Player’s high salaries and the recent controversial ticket price hikes is an `integral’ part of the club’s global success story, David Gill told a gathering of business people at Manchester Business School.

Some highlights of his speech:

1. Business turnover has grown from £80m in 1991 to £245m as of the end of last year.
2. In the same period, the club’s post-tax profits have increased from £6m to £18m.
3. Independent research: United is followed by 330m people globally – giving sponsors access to `unrivalled’ media exposure.
4. The players recognise that they really are pivotal to the club’s success so they can demand high fees.
5. The team creates the flair which perpetuates Red’s media coverage, which in turn reassures our sponsors that they are getting the best possible media exposure around the world
6. The vision is to be the best club both on and off the pitch.
7. 8,000 of Old Trafford’s 76,000 seats are executive class and contribute around 40% of all match day revenue.

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