Manchester United are predicting "dramatic growth" in their income over the next two years after seeing their profits rise by £20m to nearly £31m last year.
The club's annual report reveals that turnover was up just over £8m to £165.4m in the year ended June 30 2006 and operating profits were up from £10.8m to £30.8m. The figures were achieved despite United failing to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League for the first time in a decade.
United's chief executive, David Gill, said the new £50m Premier League TV rights deal, the record £18m shirt-sponsorship agreement with the insurance firm AIG and the increase in capacity to 76,000 would result in a major cash injection. United earn more than £2m in ticket sales every home game.
He also insisted United would not fleece fans despite the demand for season tickets. "The club remain committed to making top-class football affordable and structures its prices accordingly," he said.
The report reveals United paid £1.8m to agents compared with £2.6m the previous year. They are not compelled to reveal such payments but Gill added: "The club remains committed to disclosure of the amount it spends on agents' fees and has adopted the Football League's guidelines on this issue."
The £12m that Chelsea had to pay United in compensation for Mikel Jon Obi also made a contribution to profits.
The Football Association hopes to name Peter Taylor's successor as England Under-21 manager today. With Taylor confirming he will stand down from the part-time post, the FA has been seeking a swift replacement, a process accelerated by its decision to make a temporary appointment until after this summer's European Championship finals in the Netherlands.
Contenders include the former Middlesbrough assistant manager Steve Round, who does not want the job full-time, and Bolton's first-team coach Sammy Lee, who supervised the Under-21s during their November friendly win in the Netherlands. By then Taylor was feeling the strain of combining his England duties with his principal job as manager of Crystal Palace. He now feels he has no option but to concentrate all his attentions on the club. His successor will definitely be in charge for the friendly against Spain at Derby's Pride Park on February 6.
Next season Steve McClaren, the England manager, hopes finally to persuade his Soho Square bosses to make a full-time Under-21 appointment. It is not, however, entirely inconceivable that, should things go wrong at Palace, Taylor might return to the Under-21 post next season.
Blackburn last night completed the signing of the DR Congo defender Christopher Samba from Hertha Berlin on a 3½-year deal. Samba, 6ft 5in, impressed in a five-day trial at Ewood Park.
Sunderland have brought the 20-year-old right-back Danny Simpson on loan from Manchester United and Stoke have also taken a United player, Lee Martin, 19, on loan until the end of the season.
Fulham's manager, Chris Coleman, has been charged by the FA with using abusive and/or insulting words to a match official over an incident in Saturday's 1-1 Premiership draw with Tottenham at Craven Cottage. Coleman was angry at the decision to allow Pascal Chimbonda's late equaliser for Spurs to stand.
