Abu Dhabi's Man City tops value for money list

Manchester City on Wednesday were named champions of the league for value for money for their fans, according to the ING Direct Value table. The bank chart, which compares club season ticket costs with Premier League performance and entertainment value, put the Abu Dhabi-owned club ahead of Wigan. ING placed QPR, who just avoided relegation, at the bottom of the table while West Bromwich Albion took third place in the league. The report's compilation was overseen by Dr Steve Kelly from the University of Huddersfield, an expert in sports and club finance and structures. The value league was compiled by comparing season ticket prices with points earned, and with a bonus for goals scored, deemed to affect fans' enjoyment of the game. Just under half of fans felt they received good value for money in the 2011-12 season and were seriously thinking about whether or not to renew their season ticket for the next campaign. It said more than half of Premiership teams froze or lowered their season ticket prices this year in an attempt to retain fans. Arsenal captain Robin Van Persie topped the "best value player" poll, followed by Newcastle United striker Demba Ba and Tottenham's Scott Parker. Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who bought the Manchester club in 2008, has invested nearly $1bn to help lead it to glory this season. However, the team’s success has come at a cost and it announced losses of £194.9m ($307.4m) for the 2010-11 financial year, which represents one of the biggest ever reported loss by an English Premier League club.