28 Apr 2010Manchester United debt criticised by ex-chairman

Football Clubs News | Football Finance News

Former Manchester United chairman Sir Roy Gardner has added to the growing criticism of the club's £716 million debt.

Speaking to the Guardian, Sir Roy, now in charge of recently-relegated Plymouth Argyle, described his three-year tenure at the club as "outstanding", but suggested that his own fierce opposition to the unpopular Glazer takeover in 2005 has been proved correct.

Asked about the side's arrears, he said: "It is no different to what I said at the time. I did not think it was a sustainable model."

Prior to the leveraged buyout five years ago, Manchester United's board of directors issued a statement outlining their worries about the deal, describing the Glazers' business plan as "aggressive" and carrying more debt "than the board would consider prudent".

Current chief executive David Gill, himself a target for the ire of some supporters, reportedly told fans' group Shareholders United in 2005 that he would be "behind the barricades" to keep the Americans out of Old Trafford.

Written by Tom Jenkins

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