FC United's much-heralded entrance into the Moore & Co Construction Solicitors North West Counties League could help regenerate the entire non-league scene according to one leading administrator.
Officials from the fledgling club are due to confirm later this week that Droylsden's 3,000-capacity Butcher's Arms ground will play host to their fixtures when the new campaign gets underway in August.
It would be a symbolic choice of venue given its proximity to Bank Street, the first ground of the Newton Heath club which eventually became United.
With more than 2,500 Manchester United fans disenchanted with Malcolm Glazer's Old Trafford takeover already pledging their support, rival clubs including Football League founder members Nelson and Darwen are eagerly anticipating the prospect of a massive jump in revenue.
Rather than just look at the potential for an increase in attendances, North West Counties officials had to take a hard-headed approach to FC United's application.
But after numerous meetings with members of the club's steering committee, league chairman Dave Tomlinson is convinced FC United can be a force for good across the semi-professional game.
"This move could really help regenerate non-league football at our level and it is the type of thing I would like to see more of," observed Tomlinson.
"I am fully aware of the specific situation at Manchester United with regard to Malcolm Glazer but there was a time when official supporters' clubs had football teams of their own and it would be nice to get back to that.
"Even supporters who continue to attend games at Old Trafford will be able to watch this new team because their weekend matches will kick-off at 3pm on a Saturday.
"We had the usual concerns about whether they would be able to fulfil their fixtures or whether the whole concept would be a flash in the pan but we are fairly confident the people behind this are not taking their actions lightly.
Support
"They have received enormous help from AFC Wimbledon and whether the support they are hoping for materialises or not, their introduction into our league can only be a force for good."
FC United's adventure is likely to begin at Leek CSOB on August 13 - the opening weekend of the Premiership - with league officials preferring to utilise the modern facilities of their 3,600-capacity Harrison Park home to test the extent of the new club's support.
Interviews for the manager's post have already taken place, while trials for potential playing recruits will be held on Sunday, June 26.
"We don't want this to be seen as an instant reaction to Malcolm Glazer's involvement at United," said Jules Spencer, who has relinquished his position within the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association to take an active role in the creation of FC United.
"It may have been the catalyst for this new club but there are a lot of disenfranchised Manchester United supporters who have been priced out of the game in recent years and we would like to offer them a home.
"We fully appreciate the level we are entering at and we certainly do not wish to start making bold statements about what we are going to achieve. We are just grateful to the North West Counties League for giving us the opportunity to start something new."
While the loss of support will barely register on a global scale, Glazer will be mindful of the need to tread warily in his first few months in control at Old Trafford in an effort to ensure no more supporters are alienated.
Sustained talk of a move for England striker Michael Owen should at least appease fans who fear Sir Alex Ferguson's transfer budget will be drastically cut, although it is only when such deals actually materialise that most of the sceptics will be won over.
After 14 years as a plc, United will officially revert to private ownership on Wednesday when their Stock Market delisting will be confirmed.
Next Monday, Glazer is likely to announce he has passed the 97.6% threshold which would allow a compulsory purchase of the remainder of the club and enable the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner to complete his '790million buy-out.
Only then will the American's son Joel, who is likely to be entrusted with taking care of the Glazer family's interests in United, be free to go public with details of how he intends to significantly increase profits.
Do you think FC United will be a success? Have your say.
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They will be in the same league as Maine Road FC
Good luck to FC United. I and many others have been priced out of MUFC and those with kids can no longer afford to take them to Old Trafford. At last the fans are doing something for themselves and I for one will back it all the way.
Yes it will. Yesterday's Formula 1 fiasco shows what happens when money really does rule the roost. Football, at Premiership level, is heading the same way.
Can't wait for next season and FCUM after disillusionment at OT culminating in the takeover of MUFC by Glazer.
Good luck to FCUM - looking forward to Sir Alex managing them when he's had enough of that muppet over at OT, which shouldn't take too long, and bringing Keano and Gary Neville with him.
"Do you think FC United will be a success?" If F.C.United were to fail (and I certainly don't think that way) it won't be because I stood back when the hat came round. Much rather spend my money with honest Mancs than line the pockets of greedy Yanks. FCUM, FCUM, FCUM, FCUM, ....
TONY ARE YOU DRUNK? HAHA
Keano an Nev will never join you!!!! They ARE 100% UTD.
Even Cantona said he would never join your club.
shake hands with MCFC. HAHAHAHAHA!!! We dont give a damn about yer success. YOU will comeback!
I will be attending the FCUM games next season, then watching MUFC in the pub/on sky. This new start will allow me to watch some footie at a reasonable price!
Even if the treble were guaranteed next year, I would not want it under Glazer. Looking forward to the FCUM season starting.
Of course FC United will be a success, it already has 3000 supporters less than a month after creation. This will only increase once Glazer's reign of terror truly begins. Forza FC United of Manchester
with a few of utds hard core fans leaving ,glazer will need to tread carefully as his safety net of fans to fall back on is now like thin ice .It will not be long before the crowd are on his back if things go wrong.
there's only one United,there's only one United and its not AFC United and will never be.
I as a manchester united season ticket holder will follow FC United to every home and away matches along with many many fans, we will fill the ground and that of other teams throughout the season
What a farce just like the formula 1 it seems this breakaway group are making themselves look bigger fools than they already are. Dave Pace is jumping on the bandwagon now,he hasn't a team of his own fit to play in a higher league although he is trying to kid us all,having FC United at the Butchers arms is just a money making scheme partly run by money grabbing Mr Pace,really all this has become a big joke that very few are laughing at.
As a fan of the best club in the world I agree with the opposite fans and with the new FC UNITED.Glazer dont like football,just bussiness and a lot of money.That is not good way I think.
the primary issue, and that which should cause the biggest outcry, were it accurately identified, is the current state of top-flight football.
Supporting a club like MUFC doesnt address the core problems that MUFCfans are trying so hard to fight. In reality, you are starting from the bottom and looking forward to fighting your way up, but for what? So the top-flight clubs can continue to do the things (buy-outs, tapping-up, ludacris $ contracts, etc, etc,etc- going public, etc) that you disagree with, while you fight tooth and nail to simply get to the level so you can fail to compete with those that you so fervently disagree with?
Help me understand.
Do you really believe this new club will get 3000 for every game?? Maybe for the first few, but when the novelty wears off and you have a wednesday night away game in February when the rain's coming down and the stadium has no roof I suspect a few of these "hard core" fans may think twice, particularly if MUFC are on sky (again) in the pub! Time will tell.
A point of information for the previous post about understanding what f c united are trying to achieve! It is not just about trying to get into the top flight;it is about 2 main issues as i see it. 1/ Trying to attract fans away from united to adversely affect the business of united[and then in theory buy back united from glasier when he realises it is not profitable!]2/ trying to estblish a real fans club that will be set up in a more democratic manne and will pay attention to the fans not the business plans or corporate boys! Both highly commendable [especially destroying the parasitic glasiers!] but both highly improbable; hope that clears up your confusion!!
My main concern is not whether FC United will succeed but will I be able to get a ticket for a home game?
A 3500 capacity seems too small to me, I believe this new club will be a massive success and not just for Manchester based fans.
I haven't been looking forward to a new season so much in years.
Pathetic idea.
Why on earth would anyone support this, this isn't United, this doesn't have the history, the ups and downs, it's merely to try and get at the scary American tycoon, it's false, FC United are nothing.
Maybe it's just me, but I don't want to see my club ruined. The only way to stop financial ruin that could take DECADES to reverse is to fully support the club and get the debt down. In 10 years time the Glazers could be making united hundreds of millions a year, if we all support the club. Leave it and go to FC United, and you're sending the club into freefall. We went onto the stock exchange, we took this risk, don't back out when times are too rough for you.
Shut up cw. What do you mean when 'times are too rough for you?' We'll be playing in the north west counties league for god's sake. If there were more fans like us dedicated to getting the money grabber out then he would be gone instantly. I bet you won't be there when we are picking up the pieces that you and other glazer fans leave behind!
Realist, man utd have been attracting huge crowds long before sky took its wicked toll on the game. The fact that we won't be on telly every week will mean that we have to go to the games adding to a better atmosphere for real fans rather than the fashion fans.
Something we keep getting on here is people telling us how much better fans they are than anyone else. Pathetic. Grow up people and realise that we are a global club and all the clubs that want to take our place as the richest abd biggest must be laughing their heads off at what our own fans are doing to the club. "real fans" go away with your blinkered, classist and xenophobic views and close yourselves off to the real world. you can all pat each other on the back about how real you are. Anyone who claims to be a united fan is a real fan in my eyes and therefore has something in common with me. The real fans who insist that they are somehow a superior spieces of fan can go and stick their heads in the sand and leave the rest of us in peace. There is only one United. United till death!
Paul, I agree that united have had great attendances for many years and certainly long before sky turned the game sour with its rediculous amounts of money. However my point was that I believe that while many people will watch the first few games, the novelty will wear off and people who are used to watching a team used to winning the premiership will tire of football of the north west counties standard (no direspect intended - I wish I was that good!), particularly if it clashes with a united game on TV. If you are one (of the few?) who follows FC United on a regular basis in the future then I would applaud you. One question though, as it appears that the supporters of FC United seem to thinkl that MUFC has sold its soul and no longer has its history and tradition, what will you do if in a few years Mr Glazer sells up and moves on? Will your allegiences suddenly revert back to MUFC and what then will happen to FC United?
c.w. Manchester - You wrote "Why on earth would anyone support this, this isn't United, this doesn't have the history". Even if Glazer leaves, there are still thousands of United supporters who have been priced out of O.T., You might also want to consider this. In 1892, Everton F.C. founded a new football club. That club is known to history as Liverpool F.C. - 'nough said.
Fair comment realist. I will support FC Utd because I could never support another team. I've only ever supported utd. However, I cannot continue to support a team owned by a money grabber to use as his plaything showing no regard to loyal fans like me. As for deciding what to do when Glazer's gone, the phoenix fund is being used to buy back the club when Glazer fails and the plan is that FC Utd will merge with man utd.