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Manchester United fans planning to boycott season tickets
Supporters hoping to force sale of debt-ridden club...
7 Feb 2010 08:00:00
By Adithya Ananth
Manchester United fans are set to organise a boycott of the season tickets in the summer in a bid to usher the Glazer family out of the club.
The Old Trafford outfit have debts the size of Mt Everest, and several supporters believe that burning a hole in the owner's pockets will force the Glazers sell up after putting the club about £700 million in the red.
Andy Walsh, the general manager of FC United - launched as a response to the American owners taking over the Red Devils in 2005 - believes that the campaign is slowly reaching fruition.
"I said when the Glazers took over at United I wouldn’t give the club another penny – and I haven’t," said Walsh, who has not visited Old Trafford since the takeover, is quoted by The Mirror as saying.
"I was not prepared to line the pockets of people who planned to do nothing more than pillage the club I love.
"I wasn’t the only one. Some of us helped to establish and support FC United, others just went to the pub to watch United matches and the money they used to spend on tickets was spent on buying a few pints instead.
"Fans who had been unable to buy tickets in the past took our places, but even that pool of support is drying up.
"One thing missing from the Glazers’ prospectus when they were looking to raise a £500m bond was that United now have 58,000 season-ticket holders. Last season it was 65,000.
"It’s been widely reported hospitality bookings are down, you can see empty seats inside Old Trafford – and that hits the Glazers.
"If people don’t renew this summer the owners’ business plan will really struggle.
"The match-going supporters have to take advantage by hitting them in the pocket – and I know some fans are talking about that as the next stage of the campaign."
The Manchester United Supporters Trust distributed 70,000 cards to those who were in attendance for the game against Portsmouth on Saturday, which marked the 52nd anniversary of the Munich air disaster.
A spokesman for the fan group said: "This day in our history is a permanent reminder that Manchester United Football Club is far more than a business.
"Manchester United is a family with a history and a tradition like no other in the world. The damage they [the Glazers] are doing must be stopped."
The Old Trafford outfit have debts the size of Mt Everest, and several supporters believe that burning a hole in the owner's pockets will force the Glazers sell up after putting the club about £700 million in the red.
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Andy Walsh, the general manager of FC United - launched as a response to the American owners taking over the Red Devils in 2005 - believes that the campaign is slowly reaching fruition.
"I said when the Glazers took over at United I wouldn’t give the club another penny – and I haven’t," said Walsh, who has not visited Old Trafford since the takeover, is quoted by The Mirror as saying.
"I was not prepared to line the pockets of people who planned to do nothing more than pillage the club I love.
"I wasn’t the only one. Some of us helped to establish and support FC United, others just went to the pub to watch United matches and the money they used to spend on tickets was spent on buying a few pints instead.
"Fans who had been unable to buy tickets in the past took our places, but even that pool of support is drying up.
"One thing missing from the Glazers’ prospectus when they were looking to raise a £500m bond was that United now have 58,000 season-ticket holders. Last season it was 65,000.
"It’s been widely reported hospitality bookings are down, you can see empty seats inside Old Trafford – and that hits the Glazers.
"If people don’t renew this summer the owners’ business plan will really struggle.
"The match-going supporters have to take advantage by hitting them in the pocket – and I know some fans are talking about that as the next stage of the campaign."
The Manchester United Supporters Trust distributed 70,000 cards to those who were in attendance for the game against Portsmouth on Saturday, which marked the 52nd anniversary of the Munich air disaster.
A spokesman for the fan group said: "This day in our history is a permanent reminder that Manchester United Football Club is far more than a business.
"Manchester United is a family with a history and a tradition like no other in the world. The damage they [the Glazers] are doing must be stopped."
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
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