‌While the 89-year-old is no longer involved in the sport he loves, Whelan remains a significant figure of wealth in British sport. Looking back on what could have been, the businessman said: "I made the wrong decision in regards to Manchester United, because it is interesting to see what has happened since. "The purchase of Manchester United was all sorted with Martin Edwards and was going to be sealed within 28 days." He said: "Later I went home and said to my wife Patricia that I'd pulled off a good deal to buy Manchester United - £11.5m was a lot of money then. So instead I went back to Martin Edwards and Manchester United and said the deal is done but told him that if he floated Manchester United on the stock market, he would get a lot more than £11.5m."

Source: Daily Mirror March 29, 2026 09:43 UTC