Manchester United is one of the world's most profitable sporting organizations. The original stock market flotation was intended to raise funds for a new stand. Instead the CEO took the opportunity to turn the club into the meanest marketing operation in European sport, by exploiting to the full the brand name of Manchester United. Recently, it was the subject of a u625 million mega bid by Rupert Murdoch's BSkyB. Today, the stockmarket values Manchester United PLC at one billion, the first time a football club has reached such heights. "