Manchester United have been declared
the world's richest club once more.
Although Real Madrid laid claim to the honour for a couple of
years, United officials believe their gross revenue of £245million
in the year to June 2007 exceeds that of the Spanish giants by just
12 Euros if average conversion rates during the 12-month period in
question are used. While the argument may be viewed as semantic by
some, it means a lot to the clubs involved at a time when the
battle for hearts and minds of fans and sponsors across the world
is gathering pace.
United's current fan-base has been estimated at 333 million, with
chief executive David Gill believing the number of active
supporters hovers around the 139 million mark - of whom 83 million
are based in Asia. It is little wonder the Old Trafford outfit have
been able to post stunning profits of £59.6million for the 12
months to June 2007, a massive 93% rise on the previous year.
With revenue streams increasing in every area and more to come this
year once the new, vastly-improved Premier League TV deal starts to
take effect, United are in far healthier shape than anyone could
have predicted before the Glazer family's involvement following the
controversial takeover in 2005.
Gill is convinced if the takeover had never happened Sir Alex
Ferguson would not have had the funds for his summer blitz - which
saw the arrivals of Nani, Anderson, Owen Hargreaves and Carlos
Tevez. "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," said 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."
Content in the knowledge the vast majority of supporters care only
for what happens on the pitch, Gill has no intention of becoming
drawn into a slanging match with the fans' groups who continue to
attack every aspect of the Glazer regime - particularly the debt
levels required to complete the deal. Neither is he willing to
compare the stability at United over the past two-and-a-half years
with the turmoil at Chelsea - which saw Jose Mourinho depart as
manager amid a huge outcry - the wranglings over ownership at
Arsenal, which led to the exit of influential director David Dein,
or the fall-out between manager Rafael Benitez and co-owners George
Gillett and Tom Hicks at Liverpool. Instead, he is happy to let the
facts speak for themselves.
"There are some people who will never be persuaded that the
takeover was a good thing, not even if we won 10 Champions Leagues
in a row," he said. "The Glazers are not in this for publicity or
ego - but they have been true to their word. "They said they would
retain Sir Alex Ferguson and back him. They said they would keep me
and other members of staff. They said they would invest in the
team. They have done all that. "They have also added value in other
areas. The AIG shirt-sponsorship deal was a world record - that was
down to them.
"The financial position of the club is not something that worries
us. Clearly, the cash from these results will be used partially to
service the debt and also to reinvest in players. "The banks would
not have leant money to the club if they did not feel there was a
sensible structure in place, and there has never been any brake on
funds."
Real Madrid will be far behind next year as United will start to
get their new TV deal money (Season 2007-08.) worth around $30 -
$40 million pounds. While Real will start to feel the lost of David
Beckham's marketing $$$... 