THE chief executive of Manchester United, which last week announced a large rise in profits and at the weekend won a place in the FA Cup Final, has sold 785,000 of his shares in the company. Mr Martin Edwards sold the shares, which amounted to more than 5 per cent of his total holding, on Friday at 270p a share, said the company. His wife sold 350,000 shares at the same price. Mr Edwards still owns more than 14.3 million shares, amounting to 23 per cent of the equity. The club said the transaction was a private matter for Mr Edwards, who was not available for comment.