The straight-talking Wigan owner singled out United and Liverpool for criticism due to the massive debts they incurred gaining new American owners.

At a time of belt-tightening everywhere amid an ongoing global economic crisis, Whelan fears for the financial future of the game and many wonder how well prepared United and Liverpool are to respond.

While the strained relationship between co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett does not make for the most stable of backdrops at Anfield, over at Old Trafford work continues as normal.

Privately some question the paradox between Whelan complaining about debt levels while at the same time bankrolling Wigan to an extent they certainly could not afford to maintain should his funding ever dry up.

However, there will be no public condemnation, nor any justification for United's present position after a financial year that has seen them increase turnover to a staggering £257.1million, a 20% rise.

As turnover is not profit, analysts will need to wait for United to post their annual results at some point over the next few weeks to start working out what their present debt position is.

The Glazer family have already ditched one attempt at restructuring their loans because the terms were not favourable.

Yet there is no likelihood of any financial institution pulling the plug on such a cash cow, even when bankers on both sides of the Atlantic are under sustained attack from both governments and the general public for their reckless lending.

United's present sponsors AIG are in the firing line, which is why the club are currently touring the globe looking for a replacement from 2010.

There have been no bold statements about an increase on the overall £18million-a-year deal they currently have in place but that is what they will be aiming for.

Similarly, attendances are holding up pretty well and United remain an attractive sponsorship proposition, hence their Asia summer tour of China, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia being followed immediately by the Audi Cup in Munich.

Throw in prize money from last season's Champions League win and this season's Club World Cup success, plus TV money secured at current levels until 2013 by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore, and it is easy to see why United are not getting too flustered by Whelan's attack.