Manchester United net debt ballooned by 127.4 million pounds (155.6 million U.S. dollars) to 429 million pounds (523.9 million U.S. dollars) in the 12 months to March 31, 2020, according to their latest set of accounts.

The club withdrew its annual financial targets and estimated it lost around 23 million pounds (28 million U.S. dollars) in revenue in the third quarter as the coronavirus crisis brought the Premier League and European football competitions to a halt. 

Broadcasting revenue more than halved in the third quarter ended March 31, causing total revenue to slide 19 percent to 123.7 million pounds (151.1 U.S. dollars).

United expect to have to sacrifice around 20 million pounds (24.4 U.S. dollars) in broadcast revenues over the full season, its slice of a rebate the Premier League will have to offer for delays to staging matches caused by the crisis.

Executive Vice Chairman Ed Woodward acknowledged the uncertainty brought upon by "one of the most extraordinary testing periods in the 142-year history of Manchester United," but said he was optimistic about the future amid hopes the Premier League could resume next month.

England's top clubs have returned to training this week with the aim of resuming matches behind closed doors in June, a sentiment echoed by Woodward on a post-earnings media call.

He pointed to the return of the German Bundesliga last weekend as a sign of "strong, pent-up demand" for live soccer on television.

Woodward said he hoped United could complete all of the first team's 2019-20 games by the end of August and start next season in time for it to end on schedule in May 2021.

United, who are in "rebuild" mode as they chase a return to the lucrative UEFA Champions League competition, were in fifth place in the 20-team Premier League when the action was halted.

United have not played since they beat LASK Linz 5-0 behind closed doors in the Europa League in Austria on March 12. Their last match at their Old Trafford home was a 2-0 win over local rivals Manchester City in the Premier League on March 8.

(With input from Reuters)