THE Glazer family have declared themselves content with their first year as owners of United.
After Malcolm Glazer bought out Irish racing millionaires John Magnier and JP McManus to become controller at Old Trafford, the American owners have reflected on their year in charge.
A spokesman for the Glazer family told M.E.N. Sport: "It has been a positive first year. The overriding view when the family took over at Old Trafford was that this was a marathon not a sprint.
"It was, and is, a long term investment and commitment to Manchester United and the Glazers want to be judged ultimately by their long term record at the club.
"The first 12 months have seen positives. Obviously being knocked out in the group stage of the Champions League was a negative and disappointing but the family reacted with the money for Sir Alex Ferguson to invest further in the transfer market during the January window and the manager will be able to spend again in the summer.
"The family have deliberately maintained a low profile and let chief executive David Gill and Sir Alex Ferguson get on with things.
"David Gill is on record as being content with the clarity and stability the ownership has brought as opposed to a plc company and the manager is also on record as saying he is pleased with the ownership and the resources he has had.
"The only true way for the fans to judge is by what happens on the pitch. It has only been a year and there has been modest progress. But they stress it is a long-term commitment."
What do you make of the Glazer's first year? Have your say.
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Whatever. More to the point it has been a fantastic first year for FCUoM. Forza FCUoM
Who?
still alive n kicking then?
hmmm what we need is clarity the future is dark, one must not be hasty one must need a tranfer budget. The darkness has swept the land. We must be strong but we are being overshadowed. In regard to what he doubts about, he is anxious to question others.
I hear we are after Chimbonda. Not a bad idea.
One Year On
Exactly a year ago today, so-called "value investors" JP Magnier and John McManus were made an offer they couldn't refuse. The Glazer family handed them a suitcase full of cash, thanked them for their service, and in doing so effected the largest leveraged buy-out in the history of sport, giving them full control of Manchester United -- or so they thought.
MUST members will never forget May 12th 2005. We had fought so hard to keep United independent and had come so far -- only to be knocked back at the last moment.
One day the facts will come out and reveal how close the supporters were to winning this battle -- closer than anyone realised. Because of this we remain optimistic about the future.
The Glazer family may control the finances of Manchester United, but they do not control its soul. Our club is more than a "franchise." It is our passion. For that reason, we believe it is only right that supporters should own the club. And we may have another bite at the cherry sooner than you think.
So if you're reading this as a member of MUST, or you're stopping by for the first time, we encourage you to read the following:
One Year On: A revised analysis of the Glazers' Business Plan
When the Glazers bought out Cubic the clock started ticking. We knew it would take at least 2 if not 3 years before the inevitable effects of the Glazer debt would appear. But we never thought it would start happening this quickly.
The cracks are now visible, and the interest costs aren't getting any smaller. Read One Year On, our assessment of the Glazers' performance and the requirements of their so-called business plan. This document, built on the foundations of our original financial analysis, shows that this year may be the most pivotal season United has had in recent memory, both on and off the pitch.
The Glazer Files: Successes and failures from year one
We've kept track of the good, the bad, and the ugly since the takeover. Read what the papers have said about the events of the past year.
We'll leave you with a positive note on this otherwise gloomy day...
We remain committed, totally and positively, to the day when the people who own United actually care enough about the club to nurture it and reinvest in it. We look forward to the day when supporters can say that it's OUR club, and mean it in every sense of the word.
Our aims are achievable, our tactics are positive, and our passion is United.
If your heart beats faster when United surge forward, if being a Red is your badge of pride, if you want YOUR club to be successful on and off the pitch and reflect YOUR priorities, please join us.
For more information, please use the links at the top of the page.
THE DEBT HAS RISEN BY 54 MILLION IN 1 YEAR. NONE OF IT HAS BEEN REPAID - THE SHIRT DEAL SHORTFALL = THE NEW ST PRICE INCREASE SO NOTHING HAS BEEN ACHIEVED IN ONE YEAR. IT'S A SAD DAY. WAIT & SEE-ERS - HABG YOUR HEAD IN SHAME. GLAZERS SAID JUDGE US IN 1 YEAR'S TIME. TODAY'S THE DAY. ARE YOU TRULY HAPPY (& I MEAN TRULY) WITH WHAT THEY'VE DONE & WHAT WE'VE WON (OR NOT WON) THIS YEAR??
Love United, Hate Glazer
If there success is to be measured by what happens on the pitch, well not a good start.
It has been a year of embarasment. A year of being the laughing stock of the nation with our totally inappropriate, unwelcome absentee mortgagees to whom souls are measured by turnstiles and passion by the achievable level of ticket prices. A year of O.T. toadies ingratiating themselves to keep their places at the shrinking trough. I never knew that toads were invertebrates until I saw the shamefull aquiescence of the management with the dismissall of large numbers of their loyal staff and bills for tickets for the rest. The sheep continue to flock into games and it matters not to the bean counters that the passion is ebbing away. Will there be sufficient spare borrowings for the midfield that has been so inexplicably ignored for so many years? And if so has SAF finally learnt to buy well? At a time when Chel$ki are out of sight, the rest of the EPL are on our heels and SAF is past his sell by date we need new owners with at least an understanding of our game and traditions and an inclination to participate in the club and not just busy themselves cashing up. In future hindsight, second in the league and the Carling Cup will look like a lucky season.
my view on the glazers' depends on the quality of players brought in this summer..plain and simple
What a fantastic season we've had. I can now watch the games on my 42" plasma screen that Malcolm 'bought' for me while I watch Chinese streamed matches on it from the comfort of my bedroom. Thank you again Malcolm. Hope you git well soon. We've won the Mighty League Cup, a trophy that has deluded us for years; we've got the biggest stadium & we regularly fill it to capacity even though many EMPTY seats can be seen. We've got the quietest fans & we've closed the Loyalty pot so the free troughers will have to pay like the rest of us (you). Who would have thought 1 year ago that we would have achieved so much? We've got rid of some of the deadwood both on & off the pitch & I'm sure Malcolm being as shrewd as he is many more will follow over the summer ( Staff, tea ladies, kit washers, rio are all expendable in our search for excellence & margins!) Keep up the good work Glazers. More power to your elbow.
True Man U fan in Manchester, I'm sure you believe that by marching about, burning effigies and whatever else you are more of a United fan than the rest of us because of your hatred of Glazer, and if that's the case so be it. But here's my answer to you. I am more content with United than this time last year as we won a cup this season unlike last (almost totally pre-Glazer) and finished higher in the league and with more flair and conviction than last season. There were even a few weeks when most of us were believing we could actually pip Chelsea to the title. And right now, I'm excited about the coming summer to see who we'll buy to go into next season. Am I happier than last season? Course I am, because I don't care if a Yank or whoever else owns us, that seems to be your problem. Would it make you feel better if a multi-millionaire from Salford bought us instead? Don't sit there and make believe Martin Edwards was in it for the passion, he nearly sold us for 10million quid to Michael Knighton when we were a very average team until it fell through, you're kidding yourself mate
GLAZER, WHEREVER YOU MAY BE, YOU BOUGHT OLD TRAFFORD BUT YOU CAN'T BUY ME, WE SANG NOT FOR SALE & WE MEAN JUST THAT, YOU CAN'T BUY ME YOU GREEDY person.
Agree with Colin in Canada, Chimbonda for roughly 3million quid would be a bargain, not 6million though,Wigan only got him for 500K a year ago!!! I see some have said wedon't need another fullback. Well, we may be chockers with left backs (Heinze, Evra, Silvestre, O'Shea, Richardson can all play there), but we only have Neville and Bardsley at right back. Brown could fill in also of course but it's not his preferred position. What's the harm in haing another rightback, especially one who plays as well as he has this past season, didn't he make the team of the year? Probably lives local as well playing for Wigan, so wouldn't be too much of a moe for him, snap him up I say. Neville is getting on now and has been injury prone of late due to years of running and tackling, Chimbonda pretty young, if last season showed with our midfield it'sbetter to have the players in abundance than not have any. Think Bardsley not finished article yet, may be right for another loan spell in lower leagues, therefore we need another quality right back.
I opposed the takeover, naturally. But since it went through the Glazers have done absolutely nothing wrong in terms of running the club. We're in better shape than a year ago, won a cup, finished higher, got more points, played better football and qualified for the group stages of the CL. We also go some money for players. In every way an improvement.
At last, someone talking sensibly, well said Tooth & Claw
Watch this post split our fans right down the middle. Oh I love Glazer posts, where everyone forgets about the football and starts bickering. I think it's a secret enjoyment - trying to prove who's 'more of a united fan' than who. RUBBISH.
I am a happier fan than I was this time last season for two main reasons. 1. The team finally seem to be recovering some of the flair and drive that's been missing for the past few seasons. 2. Now that the Glazers do own the club, we have to read less sanctimonious garbage from MUST. I will not 'hang my head in shame' and would rather support the team than spend my time producing pointless reports that will acieve nothing. I'm no fan of Glazer, but I'd rather an established business man ran the club than the numpties at MUST.
I think that we should all reserve our judgement on the Glazers till after this coming season and see which players they bring in to make us compete better with Chelsea and in Europe.Being a true fan means supporting your team no matter what and not hoping for the worst just because we might not agree with certain things the owners are doing.I urge all true United fans to fully support Sir Alex and the team this season and I am sure we will achieve the success that we are used to.
I am a FC United fan and have been to a number of games this season. I am and will always be a Manchester United fan but I have decided against going to OT because of the cost and the treatment of the football fans in general. Kickoff times changed to suit Sky , Season Ticket prices rising year after year. The Glazer scenario to me is no different than paying fat shareholders a dividend each year. But it breaks my heart to hear the constant bickering between FC and United fans regaridng who is the biggest or best fan. We all decide to do what we want to do and dont need to prove ourselves to anybody in the process. It is pathetic when people refer to the fans who stayed at United as "Shameful" and likewise it is a joke to refer to FC fans as "traitors". It is our duty to make a decision that suits ourselves
Spot on Johnno. I agree with "True United fan" on principle ... none of us want yank owners or debt. But burning effergies and street war does not give licence to talk about financial sense. Interest rates have been at their lowest level for 40 years in general and it has been quite common to use debt. As much as i would like to see it ... You won't see the business plan as it is private but if private equity funds are stumping up cash of course they want good long-term returns - that's what they do. I don't think we can really judge the financial merits for at least 5 years. Johnno hit the nail on the head ... it has never been the fan's club. None of them are (Don't give me that Barcelona "Socio" nonsence ... they own nothing and never did but it keeps the inane rants down). Good thing too. If most of the people that "want the club back" ran it we would be financially doomed. If they don't make enough money the Glazer's will sell out to the highest bidder. If the debt strategy fails the creditors will own the club - and sell to the highest bidder. It will not in any circumstance become the property of the fans. There is only one popular chairman in football - Steve Gibson. Who cares who pushes pencils as long as we win on the pitch? If you do want ownership, I suggest a collusion of tens of thousands of fans to invest money that collectively you raise in the region of ??800m. If not the club will never "be back in the hands of the fans". If you want it, you know what you have to do to do it. It would take risk on personal capital. It would take collective will, committment, hard work and dedication for a very long time. Rants will not get anyone anywhere. The question is, rants aside, how much do you all really want it? Think about it.
Dave,Salford. Could nt have put it better myself !
It's too early to judge how the club is progressing under the Glazers. I, like 99% of other supporters, was totally against the sale but I believe that we will have a better understanding of their ambitions for the club when we see how much transfer funds SAF is given this summer, ??25m is nowhere near enough if we are serious about challenging at home and in Europe next season.
Derrick, at least we can hold our heads up and say money never bought us a title. We did it on the pitch while supplying England with half their team. We always played great exciting football. Always tried to entertain.
We had our trials at the start because of injuries and Roy walking out instead of seeing out the year. Sure we blew the budget on Wayne but he was worth every penny. Arsenal finished the year as the best team in the prem and although it hurts to say it, I take my hat off to Wenger. He did it with a blend of kids and Henry.
We'll pick up a few additions and get rid of some who no longer fit and next year, we'll be great.
Anybody else like Chimbonda?
Steve, Brussels. Top post.