United and that massive debt

Tracking the financial situations in football isn't that easy. Newspapers don't do a good job, the owners of clubs are cagey and as for financial institutions who trusts them.

Interesting story in The Guardian today by David Conn, he might be a bitters fan but he gets his homework right. It's about the Glazier debt being sold at a discount rate on the financial markets. As long as the repayments are being made then there is no problem. Sadly that money could be spent on better things. The article - "United's massive debts now at mercy of the market".

Crunch time is some way off. The debt is repayable from 2013, in lumps of £75m, then £150m in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The interest roll-up debt, currently standing at around £170m is repayable in 2017 when it will have increased to just under £600m.

Managing the interest is no longer a problem as lower interest rates have cut the bill by around £15m a year. Paying it back a bit tricky. Refinancing is the option - and I'd have thought United would be a safe investment. We'll see.