Premiership giants Manchester United have posted a healthy rise in full-year profits.
The club reported a pre-tax operating profit of £30.8m for the year ending June 2006, compared with £10.8m for the previous 12 months
Turnover jumped from £157.2m to £165.4m over the same 12-month period.
The encouraging results were achieved despite United's group stage exit from last season's Champions League.
The club's chief executive David Gill said he expected the strong revenue growth to continue over the next few seasons.
He said: "In the course of the next two years, I expect the club's revenues to show dramatic growth, due to a combination of greater sponsorship, television and matchday income.
"The club are in a very healthy position. Our attendances are now the envy of European, not just UK football, and with a burgeoning season ticket waiting list, watching United at Old Trafford is still in great demand."
David Gill, Man Utd: "In the course of the next two years, I expect the club's revenues to show dramatic growth, due to a combination of greater sponsorship, television and matchday income."
Gill added: "The future is promising for the club. We continue to operate by budgeting sensibly and managing our affairs through stable business practices.
"Success on the pitch will always be a driver for success off it and from this base, the club are healthily placed to begin a period of renewed growth."
US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer bought the club for £790m in June 2005 following a bitter takeover battle.
During the 2005/06 season, Man Utd signed left-back Patrice Evra, defender Nemanja Vidic, winger Park Ji-sung and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar for a total cost of nearly £25m.
The period saw the sale of Phil Neville to Everton and Nigerian youngster Jon Obi Mikel to Chelsea, which generated around £17m.
Last April, the Old Trafford club signed a record £56.5m four-year shirt sponsorship deal with US insurer American International Group (AIG).
The deal, which started at the beginning of the current season, is the biggest in English football history, eclipsing Chelsea's five-year £50m deal with South Korean electronics company Samsung.
Man Utd, arguably the world's most famous club, currently lead the Premiership table, with 57 points from 24 matches.
In other Man Utd news, The Independent newspaper has reported that Spanish giants Real Madrid will offer £35m in the summer for winger Cristiano Ronaldo.




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