Manchester United in good position - Ed Woodward
- Published
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward says servicing Manchester United's debt does not affect the running of the club because of their commercial success.
Some fans blamed last season - United's worst league finish since 1990 - on the £680m spent on debt-related fees created by Malcolm Glazer's takeover.
"It doesn't factor into the concerns I've got when I think about signing a player," Woodward told BBC Sport.
"And two seasons ago we were champions by 11 points."
After a dismal season under David Moyes, United have turned to ex-Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal
The Red Devils won the 2012-13 title in Alex Ferguson's last season before retirement but his replacement, David Moyes then lasted less than a season as the club finished seventh last term, prompting United to turn to Louis van Gaal this summer.
Woodward added: "Sir Alex was never turned down in terms of money for a potential purchase of a player.
"The interest on the debt is £20m or something. That is less than 5% of our revenue."
Immediately after the Glazer family's leveraged takeover in 2005 the debt stood at £660m, with annual interest payments of over £60m, but by May 2014 the debt was down to £351m.
Manchester United in numbers as of 14 July 2014 | |
|---|---|
The Glazer family bought the club for £790m in 2005. | Aon paid £120m to sponsor the club's training ground and kit. |
In May 2014 the debt was £351m. | Their new Adidas shirt deal worth £750m over 10 years. |
Turnover for the 2013-14 financial year is expected to top £418m. | The club's commercial operations grew by 30% to £34.9m in 2012-13 (Deloitte). |
Net profit of £146m for 2012-13. | Wayne Rooney's four-year deal is worth a reported £300,000 a week. |
Chevrolet will pay £53m a year to have its name on United's shirts. | No Champions League football will cost £50m- 10% of annual revenue - Deloitte |
Woodward, who has returned to the UK after spending four days on United's tour of the United States, has already said the club would be willing to spend big, if needed, to prevent Spain's biggest clubs continuing to sign the top players.
Woodward has more immediate priorities though, as United look to recover ground on their domestic rivals after their awful year under Moyes.
A picture that emerged of Woodward apparently taking a selfie during a stunning 2-0 defeat in the Champions League by Olympiakos in February turned out to be him capturing the image of the scoreboard to provide an indelible reminder of a night he vowed would never be repeated.
Luis Suarez and James Rodriguez have both moved to Spain this summer in deals worth over £70m
The club have just announced a £750m, 10-year shirt manufacturing deal with Adidas, on top of the £370m they will receive from US car giant Chevrolet for a shirt sponsorship deal that will be launched against LA Galaxy in Pasadena on Wednesday.
Income will rise steeply from last year's total of £152.5m when the 2014 annual results are announced in September, but without on-field success that commercial growth cannot continue.
So further outlay can be anticipated in addition to the £56m spent on Ander Herrera and Luke Shaw.
Malcolm Glazer (right), who never set foot in Old Trafford, appointed his three sons Joel (left), Bryan (center) and Avram (not pictured), to the board of Manchester United in 2005
Thomas Vermaelen, Angel Di Maria, Mats Hummels, Kevin Strootman, Daley Blind and Stefan de Vrij have all been linked with Old Trafford moves this summer.
"Of course it's in our capabilities," said Woodward, when asked if United could really afford to splash out £60m or £70m on a single player as Real Madrid and Barcelona have done.
"We are not afraid of spending significant amounts of money in the transfer market.
"Whether it's a record or not doesn't really resonate with us."
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