The
sagging popularity of Manchester United's American owners has touched a new low
with the $1 billion flotation plan in Singapore that would consolidate the
Glazer family's control over the Premier League giants.
Manchester United Fans expressing their rage |
Sources have revealed the club plans to
use a two-tier system of shares in Singapore.
This would minimise any new
shareholders' influence, something that clearly has not gone down well with
fans at home.
"It is certainly
disappointing," Duncan Drasdo, chief executive of Manchester United
Supporters Trust, said.
"Clearly the degree of control by
one majority shareholder has to be a major concern for any conventional
investor thinking of purchasing shares primarily seeking a return on
investment."
Manchester United wants to raise cash to
help reduce its near-$500 million debt pile but many of the club's estimated
333 million global fans are sceptical of the Glazers who bought the club in
2005.
"We want to see the majority of the
profits that Manchester United generates invested back into the football
club," said Drasdo.
"There are so many better uses for
Manchester United's profits than sending the money to Florida or into interest
or debt payments on the Glazer's debts which they transferred onto our club or
indeed into excessive dividend payments resulting from an excessive valuation
at IPO."
Season ticket holder Paul Davidson was
harsher in his criticism.
"They (the Glazers) will still
control the purse strings and the political machinations," the teacher
said.
"In their defence they did spend a
fair whack on those three players in the transfer window (Ashley Young, David
de Gea and Phil Jones) which has gone some way to suggesting they have put cash
into the team on the odd occasion... but I'm still very sceptical about it
all," he added.
"I can't help feeling there's some
sort of Machiavellian motive. I'm not convinced it's ultimately going to
benefit the club.
"They (the Glazers)... don't give a
flying monkey's about what people think."
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