Rumors continue to swirl that the family who owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is spread too thin, given the financial condition of its English soccer club, Manchester United.
Multiple reports indicate that the debt has reached 716.5 million pounds, which equates to $1.17 billion.
The increase was driven by net interest accrued of 68.5 million pounds during the fiscal year ending in June 2009.
The high debt comes in large part from the purchase of the club by the Glazers in 2005.
Many fans of the Bucs and followers of the NFL have suspected that the Glazers’ failure to spend more money on their American football team is related directly to the Manchester United debt. The Glazers consistently have denied any connection, and Bucs front-office employees persistently have defended the franchise’s spending habits.