Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief executive Gordon Taylor has conceded he and Premier League counterpart Richard Scudamore are "a long way from middle ground" following the latest talks aimed at averting a proposed players' strike.
Scudamore met Taylor at the PFA's headquarters in Manchester yesterday, with both men and their respective organisations looking to resolve the thorny issue regarding the distribution of television money.
The PFA claim they are obliged to a five per cent stake of the £1.5 billion sterling television deal the Premier League recently negotiated with Sky and ITV. But the league are offering only one per cent, and now a strike is imminent as Taylor has informed all Premiership chairmen such an offer "is unacceptable", with a ballot of the PFA's 4,000 members concerning industrial action due this month.
Taylor confirmed Scudamore is due to meet the rest of the Premier League board today, after which he will then be given a response.
Asked whether he was optimistic following his meeting with Scudamore, Taylor said: "It's no use saying I'm optimistic - it would be unfair to say that. Everybody is aware of the gap between us.
"But I will continue to live in hope that we can get a deal which is satisfactory to both parties."
Manchester United's pre-tax profits surged by 30 per cent thanks to a sharp increase in gate receipts and sponsorship deals. United's third successive title win sent profits up to £21.8 million (€35.3 million) for the year to July, from £16.8 million the previous season. Turnover hit a record £129.6 million.
United said its bumper financial results were down largely to the extra capacity at Old Trafford, where an additional 10,000 seats mean that almost 68,000 people regularly watch home games. Gate receipts jumped 26 per cent to £46.2 million last season.
Sponsorship income increased to £22.5 million from £18.5 million, boosted by a major deal with Vodafone.
Neil Lennon has pulled out of Northern Ireland's World Cup match against Malta on Saturday, claiming he has a groin injury. Some Northern Irish fans have already begun to question Lennon's commitment to the team and his latest withdrawal will only strengthen their feeling that he no longer wants to play for the Irish.
Scotland coach Craig Brown will be without both Dominic Matteo and Jackie McNamara for the World Cup qualifier against Latvia on Saturday.
Saturday's World Cup European Group Seven qualifier between Israel and Austria will go ahead as scheduled in Tel Aviv despite Austrian reservations about security, FIFA said yesterday.
