Manchester United: Despite on-field woes, English giants on track to hit GBP 500m in earnings

New Delhi: England's most successful club, Manchester United are on track to become the first British club to earn more than GBP 500m in one year despite their lacklustre showing and managerial uncertainties.

On Thursday, United announced in their second-quarterly financial results that they expect revenue for the year to hit GBP 500-510m. No British club in history has recorded such a figure.

The Old Trafford giants posted a rise of 26.6 percent in their second-quarter revenue, which translates into a record GBP 133.8m, with commercial revenues up by 42.5% to GBP 66.1m.

Besides, the club's broadcast revenue rose 31.3% to GBP 37.3m and sponsorship revenue rose by GBP 1.6m. However, the Red Devils suffered a loss in match-day income, down by 1.6%.

The financial gains comes despite another below-par season on the field when Louis van Gaal's outfit has failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the UEFA Champions League.

And United's chances of playing in the lucrative continental tournament next season is still uncertain, with the club six points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City in the league.

Despite a tricky transition period since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson as the manager of the club in 2013, United`s ability to grow revenues off the pitch has increased manifold. With an unrivaled global appeal, which it says stretches to 659 million followers, continues to prove lucrative.