ANGRY Manchester United fans have organised an anti-Malcolm Glazer march immediately prior to next Wednesday's Champions League clash with AC Milan.
By then, supporters could know whether Glazer is to push through his takeover attempt but even if the American's intentions remain undecided, they believe it is a major opportunity to put their point across.
The 'Not For Sale Coalition' hope the march, which will start at the Old Trafford Metrolink stop next to Lancashire County Cricket ground at 7pm and proceed down Sir Matt Busby Way, is as successful as the similar protest held before October's Barclays Premiership clash with Arsenal.
On that occasion, thousands of fans marched peacefully, carrying banners proclaiming their desire to keep United out of private hands.
Mark Longden, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, said: "We are calling on all supporters to show their opposition to Glazer taking over our club.
"It's time for us to show the board that the business is doomed if this or any other individual takes over our club.
"The last march to the ground before the Arsenal game in October was a great success and really contributed to the excellent atmosphere inside the stadium.
"It's a big night on the pitch, let's make it a big night off it as well."
Glazer began limited due diligence on Monday as he assesses whether his intended '800million bid plans stack up.
Although United chief executive David Gill claimed on Friday Glazer's approach was 'aggressive' and potentially 'damaging' and stated he did not feel it was likely the Red Devils board would be able to recommend a formal offer on the terms placed in front of them, supporters remain wary.
There have already been suggestions Glazer would alter his proposals to ensure Gill's backing and with the intentions of major shareholders John Magnier and JP McManus unclear, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner could yet succeed in his aims.
Notable figures at Old Trafford, including Sir Alex Ferguson, have previously indicated their desire to see the club remain Stock Market listed, while on Monday, popular striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was confirmed as a patron of Shareholders United, another fans organisation to lobby against Glazer's involvement.
Fans have also mounted campaigns against club sponsors and have warned of a total boycott of United's merchandising operation should Glazer take control.
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The dirty tricks have already started. Slurs about shareholders united and the Sun seems in the glazer camp. Apart from running stories about the board opening up the books, that the coolmore 2 will sell, they are alone in stiring up the alleged Ronaldo contract row. Why else would they come out with stories designed to show the board is tightfisted other than to 'suggest' a new owner would open the pursestrings. But Murdoch be warned, if glazer does get united, not only will I boycott anything that contributes to his greedy pockets, I will immediately cancel my Sky subscription cos I wont be watching any football. Instead I will switch my allegiance from my home town team, to my nearest local team now, Brighton, who have finally fought off grasping speculators and developers who virtually destroyed their club. What was their Goldstone Ground is now a very nondescript shopping mall.
Download this: http://www.clubfootball.co.uk/redissue/nocustomersnoprofit.gif
print it out, makes copies, take them to the march.
Johniejohn should have been supporting his local team anyway instead of jumping on the bandwagon of greedy divine righteousness you find at the Theatre of CHEATING. Boycott United and donate your money to a club who will appriciate it more,in the meantime all Johny proves is that most of MU fans come from towns or cities who have poor teams,they become frustrated and UNLOYAL and cheat on their own doorsteps for glory,HOW SAD !!!!
I hear their re naming the swamp. The Home of the Brave maybe ?
Simon Johnson, the Liverpool fan from Altrincham? You're not in your late 20's by any chance are you? Glory hunter!!
Simon Johnston- Think you'd better read johniejohns post again before you resort to the predictable blue manta. Clue-'home town'. 2-0 in yer cup final......and we didn't even play well hahaha.
For those who do not understand the meaning of 'local team' I was born and grew up within walking distance of Old Trafford and lived there till I went to university at 18. I was in my last year at primary school when United last won the then 1st Division championship and remember every one of our 26 year wait without switching allegiance for pothunter reasons.
I presume Simon of Altrincham is upset cos United Reserves play on the ground where, by his logic, what should be his team, plays.
How can Mark longden say that the protest contributed to an electric atmosphere inside the ground when a group of approximately 50 of your so called peaceful protesters charged the shop and fought police and stewards before trashing the megastore!
Lets get real for once, your harbouring idiots among your protesters!
Save your shoe leather boys cos you can walk up and down busby way from now till next year and you wont stop the YANK walking straight into old traford!!!
`Tis the Star-Spangled Banner, Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the slave.
Having been associated with Manchester United since being a toddler (not always closely - in particular since the World Cup in 1966 and the last, refused/rejected chance to co-operate with certain parties in this country and the USA), I cannot help but believe that Manchester United's reluctance to entertain Malcolm Glazier is in part due to a worry relating to the SKELETONS which he is more than likely to find IN THE CUPBOARD if he should succeed in his takeover bid (metaphorically speaking, of course!)
johnniejohn, if you can turn your back on United just like that, because of who owns the club, then you will be no loss. I'm sick to death of so-called fans threatening to stop supporting the team and boycotting merchandise just because they don't like the owner. In the time I've supported United they've had Louis and Martin Edwards as owners/majority shareholders. Neither would win a popularity contest but it didn't stop me supporting the team because its in the blood. Its obviously not in your blood jonniejohn or anybody else who is threatening to turn their back on Utd.
My boycott of merchandise started years ago.Once they (plc) had taken the words 'football club' off our club crest,I realised that this was'nt the club I had started to worship as a young boy in the 60's.
My whole life has been dedicated to Manchester United Football Club. I certainly have no loyalty to a bunch of shareholders whose only objective is to yield as high a dividend as possible for themselves, and not the club. Half of these shareholders are not interested in United one iota bar the financial gains they seek!
When I use to pay to go through the turnstile, I always felt that my money was going to the benefit of the club,especially in times of advertisty like the early 70's ,when we were'nt doing so well. Now all of a sudden since our sucess in the Fergie years we are ripped off, and the role of a supporter to the club now is one of a 'commodity'to reap high dividends to shareholders.
You would not see me dead in a shirt emblazoned with a telephone company on.You are just like a walking billboard,and they should be paying you for walking around like a 'Christmas Tree' advertising a brand name.
What needs to be done and quickly is to get the 'club' back in the hands of the fans,and the words, 'Football Club' restored to our crest. Until that happens I would'nt even buy a meat pie and make these shareholder cronies any richer than they already are.
Glazer must fail..!!!
M.U.F.C. MUST WIN..!!!!
Simon Johnson is a liverpool from, born n bred in Altrincham. Whats that all about????? You scouse wannabe!!!!
Andy of staffs, it would break my heart, but United would cease to be a community, merely a cash machine for some absentee landlord in America. In many ways, I would liken it to the Labour party. I have always voted Labour, including twice for Blair, but so called New Labour has hijacked the party and the values I voted for. I can never again vote Labour with Blair as leader. Obviously I could never vote tory, so this May I will either abstain or vote Libdem, until such time as a genuine Labour party rises up.
YOu may glibly think the likes of me are no loss, but that simply reflects your shallow shortminded failure to appreciate what is truly valuable in life
Its obvious that people who are greedy, blue or just ignorant, opt not to see why opposing glazers take over is so essential to the continuation of manchester uniteds heritage.
Can't they understand that being part of a group, in this case 'shareholders' can amount to more than just a financial interest.... in this case it is passion, history, family investing an avid interest... yet all this is at risk of being totally marred by just one very selfish greedy man whose interest is just a financial one. (if it was one of morale, then he would be taking notice and acknowledging the fans feelings by taking a diversion of his financial interest and maybe heading it towards someone that might need his borrowed finances, like the blues!)
If this was a different public investment issue, than involving fooball, then i would foresee the government being involved, at least at some level.
Theres no point in paying for something you don't believe in, if manchester united chooses not to believe in its fans and shoo glazer away, then theres no point in the fans being part of that club anymore....
From now on ALL my nike gear is going to have the symbol covered up with black tape! I won't be topping up my vodafone credit either, i'd rather go without than line pockets of the enemy!
Jonniejohn, it stopped been a community when it was floated on the stock market, people just don't seem to grasp that. Glazer and the other shareholders are already bleeding the club dry. I'm not necessarily in favour of Glazer but rather than walk away I would rather try and make it a success. Jonniejohn lets say you have a daughter who you love but she marries somebody who you don't like and think only wants her for her money. Would you walk away from your daughter or help her make a success of her marriage. You don't turn your back on something valuable in life and that's what United are to me. I'm afraid it is you who are short minded as you put it.
Yes Andy, you are bloody right
but there is another problem! If you really hate somebody (and I mean REALLY :..) than you are going to wish him the worst things... yknow? I just hope somebody will throw a grenade into his dirty house.. and its all over... aint it? send him to hell!
Red Tom, you are a disgrace! It is because of 'fans' like you that the whole country despises us and call us arrogant and obnoxious. I wish people like you did not support Man Utd. - THEN we might not be so hated!
Again - can't believe what I'm reading from you reds!! Andy, you are the only one talking any sense.
The plc will ALWAYS act in the best interests of the shareholders (not the fans) because they have a LEGAL obligation to do so - forget emotion that is the truth of it. When a club or company or whatever is a plc the aim is always produce a decent return for its investors - stip whinging and support your club.