Andy Burnham to Publish Manchester City Ownership Meeting Records
Andy Burnham has said he will publish details of his past meetings with Manchester City after criticism of his comments on the prospect of the club’s Abu Dhabi ownership selling. The former Greater Manchester mayor insisted that investment discussions must be distinguished from the separate regulatory case confronting the Premier League champions.
Disclosure follows calls for clarity over City contacts
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called on Burnham to release all material connected to his dealings with Manchester City during his time as mayor. The demand followed the circulation of photographs showing Burnham alongside City chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak.
Burnham said the records will be made public on Monday. He said he was content to release the information requested and stressed that the contacts were not recent. His only substantial meeting with the club’s representatives, he said, took place in 2021.
He had drawn criticism after saying he would be worried by a sale of the club by its Abu Dhabi-based owners, amid heightened scrutiny of Manchester City’s financial affairs.
Football case remains separate, Burnham says
An independent commission found that Manchester City had breached rules across a nine-year period, including through alleged sham agreements used to channel more than £830 million into football operations.
City continue to deny wrongdoing and have filed a formal appeal against the decision. The case will now be considered by a separate independent appeal board, with any major sanctions not yet finalised.
Burnham accepted that the football allegations are serious and must be resolved through the independent process. However, he argued that attempts to secure Gulf investment for Greater Manchester should not be treated as the same issue as the club’s regulatory case.
Timeline of the developing issue
- Manchester City were found by an independent commission to have broken rules over nine years, involving contracts alleged to have diverted more than £830 million into the club’s football side.
- Burnham faced backlash after expressing concern at the possibility of Abu Dhabi ownership departing Manchester City.
- Badenoch sought full disclosure of Burnham’s previous meetings and work involving the club.
- Burnham confirmed that he will release the relevant records, identifying 2021 as the date of his sole significant meeting.
- Manchester City appealed the verdict as they resumed their Premier League programme with a 3-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
City’s campaign continues during appeal
The 3-0 victory at Anfield underlined that City will continue competing as normal while the appeal process runs. The result came as political and diplomatic attention around the club’s ownership and financial case remained intense.
- Burnham plans to publish his past Manchester City meeting records on Monday.
- He says the main meeting during his mayoral period was held in 2021.
- Manchester City maintain their innocence and have formally challenged the commission’s ruling.
- Any severe punishment remains subject to the appeal process.
- City returned to league action by defeating Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield.
