The Glazer family, who own English Premier League soccer club Manchester United and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL franchise, have released a statement denying rumours that the latter is up for sale for more than US$1 billion.

The rumours, which apparently originated with a Tampa sports talk radio host before being picked up by the press, were started on Thursday, and Joel Glazer, co-chairman of both the Buccaneers and United, was quick to dismiss the claims.

"The report [on Thursday] by WDAE's Dan Sileo about our family and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is 100 per cent false," Glazer said in a statement released by the Buccaneers. "The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not, nor have they ever been for sale.

"In addition, our family or any of our related companies, have never invested one penny with Bernie Madoff. The report is baseless, irresponsible and slanderous. This type of behavior by Mr Sileo and his company ClearChannel will be dealt with in the appropriate manner."

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The Buccaneers had US$224 million in operating revenue in 2008, with an operating income of US$39.3 million. Gate receipts for 10 home games reached US$56 million.

Meanwhile, Manchester United, champions of the Premier League for the last three seasons, have joined a range of companies including British Seafood, London department store Harrods and racing team and car manufacturer McLaren on a list of Britain's most successful 250 mid market private companies.

The Sunday Times Top Track 250, sponsored by HSBC Bank and the financial giant PricewaterhouseCoopers found construction firm Willmott Dixon and private hospital firm Spire Healthcare to be the top two companies on the list. United were 115th on the list, and the only English soccer club to feature.

'With new sponsors Aon and increasing TV and commercial revenues, the club continues to make big signings - it paid a reported £30.8m for Dimitar Berbatov in 2008. Under [Malcolm] Glazer's sons Joel, Avram and Bryan, sales hit £256.2m in 2008,' reported the Fast Track company, which has produced the list since 2005.