Man Utd: Premier League club on track to earn £500m

Manchester United are on track to become the first British club to earn more than £500m in one year despite their lack of success on the pitch.

Second-quarter revenues rose by 26.6% to a record £133.8m, with commercial revenues up 42.5% to £66.1m.

Broadcast revenue rose 31.3% to £37.3m and sponsorship revenue rose by £1.6m, but matchday income was down 1.6%.

The Red Devils currently lie fifth in the Premier League table and have been knocked out of the Champions League.

"Our solid results off the pitch help contribute to what remains our number one priority - success on the pitch," said executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

United's chances of qualification for next season's Champions League hang in the balance after an inconsistent season under Louis van Gaal.

Majority-owned by the American Glazer family, they are six points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City.

Leicester have a five-point lead at the top of the table - and defeated City last weekend with a team that cost £22.5m.

"Leicester is a fantastic reference point for everybody this year," said Woodward in a conference call with investors on Thursday.

"Some players are bought by other clubs with an eye to them developing into something special in a few years' time whereas there's perhaps more pressure on bigger clubs to bring in players who are going to hit the ground running, top players verging on world class almost immediately. There is a slightly different market in which people are buying."

The BBC understands Van Gaal's position is precarious after learning that Jose Mourinho has held talks with the club about taking over in the summer.