According to an open letter delivered to Old Trafford today, at the current rate of paying off the financial liability incurred when the Glazer family bought the club in 2005, it will be 158 years before Manchester United is entirely debt free.

In their letter to the family, a group of dissident supporters – which signs itself “Millions of Concerned Manchester United fans” – points out that just £44million of the more than £660m initially taken out to buy the club has been paid back.

Meaning that, in the fourteen years since the American owners took control at Old Trafford, some £750million has left the club’s bank account simply to service the debt.

In a series of five key questions, the group are demanding more transparency about the governance of United. One of the questions concerns the remuneration of the Executive Vice President Ed Woodward. It suggests that Woodward has recently received a 60 per cent pay increase on his £2.604m annual salary, taking him to £4.182m.

“Given the obvious failure on the football side during his six year tenure as EVC on what basis was that raise given?” the group demand.

It follows this up by inquiring about the glacial progress in appointing a Director of Football.