(Tampa Bay Bucs owner) Glazer wins control of Man United (BBC)

[MaineDem]

US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer has won control of Manchester United in a £790m ($1.47bn) takeover bid.

The American has secured the 28.7% stake owned by Irish racing tycoons JP MacManus and John Magnier, giving him almost 57% of the Premiership club.

Red Football Ltd, acting on behalf of Mr Glazer, said the Irishmen had sold their stakes for 300p a share.

Club fans have vehemently opposed Mr Glazer's ambition all along and fear that ticket prices will soar.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4540939.stm

[Bob3]

1. So much for Man United as a force in English Soccer

Sad really.

[T_i_B]

2. Any US DUer's know anything about Malcom Glazer?

I'm more interested in the League 1 playoffs at present but Man U fans are totally opposed to Glazer having anything to do with Man U. It's not like Man U needs Glazer's money really.

[scurvy_n_disastrous]

3. Glazer will be gone within 2 years as

sponsors and bankers won't stand the fans' heat, ie, boycotts, protests and maybe more radical action. He's saddling the club with £500m debt and can only service it with ticket price hikes, tight-fisted player policy and increased commercialisation of the "brand". Up until now, Manchester United were debt-free. If results, both commercial and (especially) sporting don't improve on this year, he'll have serious pain.
Any way, wait and see: next week's FA Cup final will be as interesting for what happens on the pitch as from the stands.

[T_i_B]

4. Glazer secures 75% Man Utd stake

And here is today's news. Well done to West Brom for staying up BTW!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4550141.stm

Malcolm Glazer has secured a 75% stake in Manchester United, enabling him to take full control of the club, after purchasing the extra shares he needed.

Reaching the 75% figure enables the billionaire US sports tycoon to take Manchester United private and delist its shares from the stock exchange.

BBC sports news reporter James Pearce said the confirmation had come from a spokesman for Mr Glazer's brokers.

Manchester United fans have promised to continue to oppose the takeover. Supporters' groups have threatened to protest at Saturday's FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

[scurvy_n_disastrous]

5. as expected n/t