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David Gill: MUST at war with Manchester United owners

STRONG VIEWS: David Gill
Manchester United chief executive David Gill has declared he would continue to snub fan groups who were "at war with the owners".

Gill leapt to the defence the Glazer regime at Old Trafford, insisting the Americans had made United stronger since their 2005 takeover and claiming the debt they had saddled on the club had had "no impact" on Sir Alex Ferguson's ability to buy players.

The United board have refused to enter into dialogue with groups such as the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) and the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMUSA), who are fundamentally opposed to the Glazers' ownership.

This policy was challenged today by a House of Commons Select Committee as part of a wider inquiry into football governance, with Gill asked whether he was simply avoiding engaging with those who disagreed with him.

But he was unmoved, saying: "If we're going to be castigated for not speaking to one or two groups who have particular, very clear agendas, then so be it.

"We'll take the castigation."

Gill was adamant United did respect the opinions of their fans and held forums with them three to four times a year to gauge - and often act upon - their concerns.

"We'd be naive and stupid if we didn't understand what the fans think, what they want, and reflect that in our business policy," said Gill, who insisted he had no problem with MUST and IMUSA members attending such forums as individual United supporters.

But he added: "At the same time, we're not going to engage in structured dialogue with organisations like that.

"I don't think it's appropriate or sensible.

"They're at war with the owners."

Dismissing the rebels as "domestic" supporters, Gill said: "We've done studies that show we have 333 million followers around the world.

"Not everyone hates the owners.

"When we first went public in 1991, a lot of fans didn't like the club at that time.

"They loathed the Edwards family."

Their current enmity is centred largely on the issue of United's ownership being leveraged by debt, for which the club pay annual interest in the region of £45million.

Critics argue that is money which could otherwise be spent on players or reducing ticket prices at Old Trafford.

"There's been no impact in terms of our transfers," said Gill, who insisted any extra spending power United might have if debt-free was offset by the additional revenue streams the Glazers had tapped into.

Claiming United's debts were perfectly serviceable, he added: "The £45million, if that wasn't there, that would be better in some respects.

Development

"But, at the same time, it's not hampered us developing the club.

"Our net spend on players since the owners took over is greater than it was in the five or six years before that."

Gill also defended the Glazers' unwillingness to communicate directly with the fans, saying: "The owners have delegated that to myself, the team we have, Alex Ferguson.

"I can give you other examples where owners have not spoken directly to the fans."

However, giving evidence at the same inquiry, Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn questioned whether a wall of silence from a foreign owner was productive.

He said: "People don't know how the Glazers actually feel deep down in their hearts about when a referee makes a bad decision.

"Do they go home really fed up after a game like we all do? Or are they taking a call from the golf course wondering how the team got on today?"

Gill, who watched Barclays Premier League leaders United suffer hugely damaging defeats at Chelsea and Liverpool in the past week, retorted: "I can ensure the committee that our owners had a very bad week."

Gill was also criticised for the club's handling of Wayne Rooney's transfer request earlier this season.

The United chief was accused of "rewarding bad behaviour" by handing the England striker a pay rise following his threat to quit the club.

"I don't think it's particularly outrageous," said Gill, who insisted the saga had not served to encourage players and agents to demand ever-more astronomical wages.

"We've done deals with certain players recently and the impact of what we paid Wayne never came up.

"I don't think we should hone in on Wayne Rooney is this particular situation."

What do you make of Gill's comments? Have your say.

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David Gill your arrogance is shocking.

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Its better to be at war with The Glazers than in with them like Gill Charlton and Fergie

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Debt is the road to ruin eh.....

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Intentionaly or not, Gill and Fergie are destroying United

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as to be expected - lip service to fans who help fill the glazers coffers - hate glazer/ gill love united

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If it wasn't all so tragic, the full transcript of Gill's testimony is absolutely hilarious. Do check it out.

Ps That's right, Safe Hands! Most Utd fans love the Glazers - they're great!!!!!!!

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Meanwhile, in other news...

"Gaddafi is a decent man who loves his people," says Gill;

"Manchester enjoys tropical climate," says Gill;

"Michael Carrick world class midfielder," says Gill.

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Gill reminds me of hte Iraqi Information Officer, remember him????

"I can categorically declare there are no US tanks in Bagdhad" just as they were all rolling in behind him

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Total disrespect to all Reds....Utd fans not worthy to talk to!
Anyway...
In the real world..I invite ISDEP...Wirral Bill...Robbo N2409 and other Reds of a couple of years standing...log on to tshirtsutd.com and click onto "The Banks Of The River Irwell".....a Utd players version of the famous Sgt Pepper album cover.
My order has already winged it's way.

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could we have the truth for once david !

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Too right Gill. As I have said many times before, MUST have failed the fans, they could and should have been a force for good but they were far too interested in their own self-promotion and importance. By encouraging actions designed to harm the interests of the club (in the hope that they personally would one day be in a position of power at OT) they blew any chance they ever had of a sensible dialogue with the owners or even the board.

That would all be bad enough, but what have MUST ever actually achieved for the fans? Absolutely nothing, that's what.

MUST are enemies of the club and they are therefore enemies of the fans they claim to represent.

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We'll see in the summer if this MYTHICAL £100million for new players actually appears.

Or, as I predict, will there be "NO VALUE IN THE TRANSFER MARKET" YET AGAIN!!!

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Dont worry t&C Will be on soon to put all you muppets in your place..Anyone seen i am god..He as not been seen all weekend his mum thinks he might be with ramblas as he as gone missing as well..

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Mr. Gill is spot on! Why should the owners talk to a group whose sole objective is the complete removal of present ownership from anything to do with the club. Money talks if MUST had the cash they could have brought the team last year. When and if MUST buys the club then they can call the shots. Until then..lump it.

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He bites the hand that feeds the club. Green and Gold was obviously not taken seriously. They think we will continue to go to games no matter what the onfield product is. I think there may be some empty seats next season if this arrogance and lack of investment in the team continues.

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I have just checked on the MUST website and their are currently 167,089 members and I am one of them. How dare this arrogant so and so say it is not appropiate to speak to our representatives.

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Well done David Gill. You've saved MEN's ad revenues with that one. All the antis will be up in arms and spouting the usual nonsense and meanwhile the commercial director of Menmedia will be licking his lips and United will continue onwards and upwards in it's own serene way.

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You can have very bad english owners, very bad british owners. We just happen to have very bad American ones, and a management team that has lost the plot. Sorry SAF, you have lost the plot and its becoming more evident each week. New contracts are the latest evidence of that. I don't think SAF has become incompetent. He has just become a puppet and its really sad to see his career ending this way.

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Forget about all the damn infighting !! and lets concentrate on winning our games for goodness sake !

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Gill:
You and people like you will be excluded from Manchester United in the future when the club is in safe hands. Meaning the fans.

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The anti brigade are debilitating and I think the distraction they cause has lost us points and so, whether they mean it or not, they are not our friends but our enemies. As such Gill is right to ignore them. If only everyone else would, we could concentrate on on-field activities. People should understand that there is a London based media plot against Manchester United and they will exaggerate every possible weakness. YOu will perhaps notice that the press are still making more of Rooney's slap on McCarthy than they are of Carragher's disgraceful challenge and, when you understand why that is, you will understand why we should forget such idiots as MUST, Red Knights etc. I support United - therefore I support Sir Alex and David Gill wholeheartedly. End of story.

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Diary of a chairman - aged 54 and 3/4

1. Met with some nice gentleman in London.
2. Told them everything is rosy (Especially for Michael and his new contract!)
3. Also told them i dont like my new green and gold shirt mum bought me...yukky!
4. Trying to grow a beard like my new friends from America...just wont grow!
5. Mum said i must work on my communication skills...not likely!
6. Piggy bank is overflowing at home...must buy a new one for next year
7. Decided i dont like all this arguing and nonsense. Made me have an upset tummy.

"A lot of the fans want to ensure that there's money to be spent on the team, that they come to a safe, modern stadia, that (United) play exciting, attractive football. And I think we've delivered on those accounts."

Another referring to the past with little good news for the future. Spin and spin.

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No David, Manchester United owners are at war with the fans!!

Wheres the 80 million from the Ronaldo sale? wheres the ambition to attract top players? i dont want a fantasy football frenzy year in year out...but when you see whats happening to the team and the directions its going in then you cant blame fans for being frustrated!

LOVE UNITED HATE GLAZIER

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I think Glazers, Gill and SAF know that this could have been done different by all parties. The fans whoever the group may be has a right to be concerned about the club especially since the owners used a leveraged buyout to purchase the club. What done is done and the only thing that matters now is doing what is best for the club that clearly needs rebuilding especially in midfield. The Glazers need to step forward and ensure that funds are spent on improving the club not just say funds are available for the manager to used as he see fit. We all have had enough of the crypted words about the state of the market when we can see for selves that this club needs additional help. Want to be accepted by the majority of the fans improve the team first and then get rid of the debt on the club. I guarantee you the owners will be accepted by the majority of the fans if you do that. Enough with the talk. Do what best for the club or you will have a problem with all fans if the team cannot compete with the rest of the big teams simply for the fact of who owns the club and how they brought it.

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We post on here as 100%+ commiitted fans of our clubs,mostly Manc Red or Blue although one or two lesser lights from Merseyside join in at times, but who knows what effect our views have at our beloved clubs?
We are all experts of course, although some get very 'bitter' and too often rant in personal attacks - usually inflamed by rampant jealousy inbred over 35 years of course.
But do we have any impact on our respective owners,players, or managers?
Does anyone know if anyone official from MUFC or MCFC reads this stuff at all, or is it just us saddos who use it let off steam?
Probably the latter, which is disappointing, but then still I like winding up the small club - next to ASDA - with the fans aching for success.
Forget the Glazers I own my personal football destiny, and chose right by being a MUFC red.

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