Malcolm Glazer Takes Over Manchester United
Friday 13th May 2005 11:54:00 AMIt's every Manchester United fan's worst nightmare and Malcolm Glazer has made it come true. The world's richest football club can be assumed to be in the hands of American Tycoon Malcolm Glazer, who owns the successful Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football team.
Although the Tycoon currently does not have full control over the club, he owns 70% of United's shares and only needs a further 5% plus one share to make a formal bid. If he can get 90% of the shares he can take the club out of the stock-exchange and make the club his own. Analysts believe this is likely to happen within the next few weeks if not days.
Whatever happens, Glazer is the majority shareholder and is here to stay. United's downfall came when Irish shareholders JP MacManus and John Magnier (racing tycoons), who previously said they were not going to sell their 29% share in the club and saw the club as a long term investment, decided to take Glazer's offer of £3 a share. It is believed that they have made a £70 million profit on their original investment.
I can't understand why they would do this; stabbing United fan's in the back, or was it a sinister way of itching the nerves of Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson, who John Magnier once had a feud with (over the breeding rights of a horse) and leaving him with virtually nothing?
Fergie definitely should have retired when Manchester United won the treble.
Obviously fans are outraged and are protesting around Old Trafford, but what gives me the hump is the fact that the fan's pressure group Shareholders United didn't have, and haven't managed to raise in all their time as supporters, a significant amount of shares to stop this kind of activity taking place. They should have been buying shares instead of season tickets!
Fan's wishful thinking; that they are not for sale. Manchester United is a Public Listed Company so that means they are for sale, whether they like it or not.
Manchester United was one of the best things that we Brits were proud of, knowing that we had the world's richest football club and the best players, all it takes is one money hungry rich fat lousy American and that's the end of us. How stupid are we?
I hope the fans get something right and stage an effective protest by having a half empty stadium in United's games. That will show Glazer (and his pockets) what the fans think.
in Manchester United
being scouse, i thought it was a great opportunity to take the piss outta manc wanks but I've just realise its actually really really bad for english football whats happened.
is this the beginning of the end of football as we know it?
Someone said, on the news today, to expect big demonstrations at the FA Cup final... trust my mate to have his wedding on bloody cup final day *rolleyes*
Good luck to the Man U fans, from a Hammer!
im 16 ive been a fan all my life but if that fat boy takes over ill hang up my united shirt and surport else were utd deserve betta then glazer cumon reds lets kick him out
& so United now belong to Glazer. There is jack-all we the public can do about it. Like I said before, Sharehoders United should have done MUCH more than they did. Originally they represented 17% of shares, and now its 2%. So 'members' of SU have been selling thier shares to Glazer. Despicable!
I can only hope fans boycott the games and Fergie announces his exit aswell as Gill.
I can not believe that any American could have the balls to even try to buy an English football team!!! I have been a loyal Manchester United fan for 28 years and living state side Iam truly appalled by this asshole millionaire that thinks he can buy anything and anybody.Don't tell Trump!!!!
"United not for sale?" United have been for sale from the moment they floated! Me you or anybody with the money (or access to credit) could buy it! No united fans complained when investor's money helped them build the treble winning side? When united floated they entered the big boys playground and accepted the associated rules as a result! Their reaction now smacks of naivety and I'm afraid futileness!
look even happy sam is getting in on the antiglazer vibe,
and hes the happiest man alive
http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~poubae
divert money away from america by clicking on the ads don't buy anything though,
remember where black on saturday
Ok, Im a die-hard fan of the Red Devlis and I also happen to be an american. But that doesn't mean that happy about the sale!!! I seriously believe that Glazer should keep his hands off Manchester United and stick with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers....besides, the Bucs need all the help they can get right now cuz there team sucks so bad right now!!! I hope im not the only american that feels that Manchester should stay within British Blood and I hope that Glazer will wake up and realize that he's digging himself into an early grave!!
i've been a manchester united fan all my life. I'm also an amercian....i'm happy to see an american high up on the manchesters board...BUT MY GOD NOT GLAZER...
omagod lolz ive been a manutd fan all ma lyf 2 bt dat guy iz a r8 sh8 lolz even do im a gyal dnt take da mick man-u rockkk brap!!!!!!!!