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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Manchester United sees debts drop | Manchester United sees debts drop |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Manchester United has reported a reduction in the club's huge debt burden. | Manchester United has reported a reduction in the club's huge debt burden. |
| The football club said its gross debt was £507.5m by the end of last year, compared with £716.5m in June. | The football club said its gross debt was £507.5m by the end of last year, compared with £716.5m in June. |
| Pre-tax profits for the last three months of 2009 were £6.9m compared with a loss of £2.7m in the same period in 2008. | Pre-tax profits for the last three months of 2009 were £6.9m compared with a loss of £2.7m in the same period in 2008. |
| The news comes as the "Red Knights" consortium of financiers has been meeting to discuss a possible bid. | The news comes as the "Red Knights" consortium of financiers has been meeting to discuss a possible bid. |
| Deloitte's sports unit said on Tuesday that the Premier League champions were behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in terms of football income. | Deloitte's sports unit said on Tuesday that the Premier League champions were behind Real Madrid and Barcelona in terms of football income. |
| US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer took over the club for £800m in 2005. | US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer took over the club for £800m in 2005. |
| But his reign has been controversial, with many fans opposed to the huge levels of debt that Red Football, the club's holding firm, took on to finance the takeover. | But his reign has been controversial, with many fans opposed to the huge levels of debt that Red Football, the club's holding firm, took on to finance the takeover. |
| By June last year, the club's debt passed £700m for the first time. | By June last year, the club's debt passed £700m for the first time. |
| Green and gold | Green and gold |
| Many fans wore green and gold - the colours of Newton Heath before it was renamed Manchester United in 1902 - at Sunday's Carling Cup final, which the defending champions won. | Many fans wore green and gold - the colours of Newton Heath before it was renamed Manchester United in 1902 - at Sunday's Carling Cup final, which the defending champions won. |
| BUSINESS OF SPORT DEBATE Join leading figures in football for a BBC debate: The Business of Sport - Football in the Red. | |
| It will be broadcast live on Tuesday 2 March (all times GMT) | |
| 2000-2100 BBC News Channel2000-2130 BBC Radio 5 live2000-2130 BBC News website | |
| In January, Manchester United successfully raised £504m through a bond issue, meaning the Premier League club will be able to pay off nearly all their outstanding debts. | In January, Manchester United successfully raised £504m through a bond issue, meaning the Premier League club will be able to pay off nearly all their outstanding debts. |
| The club faces an annual interest bill of £45m a year on the bonds. | The club faces an annual interest bill of £45m a year on the bonds. |
| Revenue in the last three months of 2009 rose to £87m, from £74.4m in 2008. | Revenue in the last three months of 2009 rose to £87m, from £74.4m in 2008. |
| Manchester United's cash balance stands at £122.1m, up from £8.6m. | Manchester United's cash balance stands at £122.1m, up from £8.6m. |
| There was increased income generated from matchday revenues and its TV rights, particularly from the elite Champions League competition. | There was increased income generated from matchday revenues and its TV rights, particularly from the elite Champions League competition. |
| Media revenues rose 33% to £53.4m. | Media revenues rose 33% to £53.4m. |