How much can Port Vale spend under SCR?

Port Vale has a guaranteed SCR spending limit of £3m — 85% of estimated football revenue of £6m.

What is Port Vale's SCR headroom?

Port Vale's estimated SCR headroom is −£1.9m — the difference between their guaranteed 85% limit of £3m and their estimated £4.9m squad cost.

EFL Squad Cost Ratio

How much can Port Vale spend?

Under the EFL's Squad Cost Ratio rules, Port Vale have a guaranteed spending limit of £3m — 85% of estimated football revenue of £6m. Against their estimated squad cost that is £1.9m short.

Port Vale: the SCR breakdown

Estimated revenue (football) estimated £6m
85% SCR limit (no owner top-up) £3m
Estimated squad cost estimated £4.9m
Headroom vs 85% limit −£1.9m

Restricted - squad cost is 81.8% of revenue

What this means

On these estimates, Port Vale are spending well above what SCR allows. Closing that gap usually means selling players or growing revenue before they can strengthen further.

Note on this club's figures. Promoted from League Two 2024-25. 2023-24 loss £3.8m; 2024-25 (promotion season) loss £6.1m, total debt £17m (owner Carol/Kevin Shanahan loan ~£6.5m). Small company exemption limits public disclosure. Est. 2025-26 wages £94,500/wk (£4.91m/yr — 18th of 24 in L1). At est. £6m revenue, SCMP ratio ~82% — well over 50% threshold. Debt accumulation + operating losses create structural sustainability risk. Transfer embargo possible if SCMP breach persists. Sources: onevalefan.co.uk (2023-24 accounts analysis), daily-focus.co.uk (2024-25 promotion season loss), footballleagueworld.co.uk (promoted clubs wage comparison).
Source.

Compare Port Vale with another club

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Figures are illustrative estimates from published accounts and public reporting, not official SCR submissions. SCR uses adjusted football revenue, which differs from headline turnover. Last reviewed 2026-05-17. Full rules explainer →