Edwards quits United

Martin Edwards has today resigned as a non-executive director of Manchester United plc.Edwards, a former chief executive of the Old Trafford club, will step down from his position at the plc with immediate effect.

In a statement to the Stock Exchange, United also revealed Edwards will retire from the board of the football club at the end of the current season.

Edwards joined United in 1970 when he was elected to the board and a decadelater became chairman when his father Louis, the club's majority shareholder,died.

Edwards has been close to leaving the club before, having agreed to sell United in the past, only to see bids from Robert Maxwell, Michael Knighton and Rupert Murdoch fall through.

Two years ago he stepped down as chief executive to hand over the reins to Peter Kenyon, just weeks after the club's value broke the £1billion barrier.