July 23rd, 2010
Stretty-Ender
United have been forced to place 4,000 Old Trafford season tickets on general sale.
Earlier this week United said 50,000 season tickets had been sold, a milestone seen as a victory for the Glazer family against protesting fans.
The “Green and Gold” protest movement – unhappy at the club’s debt level under its American owners – became a visible presence at Old Trafford last season.
Fans’ groups say United has suffered a marked fall in year-on-year sales.
The need to place season tickets on general sale – seven weeks after the deadline for renewals had passed – also raises questions about the club’s much-trumpeted waiting list, an untapped reservoir of support supposed to number 60,000 fans.
July 23rd, 2010
Stretty-Ender
United chief executive David Gill is planning talks with Wayne Rooney to extend his stay with the Red Devils.
With two years left on striker Rooney’s contract, Manchester United’s chief executive is eager for the England International to remain at Old Trafford for the long-term.
On Friday, United announced they had agreed a deal to keep Nemanja Vidic at the club after reports suggested he could leave for Real Madrid or AC Milan.
Now United’s No. 10, who is scheduled to hold talks after he returns from holiday, is the next player the club wish to tie down.
“The current intention is to meet with Wayne and his advisers when we’re back from tour and he’s back from holiday with a view to sorting out a new deal for him,” Gill told reporters.
“It’s clear from what he has said and what the club have said that both parties are very keen to sort things out and secure his long-term future at United.
“Given his desires and what he means to the club we’re very confident that can be achieved.”
July 12th, 2010
Stretty-Ender
The Glazer family face a new battle with Manchester United supporters following a warning that fans are preparing to snub the club’s new Aon-branded shirt which will be launched in the United States this week.
United fly to Chicago, the home city of insurance giant Aon, tomorrow as they embark on a three-week pre-season tour of North America, which begins with a game against Celtic in Toronto on Friday evening.
The four-year shirt deal with Aon, worth £80 million, replaces the £14 million-a-year sponsorship agreement with AIG. But with United having already banked £35.9 million from the Aon deal, supporters’ group MUST claim there has already been a backlash against the new shirt due to a perception that the funds have been used to service the club’s £716.5 million debt.
A MUST spokesman said: “From reading a lot of the supporters’ forums, it is very apparent that many United supporters now see the new Aon shirt as a symbol of the Glazer family’s ownership rather than a symbol of the Manchester United we historically know and love.
“It’s important that all American Reds understand the necessity to remove the Glazers from our club to improve our future chances of success and survival. “It’s now clear the huge effect the debt burden inflicted on us by the Glazer family is having.”
Despite the clearly visible supporter-led green-and-gold campaign against the Glazers last season, the American owners have insisted that they have no plans to sell the club.
Attempts by the Red Knights, a group of wealthy financiers, to raise funds for a takeover bid have so far failed to come to fruition. Suggestions that a bid would be made prior to the World Cup did not materialise.
But while the Red Knights have held talks in recent days to review the situation, United have dismissed claims of a season-ticket boycott by insisting that sales are on course to match previous seasons.
July 12th, 2010
Stretty-Ender
United leave for their pre-season tour of North America, Mexico and Ireland. The first match of the tour will be against Celtic on Friday. Kick-off is at midnight and you can see the match live at WatchMUFC.com
