London: Manchester City's losses soared to nearly 200 million Pounds in the latest financial year amid a lavish spending spree that helped the club end a 35-year trophy drought and qualify for the lucrative Champions League for the first time.
Figures released on Friday showed the northwest club had net operating losses of 160.5 million Pounds, with the figure rising to 194.9 million Pounds by adding on "additional exceptional charges" of 34.4 million Pounds.
They are the highest losses ever by a British club in a single year, with their staggering wage bill of 174 million surpassing that of Chelsea (172 million Pounds) and Manchester United (152 million).
Bankrolled by Abu Dhabi billionaire Sheikh Mansour, City spent heavily last year on improving their squad with world-class players such as David Silva and Yaya Toure and were rewarded by winning the FA Cup - their first major piece of silverware since 1976.
Roberto Mancini's team also finished third in the league to reach this season's Champions League, which helped entice the likes of Argentina striker Sergio Aguero and France midfielder Samir Nasri in a further outlay of 74 million Pounds in the off-season.
City lead the league by five points after 11 matches as they look to claim a first English title in 43 years.
"The result is consistent with the guidance ... that losses would peak in the 2010-11 financial year, as a result of the accelerated investment programme that the club undertook between 2008 and 2011," the club said in a statement.
In view of UEFA's financial fair play regulations, which came into operation in July, City's chief operating officer Graham Wallace said: "Our losses ... will not be repeated on this scale in the future."
"These financial results represent the bottoming out of financial losses at Manchester City before the club is able to move towards a more sustainable position in all aspects of its operations in the years ahead."
"We are cognisant of the incoming UEFA financial fair play regulations and consequently we continue to maintain positive and ongoing dialogue with all appropriate football authorities," added Wallace.
Under those regulations, clubs face being barred from the Champions League and Europa League if they cannot break even on football-related business.
City's overall turnover rose 22.5 percent to 153.2 million Pounds and commercial revenue was up almost 50 percent to 48.5 million Pounds. TV rights rose 27.4 percent to 68.8 million Pounds.
In the current financial year, which started on June 1, City have begun their Champions League campaign - they are second in a group that also includes Germany's Bayern Munich and Italy's Napoli with two matches remaining - and agreed a 10-year deal with Etihad Airlines to sponsor the club's stadium.
It was widely reported in the British media that City will earn around 40 million Pounds per year from the stadium deal. Etihad already has its name on City's shirts.
"We should not underestimate the club's other major achievements in terms of its continued commercial performance, groundbreaking partnership initiatives, expanding contribution to the community, and independent recognition for the quality of our facilities and match day offerings," chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak said.
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