United: Let's talk face-to-face

Stuart Mathieson

January 27, 2004

UNITED want a face-to-face meeting with John Magnier and JP McManus to help settle the spiralling Old Trafford feud.

PLC chairman Sir Roy Gardner and chief executive David Gill are understood to be willing and keen to meet the club's two largest shareholders to discuss the Irish racing tycoons' grievances at the way they believe United is being run.

United aren't considering an independent arbitrator to broker peace deals but instead insist there is always an open invite to discuss the problems in a constructive and private manner.

United would be delighted if such talks were to take place instead of the battle being waged in public with leaked letters to newspapers.

Under scrutiny

The Coolmore Stud camp, however, are understood to still be fuming that United have not replied to a seven-page, 63-question letter that raised questions over transfer business.

Under scrutiny are United's payments to agents in transfer deals.

Business that brought Tim Howard, Kleberson, Cristiano Ronaldo, and David Bellion to Old Trafford is under the spotlight. While aspects of previous deals for Massimo Taibi, Jaap Stam's sale to Lazio, Laurent Blanc and Diego Forlan are also alleged to be targets for investigation.

United, in their view, have moved down a conciliatory road after announcing an internal review of their transfer dealings.

Finance director Nick Humby will lead the club investigation but it has not initially placated the Irish magnates who own 25.49 per cent of United. They are understood to be unenthusiastic about United's move and don't believe an internal probe goes far enough.

Magnier and Co instead want an independent audit carried out and are puzzled that United won't answer their written request for answers.

The two camps have had dialogue since last summer but the Irish pair are believed to have been so frustrated by the Reds that they resorted to correspondence and at present don't feel a return to the table would halt the impasse.

While United's internal investigation hasn't changed the landscape, the Coolmore camp aren't rejecting the move out of hand.

United's review, however, could take until June to complete. The avenues still open to the Irish are to seek representation on the board, make a complaint to the Financial Services Authority or call an Extraordinary General Meeting. Today they were still considering their options.

Should all parties get together to try to settle their differences? Have your say.

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Tony, Luxembourg (27/01/2004 at 12:11)

Your Conclusions were "The avenues still open to the Irish are to seek representation on the board, make a complaint to the Financial Services Authority or call an Extraordinary General Meeting. Today they were still considering their options"......................................You forgot the most important one, SELL UP and SHIP OUT!!!!

Arthur, Surrey (27/01/2004 at 13:09)

Perhaps I am being paranoid but has anybody realised that these 'stories' started with the Times/Sunday Times and
Sun/News of the World newspapers who just happen to be owned by Murdoch who wanted, but failed, to purchase
MU and who recently sold his shares to the Irish cowboys.
Could we have a situation here that two parties have a common goal to cause havoc and embarrassment to the club and wreak revenge?

Dave, Old Trafford (27/01/2004 at 13:44)

It is widely recognised that Fergie is rebuilding united with the best
young players from around the world. The players are willing to join a
great club because they know young players are treated excellently and given
there chance to shine. For example Robben's dad does not want him to go to
Real madrid or Chelsea because they have no long term structure in place to
develop players, and there managers will probably change in a year or two.
This could not be said about united until the interferance of Magnier.
Players such as Kompany have also been predictable signings in the summer.
Magnier's vendetta should not be allowed to ruin a great club literally
from bottom to top. Why are united's board allowing Magnier's demands to be given so much prominance when they can only do the club harm. I thought the board had to look after the interests of the shareholders not the 25% who seem intent on doing the club harm??

Susan, Sale (27/01/2004 at 13:54)

I don't understand why Magnier can have such an impact. While he is the biggest shareholder he still only holds 25% and is there anyone who really believes he is acting in the best interests of Manchester United PLC. And after all that is the premise that the board must take on when assessing any given situation.

Phil, Chesterfield (27/01/2004 at 14:04)

What does Fergie expect?
He's had Magnier over after the Irishman showed wonderful generosity to him by giving him a share of winnings. Its payback time for Fergie, but he's so selfish for him and his sons he doesn't care if the club and supporters have now been dragged into it.

d elleray, bolton (27/01/2004 at 14:53)

i think a meetng between the warring factions would be of great use - could we expect to see fergie looking at his watch and gesticulating at the "independent arbitrator" for more injury time.
city fans sit back and laugh

colin, canada (27/01/2004 at 14:54)

by driving the price of the stock down, it will enable them to pick up stock more cheaply and eventually gain control.
Fergie would leave and the club would be in dissaray. We have to get these people out of the picture as soon as possible. There is so much at stake here and all they care about are their personal egos and greed.
The investigation is a smoke screen and but they have to at least start talking and bring this to a conclusion or Magnier and his suits will find out what Utd supporters are all about.

Ian, Salford (27/01/2004 at 15:25)

If Magnier is so certain he is in the right then why is he spending so much money and energy to destroy Fergie instead of trusting in both his case and the court.

Danny Glover, Heald Green (27/01/2004 at 15:31)

It should be Phil Dumb, generous your kidding. He was just using Sir Alex and United to gain more publicity, mind you in Chesterfield you don,t have much to shout about.

Sim, Singapore (27/01/2004 at 15:53)

It is all a matter of saving face. The horse means a lot to Magnier and McManus. So does Man U to Fergie. So when Fergie decides to go after M and M's pride and joy, the natural response for M and M is to do likewise to Fergie i.e. cause disruption at Man U. M and M is doing this not because they do not believe in the merits of their case........I am sure they have excellent legal advise over this issue. They simply want to exact revenge on Fergie. One person, we all seemed to left out is Peter Kenyon. This guy saw it coming and decided to jump ship before the storm comes in. What a smart s#d! Bet he is glad he is with Chelsea...hopefully not for long.

mike redmond, Malaga Spain (27/01/2004 at 16:06)

What a halfwit living in Bolton and supporting City,that says it all. Bolton have a fantastic manager and City have got a manager who would be first to abandon ship.He had money at all his clubs and did nothing.

Steve, Caracas (27/01/2004 at 16:11)

The plc board is right to investigate this matter. If there has been no financial impropriety this would have the benefit of putting an end to the innuendo which has featured in the press recently (courtesy of Cubic Expression?). Much more importantly, this would fully expose the fact that this whole matter has been driven by the personal agenda of two individuals to settle a score that has nothing to do with MUFC and is damaging the interests and wellbeing of the football club at a critical stage of the season. This would clearly demonstrates that they are unfit to be shareholders and a campaign by supporters to shame them into disposing of their stake should be commenced.

Andy, London (27/01/2004 at 16:44)

Call me paranoid but - instigate a crisis of confidence, rock the institutional investors, affect results (perhaps) and drive down share value then buy cheap, take over and really take it out on whoever you want.

Fred Karno, Moss Side (27/01/2004 at 17:03)

I trust all United fans will show their feelings on Saturday's televised match. Whereas vocal chanting can be cut out by Sky, appropriate banners expressing support for SAF and telling Magnier where to go with his money would be a good start in showing our support for a great manager in his time of need.

J.Cunningham, York (27/01/2004 at 17:24)

When we were young at school we were always taught that the bullies in the playground ultimately never triumphed because there was always somebody who was bigger and tougher around the corner. Well it seems to me that MUFC and SAF who for years and years have bullied their way around the soccer playground and adopted every dirty trick in the book at destabilising other clubs in their transfer dealings have finally bitten off more than they can chew. By the way "Why not arrange a deal and let our Jason sort out the details" p.s. Funny how they can answer the FA over Rio with a 163 page booklet but cannot answer some simple questions over their Agency payments. To the younger ones reading this ---your club has always been the same --whenever they don't like something they cry foul! Contrast their attitude to Chelsea's to Scarborough and their own to Northampton last weekend.

colin, canada (27/01/2004 at 19:27)

While all this has been going on, Arsenal have quietly gone out and paid 20 million for a world class player. We have got one distraction after another and we are supposed to be the club with cash, not Arsenal. Why is Parker or Robben not signed now for the biggest club in the world. It's January, sell Nicky and Diego and bring in people who can win us the CL. If Brown goes down again or if his form is (poor), what then. If Ole doesn't get back, what then? I'm sorry but sometimes I just don't understand our board.
We can't buy everybody but we only need a couple so what is the hold up? My fear is that the cheque book is locked away and we are on a week by week fingers crossed that we don't have any more injuries.

Simpson, Manchester (27/01/2004 at 19:31)

Actually, Mike...
Utd fans from London, Caracas, Spain, and Singapore.
That says it all.

Patrick, Auckland, New Zealand (27/01/2004 at 20:14)

Let's show those two Irish jokers the power of United's supporters. We should hit them in their pockets by 1) lobbying the Irish government to remove their lucrative racing tax breaks 2) stop supporting racing so that the attendances, tv viewing figures all drop dramatically 3) start digging up dirt on their dealings. Isn't there any United supporters with enough connections out there to put together a "white knight" deal with institutional shareholders to freeze out these two!

Margaret, Marple (28/01/2004 at 00:47)

The answer is simple. Join SU and lets see the rotters off.

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