352)		(4,974)
		(302,025)		(313,256)		(364,719)
Termination benefits recognised in exceptional items (included in Note 6)		(5,588)		(34,579)		(12,334)
Total employee benefit expenses including exceptional items		(307,613)		(347,835)		(377,053)

Schedule of average number of employees


		2026		2025		2024
		Number		Number		Number
By activity:
Football – men’s and women’s players		150		133		136
Football - technical and coaching		133		164		193
Commercial		95		129		170
Media		61		82		111
Administration and other		369		424		530
Average number of employees		808		932		1,140

Schedule of compensation paid or payable to key management for employee services


		2026		2025		2024
		£’000		£’000		£’000
Short-term employee benefits		(4,510)		(6,709)		(2,938)
Share-based payments		(1,110)		(1,206)		(2,341)
Termination benefits		—		—		(5,725)
Post-employment benefits		—		—		(26)
		(5,620)		(7,915)		(11,030)