United set for record operating profit

MANCHESTER United were expected to become the first English club to crash through the £100million barrier when they announced their latest operating profit today.

The Glazer family, United’s controversial owners, have instigated a revolutionary ‘territory specific’ approach to their commercial deals.

It means they have individual telecommunications partnerships in different parts of the world — the latest, in Hong Kong, with PCCW.

By adopting this stance United have been able to make greater use of their instantly-recognisable world-wide.

The good news at the headline figure is bound to be overshadowed by the detail, which is thought to confirm an overall £60million loss — amng the reasons for which could be the depreciation in value of Sir Alex Ferguson’s first–team squad.