The Glazers' £790million takeover was greeted with outright hostility by some sections of United's massive fanbase.
Brothers Joel, Avram and Bryan needed to be smuggled out of Old Trafford under police supervision when they completed their buyout in 2005.
Although the viciousness of the opposition to their involvement has reduced, family members can still be the subject of isolated attacks on their visits to Manchester and rebel club FC United, set up as a direct result of the Glazer takeover, continues to attract huge numbers for their position in the English football pyramid.
Chief among the current complaints are rising ticket prices, a refusal to speak to the media on any meaningful basis since Joel Glazer conducted an interview with in-house station MUTV in the aftermath of the takeover and a failure to outline the true scale of the repayments on the mammoth debt that has been lodged against the Old Trafford club.
The latter concern may be addressed later this month, when United are expected to smash the world record profit figure for a football club, which the Glazer family will no doubt use to back up their belief the Red Devils legacy is in safe hands.
And Ferguson would not disagree, claiming the family have always been firmly supportive and pointing out the stability at United compared to the problems which have existed at other clubs recently, notably Liverpool.
"At a number of clubs there have been problems with friction between managers and owners but you can see how smoothly the United ship is running as far as that is concerned, despite early hostility over the Glazer family's ownership," he said.
"Those protests were unfair because they weren't given a chance but the Glazers kept their cool and our owners have been nothing but supportive.
"Good teamwork starts at the top and I am happy to say, that is what we have at Old Trafford." Tweet
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The cracks are starting to appear and Fergie won't be there much longer!
Now he's telling the fans to lay off the Glazers.
What next? He will be telling the media that this is the greatest MU team he's ever had.....sorry, I forgot, he said that only a months or so ago.
MEN, nevermind telling us how much it cost for the takeover, what size DEBT have they got? How is it being repaid? What are the interest costs on the debt? When will it all be repaid by?
Do I care?
Pie in the sky - I believe Sir Alex said this was the best squad he has had in his time at Man U.
You are either a Man U fan or not.
Sure the debt is a huge concern and it is hard to know how much of Utd's record income is due to the Glazers and how much to Gill and Co. To read your remarks though you'd think Man U personally owes you.
As Sir Alex once said to some Man U fans while waiting for his luggage, you can always support Chelsea. See, they have no debt, or rather the debt belongs to the Russian people.
Fare go Alex. The supporters hand over their hard earned cash. Your happy to pick up a swag of that cash as are the Glazers.
So don't go telling them what to do. Entertainment is entertainment, and a customer is a customer.
Trying to deflect the blame for horrendous midfield selections over the holiday programme?
Trying to get some cash for panic buying in January?
Anyone daft enough to be conned into paying 18 million for Carrick and ratifying lucrative contracts for O'Shea and Fletcher needs buttering up!
Wrong comments at the wrong time from the Great Man. Is he nervous, in panic cos the gooners are doing better without having to splash all the cash we spent? OT crowd was branded "prawn sandwich" by Keano a few years ago, now it's Fergie's time to turn the screw on who are paying his and his players wages, indecent (imo), We all owe SAF for what he achieved for the club, but doesn't he owe something to the almost packed OT crowd? I think so? The Glazers might be great businessmen, all we care about is Manchester United and his future, cos the vast majority of us is living and breathing for this club, not to mention the impossibility for millions of fans around the world (and now the country due to the high ticket prices), can't even dream about going to OT! I have a lot of respect for the Man and what he did and doing, but be care not to have a backlash by critising who really feeds MU, you could reach the opposite effect of what you're looking for : our support. Yes "we can all support Chelsea", but why don't you manage them? I'm very sad about SAF comments, it's really out of the blue
Well said Frank! Whilst Ferguson's generally awake again- with the notable exception of being mugged on Carrick- 2 things that never change are the PR disasters & avoidable digs at fans who've been paying his wages for 20yrs.
Frank, exactly. What happened to keeping it internal? Its cringe every quote time, when he starts spouting about Glazers or departed supporters. Give it a rest SAF!
Frank, what has SAF saying that he works well with the Glazers got to do with any of the points that you tried to make? Where does what SAF said related to Carrick, Fletcher and O'Shea? The selection for the last two games is more to do with who hadn't gone down with the gastric bug than any strategic plan. I don't see United making any 'panic' buys in January. Things are exceptionally good for us at the moment. We've got a great squad and we're competing at the top of the league. Some of the play this year has been sublime. Will you every be satisfied?
I think his comments are aimed at the "fans" who can now afford to turn up.
As a season ticket holder, I sent them my renewal back with a "no thanks" and a few comments I wanted answering.
I received nothing.
MUFC is no longer for the fans; of those that go, I reckon you're looking at the thick end of 60% of the attendees are "Man Utd today Arsenal tomorrow" types.
All of us who have been season ticket holders for many years will have noticed the reduction in fans and the increase in corporates otherwise known as the silents.
there is just no atmosphere at OT any more and I just hope that they will drop their ridiculous pricing and try and get us disenfranchised season ticket holders back.
I've got a kid on the way and I would hope that MUFC will be in his / her blood and that they could go to the games too.
At present, this isn't looking likely.
Personally, I think the Glazers have been good since they took over. They've backed the manager heavily in the transfer market, and not interfered in the footballing side of things unlike Roman Abramovich.
Sure, certain people moan about ticket prices etc, but when you compare the cost of tickets to Arsenals and other 'lesser' clubs, ours are incredibly reasonable. You don't hear Arsenal moaning about it in the same Fashion our fans do, and considering the cost of their tickets, plus little to no activity in the transfer market, that is saying alot.
Sure they could lower ticket prices, at the expense of no activity in the transfer market.
Which would you prefer?
If that happened then the fans would be moaning about no new signings.
The reality of it is, you can't have your cake and eat it.
Ferguson is spouting out alot of strange comments lately, which is not like him. Is he losing his grasp in the dressing room? Is he feeling the pressure and the realisation that Arsenal could surpasse Manchester United as the biggest club in England? Is kissing the Glazers behind an attempt to get cash and panic buy in the transfer market to save a season that could potentially go downhill?
Why is Ferguson suddenly turning on the fans? It's all very strange and something is definitely not right behind the scenes.
Perhaps the Glazers are not happy with the comments the fans are making, hence drawing a halt to transfer activity, which in turns causes Fergie to throw his toys out the pram and blame those who he sees as responsible, i.e. The Fans.
there is a famous saying that i believe aplies here: dont bite the hand that feeds you. and alex should remember that!
I never think about the debt or the Glazers. All I think about is the team on the field and are the producing. Are they playing well as a team or has the other manager done a better job preparing for the game than Fergie. What I've noticed over the last year is the dependancy we have on Rooney and Ronaldo. It's not good but when either is not playing, we don't fire on all cylinders. Carrick played every game with Spurs so maybe that's his problem with United. I thought Carrick and Hargreaves were our future than along came Anderson. It probably unsettles Carrick because he is a much better player than we are seeing. One solution might be to play Hargreaves at right back with Carrick and Anderson in the middle. They both need games. Nani is a year away and needs to be running the left wing every game just like Ryan used to. JOS is a keeper but Wes, Louis and Darren are becoming surplus. Go for Berbatov and see if there is any interest in these three. Keane would take all three but maybe Spurs should get first dibs in a Berbatov deal. I have no problems going with three strikers with the quality of Rooney, Tevez and Berbatov.
A comment about Berbatov - all would be well while Utd were winning (and maybe they would do just that with Berbatov in the team) but he is not a streetfighter like Tevez and Rooney. Would he graft when things were going against the team? And who would sit out and would they be happy?
What I love about Rooney and Tevez is that when one is injured we have a ready-made replacement. And we have yet to see the best from the two. Tevez's finish yesterday was pure Rooney.
Having said all that I think Berbatov would add a new dimension to Utd's play. And where would Utd be if all 4 -Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo and Berbatov - got 20 goals each a season. Why it may even raise the odd cheer at OT...
Fergie's comments are not IMO aimed at United fans generally, they are aimed at certain "fans' groups", who have made a great hulabaloo about the debt and the Glazers. With United apparently due to announce world-record profits, it seems those "fans' groups" were mistaken all along.
At first the concerns about the glzaers were quite understandable, however, after all their support to the manager in the transfer market and with their little or no involvment in the technical side of the team i think the hate and negative comments towards them is just too unfair.
I do respect the fact that supporters like myself that's not from Manchester might not feel or understand the passion the natives of Manchester feel, but for good heaven's sake Manchester United is a World renown soccer club that's got fans all over the world. Yes I don't go to Old Trafford every day but I do pay extra dollars in the USA just so i can see all the games on TV, and just so you guys know TV revenues is one of the highest yielding benefits towards the English premier league. Don't be so hateful towards foreigners lets respect the fact that we all do have rights to support and own what we can rightfully afford.
First I see nothing wrong with the manager demanding that those who attend the games at OT support the team in a loud and dynamic way. Second the takeover happened and I think it is time to get over that bit of business by now. Attacking the Glazers or making their visits to Manchester intolerable only reflects badly on those that commit such acts. Lastly I simpatize with those that cannot afford to attend games any longer and I understand your gripe about raising ticket prices but what should be first priority is supporting the team not your individual circumstances.
I don't understand how people repeatedly misunderstand that the vast majority of glazer critics have only one thing against them. That is that they have raised ticket prices way in excess of inflation straight after the plc did the same thing. On top of that they also introduced a cup scheme that penalises season ticket holders further by insisting that holders buy extra tickets for cup matches. For most Glazer knockers its as simple as that. Its not hating Americans.
Alias, please could you explain how you equate United about to announce world record profits to Supporters Groups being wrong about the Glazer takeover???? Do tell where, rather who pays these record profits? Do these profits now mean we have no problems with our world record debts? Please enlighten us all!
SAF if these things bother you so much after being paid around 20 million to manage the greatest club in the world I am sure that you know the solution...Utd have been the most profitable and best supported club in the world for many years,that is why the glazers and the rest of the business world have found them an irresitable attraction.The Glazers would not consider an investment in the club unless it could be returned with profits and no risk,that is the reason they are billionaires.I would like to know how the club is going to be presented as the most profitable in the sporting world if it is still 660 million in debt with interest payments we are told at nearly 100 million per year.Does this interest seem rather high??? and which finacial institutions lent this money. It is wrong to blame the Glazers for the business of buying the club,this is another aspect of globalization, the sale only went through because of the greed shown by the previous owners/shareholders.
I'm amused!!! If anybody thinks that SAF doesn;t speak his own mind, then I strongly disagree.
I mean he is 66, a multi-millionaire, won all there is to win in the game as a manager, and can walk away anytime with his head held high. And he is reputedly a black belt at judo too, so definitely wouldn;t want to mess with him!
For all you who think debt is a problem, guess what, we're still here and very profitable. We are not as cash strapped as you think. Banks are the most indebted organizations in the world, yet have you seen any go down lately - well apart from Northern Rock because they took out a high risk position in the US housing market loan business. We have a strong business and a global fan base - btw, being from Eccles, I welcome you all coz you all contribute to the club's finances, i.e. support Man U.
I'm sorry for the grassroots fans, but the game has evolved. Yes, maybe there is injustice you can't go to every game every week but the up side is that other fans can take your turn to see the team play too. So carry cheering on the team when you're there!
I think most people were suffering hangovers from New Year celebrations, I know I`m always a lot quieter than otherwise after a night on the beer!
I bet Sir Fergie was feeling a wee bit helpless himself, being stuck up in the posh seats between Sir Bobby and David Gill, probably couldn`t even swear aloud in that company....
I agree that on the face of it, the Glazers seem to be good for United, and good for Sir Fergie. Remember the trouble the major shareholders used to cause ??
The club seems to be running a whole lot smoother than in the years prior to the Glazers. OK, it`s not OUR United, but then again, it never was, not in the last 80 years anyway! Or have any of yous got so much dosh that you can pay the players wages and other running costs?
Glad Sir Fergie`s still there, glad the Glazers let him do the job, and it`s a shame that so many real football supporters have left because of the Glazers (?). There`s noone better at what he does than Sir Fergie.
Support the team, enjoy the football, love the Club! And at the end of the day he`s probably right you know, when the crowd get behind the team, they play better....
UNITED! UNITED!
So the Glaziers have done nothing wrong then Fergie? Tickets prices went up by 14% last season and we were forced us to join the cup scheme (hence season tickets sales went down from 64,000 to 58,000 despite being champions), and I hear tickets are to go up by 14% again this summer, forcing many more life long reds to stop going to due to the cost (I suppose somebody has to pay for the £4000 a head parties the players now go on). Working class fans can’t afford tickets yet Fergie moan’s about the atmosphere, perhaps Fergie has been a millionaire for to many years now and has forgot what it like to live in the real world.
Red Dawn....Don't be so naiive. It's easy to show your support for the Glazers from the comfort of your armchair.
It's not so pallatable when your season ticket (like mine!) has rose nigh on 40% in three seasons.
Have these rises been imposed on us loyal fans just to bring United 'in line' when the other glamour clubs in the Premier League, ie. Chelsea & Arsenal, or is it to pay the massive debts saddled onto OUR club..?? Perhaps it was to pay for the obscene paypackets these so called superstars take home every week..??
Maybe it's all three. Maybe i'll give my season ticket up when the next 15% rise is announced in the summer.
STOP PRESS "Alex Ferguson has branded criticism of the Glazer family by Manchester United supporters as 'unfair’" MORE BREAKING NEWS "The Greeks invent the wheel"
I have to admit that a lot of the predicted doom and gloom with the Glazers hasn't happened but the debt is still a huge concern, especially when you read reports that they are struggling to repay the interest because of the economic downturn in the USA. OK so they don't intefere with playing matters but if the debt gets out of control there wont be a team or club to intefere with!