[Dirtycheat]

Reds richest by 12 Euros


11/ 1/2008

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.

Requirment

"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."

Reds richest by 12 Euros - Manchester United - Football - Sport - Manchester Evening News

yep, its official, we are the richest even if its by 12 euros. Had i opted to buy the shirt and not the full kit we wouldnt be in this situation now. I know, no need to thank me.

[GocartMozart]

United have Real in their sights | Manchester Utd | English Premier League | Football News from TEAMtalk

United have Real in their sights

Manchester United could overhaul Spanish giants Real Madrid as the world's biggest revenue generating club within two seasons.

That is the view of business advisory firm Deloitte, who published their new Football Money League on Thursday.

Real remain at the top of the league for the third successive year on the latest figures available, from the 2006-07 season, which showed their revenue increased by 20 per cent to £236million.

However, United enjoyed an even bigger percentage increase to come in second at £212million, two places up on the previous season and ahead of Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal in third, fourth and fifth respectively.

The Old Trafford club had dominated the money league since its inception in 1996-97 before Real took over, and Paul Rawnsley, director of Deloitte's sports business group, believes it is only a matter of time before they resume their position at the top with the impact of the new television deal due to be felt during the current campaign.

He said: "Real Madrid are still at the top after an impressive 20 per cent growth in revenue, but Manchester United closed the gap and have the potential to catch Real up and take that top spot possibly next season or the season thereafter.

"To some extent, that will depend on how they perform relative to Real Madrid in the Champions League."

The figures take into account revenue generated from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, merchandising and the like, and illustrate the financial strength of the Barclays Premier League's top clubs.

Six English clubs - United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool (8th), Tottenham (11th) and Newcastle (14th) - make the top 20, with Scotland's Celtic in 17th place.

Manchester City and West Ham, as well as Rangers, have dropped out from the previous season's list, but the Hammers, City, Aston Villa and Everton were within striking distance this time around.

With the new television money to be factored in, Rawnsley said: "We would expect to see as many as 10 of the top 20 being made up by English Premier League clubs in next year's table.

"There are different ways of measuring the health and quality of the league, but there has been period of strong financial growth in terms of broadcasting rights and matchday and commercial revenues.

"Yes, the clubs spend a lot of money on wages, but overall, the Premier League clubs are profitable.

"It is a different story lower down the leagues, but the Premier League is the highest revenue-generating league in the world."

Premier League chiefs admitted last week that they are examining the possibility of playing a 39th round of matches outside England as they look to new revenue sources.

Rawnsley admitted that as long as the brands of both the league itself and individual clubs remain attractive, English clubs can continue to dominate.

He said: "In terms of the quality of the football and the quality of the competition, that is sustainable.

"It continues to have strength here in England and continues to grow in strength in terms of people wanting to watch matches and wanting to be associated with the English Premier League clubs and English football around the world.

"That could be fans overseas watching it on television and driving up the television rights, it could be sponsors from the USA or Asia or wherever else in the world who want to be associated with the game.

"But there is a balance to be struck. Fans want to see their club winning football matches and winning trophies because that is what football is all about.

"But on the business side of the game, clubs are competing against each other for players, and to able to get better players, they need and want to have more revenue.

"Exploiting their brand value, not just here but around the world, can generate that revenue.

"The football side and the business side are very much inter-related, but there is a balance that does need to be achieved."

Italy and Germany each contribute four clubs to the top 20, with Spain having three and France two. Those 20 clubs generated total revenue of £2.5billion in 2006-07.