Fans unite against Glazer bid

May 12, 2005

RED Devils fans in Manchester have united against Malcolm Glazer's formal takeover bid for the club.

The American's bid took a huge step forward on Thursday when he bought the 28.7 per cent stake of Irish racing tycoons JP McManus and John Magnier.

Johnny Flacks, a season ticket holder since 1966 and former fans group spokesman, said: "This takeover would appear inevitable.

"It is disappointing in the sense that from what we have been told he does not appear to have the funds to back it up and the club is going to be saddled with an awful lot of debt.

"Glazer is no (Chelsea owner Roman) Abramovich.

"However I think the time is right for a change because complacency has set in at the club in the last three years, hence the results on the pitch.

"The board have told us we have got no money to buy players in the summer.

"I think a majority of fans will be against the bid and there will probably be a protest at the match on Saturday, but it is an away match so you are only talking about a few fans.

"The cup final could be more eventful."

Supporters groups pledged to continue resisting the takeover bid by Glazer, claiming it would be disastrous for the club.

Oliver Houston, of Shareholders United, told the ITV News Channel: "This is by no means over.

"Our message to Malcolm Glazer and to people daft enough to lend him all this money is that not only will you not be able to increase your profits but you are going to see a very sharp fall in profits.

"Manchester United is going to become an extremely tainted brand. People will feel that this is no longer their club."

Mark Longden, of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, said he was staggered by the decision of the Irish duo to sell their stakes.

He said: "They have sold the Manchester United heritage. They have proved that they were never ever interested in Manchester United, or football."

Fans should go to Old Trafford to express their opposition to the takeover bid and should not give up the fight, Mr Longden said.

"If he does take over there will be no customers in the ground," he said.

It has previously been suggested one of the alternatives fans could use in the event of a Glazer bid being successful would be to form a new club.

The working title 'FC United' has already been established with the intention of the new club playing in one of the lower non-leagues, similar to AFC Wimbledon, who were set up in response to the advent of the Milton Keynes Dons.

It now seems likely this option will be revisited, although whether it would be as attractive to fans in the Far East and America as it would be to the more militant members of the Manchester-based United support remains to be seen.

Jules Spencer, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association, said: 'If this is to be the end then we will go down kicking and screaming.

'And if he (Glazer) does get control then we will do what we said, which is up sticks and form a new club which will continue the traditions and heritage and the legacy of 125 years of Manchester United.

'We don't want Malcolm Glazer, we want a club run for the fans - and that is what we will do.'

Do you think a takeover is now inevitable? Have your say.

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Ricky, Birmingham (12/05/2005 at 16:26)

Of course this is a takeover, we have only our selves to blame for supporting the current set up which is taking us backwards

fred the red, Manchester (12/05/2005 at 18:15)

I urge all those against Glazer to show your resistance to him by not attending the last match of the season at Cardiff. The time for excuses has now passed. Are you for or against? "Put up or shut up" is the phrase I think people were using against Malcolm. I hope whatever his plans are that Manchester United succeed. All those who attend the Cup Final are giving him their backing . That is how it will be perceived!

Kev, Manchester (12/05/2005 at 18:15)

Mark Longdons comments are well intended but slightly rose tinted, Cubic Expression stand to make between B#50-B#60m from the sale of their shares which represents a significant return on their investment in the club that they would be foolish to turn down. As supporters we have to accept that this is a risk of operating as a PLC and we cannot expect hardened businessmen to harbour sentimentalism for the club. It seems Glazer is intent on taking control and its time he came clean on his intentions and answer the questions being raised about how the club will operate financially. As supporters we tend to have a tendancy to let out hearts rule our heads but i think now is the time to get the full facts behind the take-over before resorting to further action against Glazer.

Stuart Webb, Southend On Sea (12/05/2005 at 18:15)

I wish the bitter, minority fan group leaders and their sheep-like members would quit whining.
Malcolm Glazer now owns Manchester United and I suggest you all get used to it and work with the Glazer family, instead of acting like spoilt children by throwing your season tickets out of the pram.

Craven Morehead, Los Angeles, CA (12/05/2005 at 18:15)

IF desperate times call for desperate measures, then maybe we shouldn't fear Glazer's takeover quite so much. Face it, we are falling farthur behind the top of the league with no end to the free-fall in sight. We have a past it's prime midfield, other needs (wing & goal), little cash, and most young players heading for London if they could choose (See Robben). I am an American who has been a United supporter for almost 17 years. I also grew up a Tampa Bay Bucs fan. We were the laughingstock of the NFL for many, many years until Glazer came in. He brought us respectability and a title. More importantly, he did it in creative ways fans and the league didn't see coming. I hate the idea of messing with tradition, and would rather he leave the Reds alone, but I would also rather we were competitive and winning real silverware (FA Cup Finals is better than nothing, but....). We need to decide if this period is just a downturn that will soon be corrected, or if this is the beginning of a long-term trend in modern footaball. If it's short-term, then we lave it alone. But, if it's a long-term trend, then we MUST CHANGE or will we be happy every year to scrap for a #4 League spot and brag about our past like Liverpool (current Champions League Standing aside). I know the history, I understand the fear of change, but I fear too many reds are sticking their heads in the sand and saying we will get back to the top on faith alone. WHATDOYATHINK?

Stuart Webb, Southend On Sea (12/05/2005 at 19:25)

laughing-boy, usa (12/05/2005 at 19:25)

you rags didn't want the irish boy's to buy you , now you moan that they have sold to glazer . it seem's to me that you want your cake and to eat it ! seeing how you have millions of light-weigh fans why don't you buy the club , to late glazer already HAS !

Nadia, Perm, Russia (12/05/2005 at 19:25)

Supporters in Russia will be with FC United!!! We'll never die!!!!!

malcolm_glazer, stretford (12/05/2005 at 20:00)

any one lend me a fiver .........

zubov, Brooklyn, NY (12/05/2005 at 20:00)

All you Glazer lovers who post here will soon know the true meaning of the term "dire".

cheeseyrimmer1, HYDE (12/05/2005 at 21:02)

letting this guy take over this club who knows sweet f.a about football. is like asking a cab driver to land a jumbo jet,
it will go right down just like this club will and end up in pieces so go home yank or invest yor money in a small club that wants your money
we dont want you

blueju, manchester (12/05/2005 at 21:13)

how come there were more fans outside OT demonstrating against Glazier than there was in the ground at the end of the Chelsea match thanking the United players for coming third and reaching the F A cup final? is this a record?

Paul MACK, Chorlton (12/05/2005 at 21:16)

Ive lived in Manchester for ten years and I can safely say that this is the worst week and this has been the worst day in that time. I feel absolutely flattened. I feel too angry to be articulate. The PLC was no friend of Joe Public in Manchester but this guy Glazer will dance on the heart and soul of the club. Unless he is stopped somehow. People can come on here and make rational statements about the money Glazer may generate for the team with the possibility of further success but the soul of the club will be the sacrifice. Chelsea have won the premiership with a great team and great manager but the vast majority of football fans will feel deep down that its all about their money. United, while a PLC have always developed organically with a view to mixing home grown talent with big money signings. And with some success. Future success for united will be meaningless because the heart will be ripped out by Glazer and fed to the American and far east markets. The bottom line is money and not glory. Although this mainly concerns United, I can assure you, Glazers buying of United will spell the end of football as a meaningful sport and have a consequence for every other club. I urge every true UNited fan to not attend matches or buy United products. If people want to pay money into United, buy shares and lets wrestle the club back from, well i cant really say what I want to say because it will only be edited.

Rich, Ribble Valley (12/05/2005 at 21:52)

Message to Mark Longden and any other media-addict from IMUSA...Glazer has not "sold MU heritage"...get your facts right!! You stopped 'owning your heritage' (your words not mine) the minute the club floated on the stock market. Without floatation you would have no individual shares (proud of being a shareholder when it suits, eh?) Maybe you should vent your anger at the man who "sold your soul" - Edwards (who profited handsomely from the floatation). United fans wanted Magnier and Macmanus OUT - now you have your wish granted....so all you now have left is a feeling of unfairness / world's against us (damned right) / and playground tears for the media cameras. If you're gonna be on TV outside OT showing your "support" be original - the burning of renewal forms (which you'll ask the club for another one tomorrow) is a bit cliched. Floatation? - I hope you sink!

Stuart Webb, Southend On Sea (12/05/2005 at 22:03)

I wish the leaders of the minority fan groups and their sheep-like followers would quit whining.
Malcolm Glazer is the new owner of the Manchester United franchise, and I suggest you all get used to it, and work with him instead of acting like spoiled children by throwing your season tickets out of the pram.

Harry, Leigh (13/05/2005 at 00:09)

The takeover is inevitable and Glazier will very soon have his 75%. I am not surprised that the Irishmen sold out, they always said it was an investment and nothing else. There was never any loyalty on their part to the club in the first place. They are laughing all the way to the bank.
To the fans wishing to boycott, think again there are thousands waiting to pick up your tickets if you let them go. To the fans starting to talk about starting a new club. I have never heard anything so stupid, have they not realised what is involved. It will never get off the ground. I regret you will have to grin and bear it and hope for the best, it may not be as bad as you think. After all, by United standards they haven't done all that well recently being third and Alex hasn't been promised any money from the club for next season. It could be worse, what if you were Southampton supporters.

mancunian aussie, melbourne (13/05/2005 at 06:01)

Of course it will happen, it was inevitable once the (GRATE) (sic) Edwards guy made us a public company. Don't you mugs remember.

Simon, Manchester (13/05/2005 at 09:02)

Yeah, yeah, yeah - muafc really I don't think so.

sarah, mighty leeds (13/05/2005 at 09:06)

how the mighty have fallen would you belive it not really.All your fans laughed at us last season cos we went down and we had no money whats so ever you took our player the judas alan smith we nearly lost the club we had a debut over our heads of 180m but i think it is only 8m not sure but i wouldn't like to be in your shoe's if he get's full control what would you be in debut for 300m ouch. Hope you now know what it feels like to have that hanging over your head's see you all the seasons after cos we are mighty leeds and we are coming back home to kick some ass

Juste Lovitte, France (13/05/2005 at 09:20)

I see there were 2000 fans outside the ground last night - that's more than stayed behind after the Chelsea game!!

Mick, Milton Keynes (13/05/2005 at 09:25)

Paul Mack,
You mention that deep down fans will know money won the title but Utd do it organically. Organically like you do with Veron, Rooney, Smith, Van Nistelrooy, Ronaldo, Saha, Ferdinand etc?
Utd and Chelsea are playing the same game to me, only that Chelsea can now compete for signatures if they wish.
I think you are harking back to when Scholes, Beckham etc came through in one go. That amount of players are a one off.
The game is all about money fair and square. And I'm a Utd fan.

Rich, Ribble Valley (13/05/2005 at 09:33)

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the initials of the "Independent Man Utd Supporters Association" spell "I'M USA!" What a perfect piece of poetic irony...

Stamatis, Brussels (13/05/2005 at 09:39)

Stuart Webb, stick your "franchise" up your .... !!!

Les Berealistic, Tampa Bay (13/05/2005 at 09:41)

FC United? Are you having a laugh?? I can just see all the prawn munchers driving up from surrey or flying in from Ireland to watch FC United v Trafford FC in the North West Counties league! And the mancunian reds who have become so accustomed to success would soon lose interest. Also I have an inkling, call it intuition, that FC United may stuggle to attract the likes of RVN or little ronnie. Get used to the fact that Glazer will own united (as did Martin Edwards and his father in the past) and stop living in cloud cuckoo land thinking that united is "your club". You'll soon all be cheering the Salford Quays Buccaneers!

MADMANC, SALFORD (13/05/2005 at 12:47)

Ive read most of the comments posted and i would like to add my say,Iam not the brightest person but can anyone tell me why some one would buy us if it was not for the long term,he his not going to get is money back overnight,he sees it as long term,because if he sold all the players we have got,what would he get 150-200 million,sell the ground and put a retail park on it how much would he get for that, 2 million max,but if he gives SAF or his replacement, money to buy more players and make the club more succesfull in the UK and Europe + a few tours to America/Far East and like most Americans ive know,you cant teach them anything about selling a good product,and we at MUFC are a good product,at least give the man a chance.

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