Manchester United Football Club News

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

• Ground:Old Trafford
• Capacity:68,174

United reveal record turnover

11 Jan 2008 - 07:27:36

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Manchester United have returned to the top of the UK's football rich list after reporting a record turnover of £245million for the 2006/07 season.

United's successful campaign which saw them win the Premier League title, reach the FA Cup final and last four of the Champions League saw their turnover rise by 27 per cent.

Pre-tax profits rose 93 per cent to £59.6million with chief executive David Gill citing sell-out attendances at Old Trafford plus improved sponsorship revenues for the financial improvement.

The figure puts the Old Trafford club back ahead of Arsenal, who reported a turnover of £200.8million for last season.

However, the full extent of United's off-field performance will not be known until owners, the Glazer family, provide an update on the club's debt and interest repayments in the spring when they release the accounts of their Red Football holding company.

But Gill has backed the controversial takeover of the club by the Glazers and insists manager Sir Alex Ferguson would not have been able to spend so heavily in the summer had the Americans not been on board.

Ferguson significantly strengthened his squad with the signings of quartert Nani, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos Tevez during the close season.

"I wouldn't disagree with the view that it would have been unimaginable to sign those four players if we had still been a plc," claimed Gill.

"There is a new structure in place now and decisions can be made pretty quickly.

"The family understand the requirement to have a successful team, playing in the Manchester United way, and they have backed the manager with funds."