Ferguson defends Glazers over Manchester United debt

Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has defended the owning Glazer family with the Red Devils' debt nearing $1 billion.

The 2007-08 financial results were recently revealed and the club announced before their release that no officials would be available for interview.

But Ferguson has never had any complaints about Malcolm Glazer, who took over Man United in 2005 and also owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because he has been backed in the transfer market.

"Their support has never changed," Ferguson said today. "I do not know what these figures tell you. There has always been debt since Malcolm Glazer took over the club. Most buyouts are like that. But there is no change as far as I am concerned."

While United's profits after winning the Premier League and Champions League rose to £80.5m in the fiscal year ending June 2008, the overall debt is now £649.4m.

According to Forbes magazine this week, United is the world's most valuable football club to be worth $1.87 billion.