SOCCER: Transfer market values tumbled yesterday following the publication of OECD indicators for the next twelve months. In England alone, some £12bn was wiped off the value of Premiership players.

With the weekly value of the top 100 players falling beneath £130k, many clubs are pumping funds into conferencing facilities – commonly seen as a safe haven for investors.

From a global perspective, Europe is holding up relatively well, with the Premier League and Bundesliga among the most bullish. Across the pond, however, particularly strong falls are expected in Major League Soccer, historically the most volatile market.

Corporate boxes in New York are expected to smash the $1,000 m2 barrier set last March when US crude dipped below $38 amid plummeting demand fuelled by a worsening recession.

Investors have been disconcerted by reports showing that some 30,000 Britons have forfeited their season tickets – the worst level since 1987. That pay-per-view revenue is up, however, should provide a silver lining.

The figures add to worries that discounted replica shirts and club stationery will not be sufficient to kick-start the market.

Influential sports commentator Mike Sykes commented: “We are very concerned that the public is losing confidence in the fundamental wage structure of professional football. This translates to a very real danger that our players may need to substantially reduce the number of Bentleys they buy each month.”