Sports Football

Man Utd debt remains above FJ$3B, with FJ$188M spent on land for new stadium

Man Utd debt remains above FJ$3B, with FJ$188M spent on land for new stadium
Manchester United's new stadium will be the centre piece of a wider Old Trafford regeneration

Manchester United's overall debt remains above £1 billion, which is about FJ$3 billion, despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe's extensive cost-cutting measures, with the club also confirming it has spent £63.5 million, which is about FJ$188 million, buying land for its new stadium.

Amid fan protests and a disappointing start to the season that has left United 12th in the Premier League and already out of the EFL Cup, the club has announced record revenues of £677.6 million, which is about FJ$2.01 billion, and an operating profit of £22.6 million, which is about FJ$67 million, despite not playing in Europe for the first time in a decade.

United also confirmed it spent £63.5 million, or about FJ$188 million, of an additional US$125 million, equivalent to £94.14 million or about FJ$279 million, added to its historic debt during a summer refinancing move, on land for its new stadium.

The club has not explained what it has done with the remainder.

The stadium itself is likely to cost more than £2 billion, which is about FJ$5.93 billion.

This comes at a time when supporters are frustrated over what they believe was a lack of sufficient investment in Michael Carrick's first-team squad this summer.

United spent £148 million, which is about FJ$439 million, on three new signings, Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, this summer.

This was less than a third of the £458 million, or about FJ$1.36 billion, Manchester City invested in its squad and was even lower than the amount spent by newly promoted Ipswich.

However, fans are unhappy that an additional left-back was not purchased to provide competition for Luke Shaw, who has already missed three matches through injury, or that further striking support was not brought in for Benjamin Sesko, who missed pre-season while recovering from a shin complaint that has since resurfaced.

While United says the additional funds were earmarked for its new stadium, which is planned to be built 350 yards from the current Old Trafford, the loan itself is lodged within the club's accounts.

Source: BBC Sports

FNRL

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
Scoreboard
Full Time
Roosters 46–10 Sharks
Full Time
Warriors 10–12 Knights
3:00PM
Malolo vs Nadi
3:30PM
Tailevu vs Suva
3:00PM
Naitasiri vs Nadroga
Full Time
Rewa 3–126 Nasinu
Full Time
Tailevu 58–36 Lautoka
Full Time
Suva 36–24 Namosi
11.30pm
Arsenal vs Leeds
2:00am
Aston Villa vs Brentford
2:00am
Ipswich vs Fullham
Full Time
PNG 4–1 New Caledonia
Full Time
Fiji 0–1 Solomon Islands