Revenues at Manchester United plunged in the past year as it paid the price for failing to qualify for the Champions League under David Moyes, the previous manager.
That prompted fresh gossip in the City that the Glazer family that owns the club is looking for a way out.
Sales for the year to June dropped £38 million to £395 million as broadcasting income and ticket revenue fell.
That led Manchester United to a loss of £1.2 million.
There has been talk from industry insiders for some time that the Glazer family are split on continuing to own the company, perhaps the most famous in world football.
When Malcolm Glazer, the family patriarch, died last year only two months passed before the Glazer siblings sold