The gaping financial chasm between top-rung club football in England and Ireland was highlighted this week, with the posting of respective financial results for Manchester United and Bohemians, one of the biggest Dublin clubs.

United last year recorded revenues of £433 million (€544 million) and a profit of almost £24 million.

Bohs, which with 11 league titles is one of Ireland’s most successful clubs, suffered a 14 per cent drop in its revenues . . . to €675,000.

Bohs made a loss of €72,000, has a near €2 million hole in its balance sheet and is saddled with a bank loan of more than €4.3 million. The club is doing its best to be prudent in difficult circumstances and managed its costs admirably. It will be a long time paying off those debts.

Bohs’ entire players wage bill for the year came in at €139,000.

That’s about enough to pay United captain Wayne Rooney’s salary for two and a half days.

It is a miracle that Irish club soccer survives on a commercial basis, considering it competes with the English game, and financial titans such as United, for the attention of Irish football fans and their money.