Aberdeen financial data best ever

Aberdeen have announced the most successful trading results in the club's history, making an operating profit of £2.3m.

The Pittodrie club have released their annual financial data to 30 June 2008 and revealed a bottom-line profit of £1.1m and £12.9m turnover.

Aberdeen's money-spinning ties with Bayern Munich were a good source of income for Jimmy Calderwood's outfit.

The club's net bank debt of £6.5m is at its lowest level in many years.

Managing director Duncan Fraser told Aberdeen's website: "Last season, the club was able to capitalise on the substantial progress that has been made during Jimmy Calderwood's time at Aberdeen.

"The club is currently investing £1m a year in the football payroll more than it did a few years ago.

"The proceeds from the sale of players and last season will mean we are able to sustain this over the coming campaigns.

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"The board agreed at the turn of the year to spread the benefits over a three-year period to enable us to plan ahead and build on the foundations that have been put in place - and to award contracts to players who we wish to secure on longer deals.

"The investment in the football budget will mean that we are budgeting for a £622k operating loss this year, but the debt level will remain significantly within the estimates we gave to the bank in agreeing our facilities through to 2011.

"At this particularly difficult time in the financial markets, this demonstrates clear and forward thinking on the club's part."