Man Utd may buy Australian team

Sydney, April 13: Manchester United is reported to be interested in becoming a team owner Down Under in the A-League, although the chief executive of the Australian club is calling it “nothing more than speculation.” Nine newspapers reported Tuesday that Manchester United officials were in discussions with Central Coast Mariners owner Mike Charlesworth, who has been seeking a buyer for the cash-strapped club. Nine said the English club could move the team now based at Gosford, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) north of Sydney, to Sydney’s northern beaches. But Mariners chief executive Shaun Mielekamp says the Manchester United link is speculative. “The chairman has held discussions with a number of clubs and interested parties across a number of years regarding the sale of the club. And it’s important, like in the pre-season, none of this distracts anyone at the club. It is just noise” Mielekamp said. (AP)