Net gain for United backers in rich list

Four of the top 10 richest people in English football own shares in its richest club, Manchester United, according to a newly-published football rich list.

The annual survey for Four Four Two magazine, compiled by the producers of the Sunday Times Rich List, offers further indication of United’s financial muscle.

American business tycoon Malcolm Glazer, who has a 28.1% stake in the club and recently failed in a takeover bid, is sixth on the list with a personal fortune of £560m (€808m).

He comes in behind Celtic’s principal holder Dermot Desmond with £850m (€1.23bn), who also owns a one percent stake in United, but is ahead of rival shareholders John Magnier, who is eighth with £520m (€750.3m) and JP McManus, who is in 13th with £400m (€577m).

The fourth United shareholder in the top 10 is Scottish mining magnate Harry Dobson, a 6.5% stakeholder, who is equal 10th with £470m (€678.1m).

The list is headed once again by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, whose wealth has increased in the last year by £2bn (€2.9bn), making him worth £7.5bn (€10.8bn).