A DRAMATIC new offshoot of Manchester United is a weapon Reds fans groups are prepared to use in a last resort fight against US tycoon Malcolm Glazer.
The breakaway club would be called FC United in a sensational move that would mirror the one made by Wimbledon fans, who formed their own club when their team moved to Milton Keynes and then became MK Dons.
If American businessman Glazer is successful with his '800m takeover of Manchester United, then a coalition of fans have drawn up plans to wreck his ambitions for the club.
Those plans include persuading Old Trafford idol Eric Cantona, who has spoken of his anti-takeover feelings, to become president of the new club.
An even bolder move would be to approach Manchester city council to see whether the new club could share the Blues' City of Manchester Stadium.
Shareholders United spokesman Oliver Houston says the proposal is a tool fans would use as a last option if Glazer succeeds.
"A new breakaway club is a natural progression to what would happen if fans felt alienated, and that the club was no longer theirs, in the event of a Glazer takeover," he said.
Shareholders United and IMUSA United are planning a torchlight procession from Old Trafford cricket ground to the Reds' stadium an hour before Wednesday's Champions League tie against AC Milan.
Meanwhile United directors, eager to persuade shareholders not to support the proposed Glazer bid at 300p per share, are considering paying a special dividend to investors.
Would you support a rival club being set up? Have your say.
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Forza FC United. If, and it's still a big if at the moment, that cretin gets his mits on United, I for one will not be giving him a solitary penny.
I'd still want to go to the game with my pals somewhere, might as well start in the North West Counties and take it from there.
Sorry Boys, i understand the fustration, i too am annoyed with the Yank, but i just cant get the idea into my head of giving up on my beloved Utd, the history, the religon. At the end of the day, its the club we support, not the Players or owners. Once a red, always a red. i am sure deep down you all agree..:(
It's a last resort, of course, and I hope that we manage to fend off the asset-stripping leprechaun, but I am fascinated by the idea of FC United. A football club by the fans, for the fans - what a prospect. AFC Wimbledon have done fantastically well, and they've got a fraction of the support United can muster.
I'd be putting the B#600+ I spend on united tickets each year into the new club, and I'd be joined by a few thousand others. Glazer can by MUFC shares, but he can't buy the soul of the club.
Glazer may buy the trappings of MUFC, but the soul of the club will slip out of his grubby hands and be relocated to FC United.
Not to mention the tens of thousands of fans that will follow. Glazer's business plan, already poorly conceived, looks less tenable by the day.
No doubt in my mind this will happen if that yank gets his grubby hands on United. This day has been coming ever since Edwards floated the club to fill his own pockets. Now it's our turn to show it was never his to sell, because United belongs to us and we want it back.
What the money men never understand is that Manchester United plc isn't actually the club. We are the club; the fans, the people who turn up week in and week out, year in and year out, whether we've got a winning team or not.
The directors aren't the club. Most of them will cash their chips in at the first opportunity. The players aren't the club. They're here to earn a wage and stash away as much loot as they can while their knees hold up.
The only constant is us, the fans. We are the club, wherever that club might be.
As i'm not going to give that freakshow any of my money AND still want to watch football with my mates, then this seems the ideal way to go forward if done properly.
Quite simply the best idea I've heard in this whole Glazer farrago. United will be finished as we know it but this idea enables us to carry it on, in its purest form.
If Wimbledon fans can successfully carry it off, what is there to stop United fans doing likewise? I'll give 100% support to FC United and I'm sure many others will too.
If that prospect doesn't make Glazer's bankers think twice, then nothing will.
A brave and laudable idea. As someone further down said, the club is about the fans - we make it what it is. Without the fans there is no soul, no heart, no heritage or history. 20,000 reds camped out in COMS or Sale's stadium every week, while travelling the country supporting FC United would a) be a great laugh, and b) kill any idea of Glazer FC being an heir to the legacy of Meredith, Carey, Turnbull, Chilton, the Babes etc etc etc. We would take it with us (oh, and all our dosh too). Great idea, in the event our darkest fears are realised.
We, the support, have owned Manchester United all along. We carry our own little part - or share if you like - of it around with us each and every day. Manchester United lives in us. It is not a name. It is not a business. It is not tradeable. Where we go, Manchester United goes. And if we are forced down this route then the very essence of Manchester United will go with us. What Glazer will have is a shell, nothing more.
Totally not practical, although i understand why you'd like to play at COMS as opposed to inside that large bit of scaffolding. Look stop bleating, this horse bolted the day United became a plc - as such you are for sale, and will eventually be bought by Glazer, tough luck - you should have piped up when the club was floated - serves you all right....hahahahahahahahaha
Two weeks ago, after the Shareholders United flashmobbing of United's current sponsors, I stood in Shambles Square with my three-year-old son propped on a table outside Sinclairs. "Which ones are Manchester United?", he asked me. "All of us," I told him. "We're all Manchester United". That's the message that this idea is sending out. I support it wholeheartedly, and if the time comes it guarantees that my son and his younger brother will have something tangible, northern, and most importantly OURS to support.
Whoever the clown is posting as pretzels at half time then I say I would be carefull what you wish for because for Man City the worst thing that could happen is for United to cease being. The only reason you are bigger than clubs like Coventry, Birmingham etc is Man United. You have no history, No world renowened legendary players and so few trophies its pityfull. So a world without United would be a leap into mediocrity for your poxy rent a ground club. As for the Idea of FC United as a last resort it would be perfect. An up yours to Glazer and taking United back to its roots. Would be great if we could use the COMS as it was public funded and belongs to noone also it is where it all started. United reborn and owned by the fans. Be sad to turn our backs on the players and Fergie but who knows what would happen with that Yank in charge anyway and like Chelski Man Utd would lose all its relevance to its history. Absolutley everything must be done to make sure this isnt neccesarry.
Can we not get a better ground than the council house - the roof leaks and it has no soul. We'd be better off on Hough End.
What Glazer and his minions don't realise is that United supporters are unlike any others and will take whatever steps deemed neccessary to secure the preserrvation of the United tradition.
If that means continuing elsewhere in Salford or Manchester then so be it .
Lee - City own the lease on COMs for 250 years, same as like having a leasehold flat, squatters can't just move in..and yes, its great to know that so many United fans helped to pay for our stadium..thanks
We will never step a food into Coms. The rented Council House is full of blue dirt. The Reebok stadium would be ideal. We could call us Manchester United S.F.C. (Supporters Football Club). Old Mat would be proud of us and I think peops like Sir Alex, Roy keane, Scholesy and even giggs would join us. We would regain our power immediatly. never say never. Cantona the prez? Hell yeah! Old Trafford cricket ground would be another ground.. NEVER THE COMS!!! NEVER!!! It really stinks...
Manchester United Football Club began as Newton Heath, started by honest railway workers.
If history has to repeat itself then so be it. FC United, a club started by the people for the people. Glazer may buy "the club" but we will still own its' soul. We will keep it until Old Trafford is a fit and proper place to return it to.
Does the munchkin not realise that you can't "buy" United. It's more than bricks, mortar and players. It was conceived in 1878, nurtured by Sir Matt and, should it fall to us fans to uphold it, there are thousands of us ready and willing to take up the challenge.
And if Manchester City Council have any sense, they'll let FC United play there...at least we'd fill it.
Sure looking forward to seeing the stars and stripes replacing that silly devil thing on your badge boys, god bless America...and we'll sort out this FC business also, MUSC forever more, Man United Soccer Club (plc)....don't worry we'll soon have Timmy back in goal too...
The people of Manchester are United. FC United.
It's happening. Be there while it does.
It'll be a sad day but if Glazer takes over, I know where I'll be taking my support - FC United.
We'll take the history and traditions of the real Manchester United with us.
MANCHESTER UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!
this should be the very very last option. got it? we have to fight this yank till death. It would hurt United fans to leave OT. the place where it all begun... 2nd word-war, Munich, the 60s and the 90s...
FIGHT ON! Lets frighten him a little more... City would never be so popular if there wouldnt be THE BRAND called MAN U... this yank wont regain controll.. coz man united will never die..
F.C. UNITED - The worse thing for city is that we would still get bigger crowds...........ha ha...............bring it on.
Are you reds real? You are always telling us blues that you are the biggest club in the world but the fact is the reason you are the money making machine you are is not down to your indigenous support but because of all the idiots who call themselves reds from abroad or other parts of the country without ever having set foot near Old Trafford. Do you really think that a collective of even thousands of utd fans will change that or prevent a takeover of your club? FC United would change nothing - but it would make you lot look stupid. If Glazer doesn't buy Utd someone else will it is inevitable and has been since the club became a plc. I can't remember many of you liking the Edwards clan before he sold out for his own benefit making your club what it is today - a plc driven by making money - where were your protests and revolutionary ideas then?