"Red Knights" approach Nomura over Man Utd deal

LONDON, March 8 (Reuters) - A group of wealthy supporters looking to put a bid together for English soccer club Manchester United have approached Nomura (8604.T) to see if it will act as financial adviser, a person familiar with the situation said.

Japanese investment bank Nomura would not comment.

The Red Knights, a collection of financial figures including former Football League chairman Keith Harris and Goldman Sachs (GS.N) chief economist Jim O'Neill, has said it was looking at whether it could mount a bid for the club.

The group has said takeover plans were at an early stage but it had received a very good level of interest from potential backers. Approaching financial advisers would mark a further signal of intent.

The Glazer family, which owns Manchester United and also the Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football team, has said the soccer club was not for sale.

The Glazers bought Manchester United, Premier League champions for the past three seasons, in 2005 for about 790 million pounds ($1.2 billion), against a wave of opposition from fans who feared they were loading it up with too much debt.

Its debt has since swelled to about 716 million pounds and a growing number of fans have started to protest on match days. (Reporting by Kate Holton; Additional reporting by Steve Slater) ($1 = 0.6590 pound)