The holding company that owns Manchester United saw both its interest costs and pre-tax profits rise last year, according to results the owners said put the Premier League champions on a more stable financial footing.

Red Football Joint Venture’s interest on bank loans and overdrafts it refinanced in August 2006 was £42m for the 12 months to June 30 last year, compared with £27.2m for the previous 14 months, accounts seen by the Financial Times showed.