MANCHESTER United fans opposed to Malcolm Glazer ranging from City lawyers and businessmen to militant streetwise Reds.

It is a formidable army ranged against the American tycoon, prepared to fight what they call a "dirty war" on several fronts.

At the sophisticated end are Shareholders United, whose ultimate aim is to attempt to wrest control of the club from big business and place it in the hands of the fans.

And at the dirtier end are the Manchester Education Committee, whose invasion of the pitch during last week's reserve team game showed they have a grasp of publicity as well as being prepared to take the fight to grass-roots level.

The main players are keen to show a united front, and that is why earlier this year the various groups of fans came together under the "Not For Sale" banner, aimed at co-ordinating and concerting efforts to oppose Glazer.

These different groups have learned the lessons of the successful battle against Rupert Murdoch five years ago, and have spent the intervening years honing their considerable weaponry

So what is the nature of the forces ranged against Glazer?

SU

Shareholders United, the biggest of the various groups, are at the forefront of the fight - this is their territory.

Headed by corporate lawyer Nick Towle, the group's raison d'etre is to persuade ordinary fans to buy up enough shares on the club to give supporters an effective voice, and even a controlling influence, at Old Trafford.

With various alliances with other United fans who hold a stake in the club, including one wealthy Mancunian who last week pledged the pull of his '750,000-worth of shares, they claim they could muster around 18 percent of shareholders to oppose any Glazer bid.

They also aim to make it clear to Glazer that he would take over a club in which the majority of supporters, or "customers" as the plc might have it, are vehemently opposed to his rule. That is not an attractive proposition for any businessman.

IMUSA

Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, was formed to represent fans in every day matters, such as ticket pricing and allocation, the standing issue, and over-zealous policing.

They will provide bodies on the ground for the campaign - leafleting, protests, T-shirts - all the trappings of any political campaign.

But the IMUSA stance is firmly that all the various groups have to come together under the "Not for Sale" banner.

MEC

Manchester Education Committee are a secretive and committed group who prefer direct action against Glazer and anyone who shows any support.

Theirs is the language of subversion, promising to target any sponsors or supporters of Glazer, and to start a "civil war" at United which would pitch what they call the football club, ie the supporters, against the plc.

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