Football club Manchester United posted a 7.8% rise in annual profit today as revenues generated by the club, merchandising and its media partners exceeded £200m.
The Premier League club, bought by US tycoon Malcolm Glazer in 2005 following a drawn-out and acrimonious battle, said operating profit before depreciation and amortisation rose to £49.7m in the year to end-June.
It expected strong revenue growth to continue after the club signed a record £56.5m four-year shirt sponsorship deal with American International Group last year.
'In the course of the next two years, I expect the club's revenues to show dramatic growth, due to a combination of greater sponsorship, television and matchday income,' CEO David Gill said in a statement.
