Manchester United insist it is 'business as usual' at Old Trafford despite the near collapse of major sponsors AIG. The American insurance giant only avoided bankruptcy after the US Federal Reserve stepped in with a £47billion rescue package, effectively putting the company under the control of the US government.

However United, who are in the third year of a four-year sponsorship deal worth a record £56.5m, are remaining calm about the situation. "It is business as usual for us," said a spokesman for the Glazer family, who own the Old Trafford club outright. "Manchester United is financially strong. We have not been adversely affected by the credit crunch."