LONDON, July 1 (Reuters) - Joel Glazer, the son of new Manchester United owner
Malcolm, says his family want to develop United as "a great club" and will make
transfer funds available to strengthen manager Alex Ferguson's squad.
In an interview with the club's television channel MUTV, Glazer, a
non-executive director, also said on Friday he wanted to work with Ferguson for
"many years to come" and urged people not to judge the new owners in the short
term.
Glazer accepted the recent hostility towards his family as being inevitable,
but said the passion surrounding United was part of the club's appeal and
stressed that all sides shared the same desire for success on the pitch.
Ruling out major changes to United, Glazer said: "We don't want people to
notice a change because in the end we'll be doing a disservice to this great
club.
"We just want to help carry it on -- grow what Manchester United has been
whilst recognising worldwide maybe there are some more things we can do
overseas to grow Manchester United."
But he added: "Priorities always have to start on the pitch.
"The priority is to do better than we did last season and better than we did
the previous season. We always want to do better, always compete at the top
level."
United finished third in the Premier League last term and lost the FA Cup final
on penalties to Arsenal. They also went out of the Champins League in the first
knockout round.
Glazer, who said he had been to Old Trafford in recent years, highlighted
United's history, heritage and "unique aura" as the club's main appeal to his
family.
As for Ferguson's war chest for the transfer market, Glazer said: "We are going
to provide the manager with the resources necessary to field the best team.
"When I read about caps and hands being tied it's very frustrating. You can't
have caps in this game, in any sport.
"Nobody was more excited than us last year when the club signed Wayne Rooney
(for 27 million pounds ($48.5 million)). If that situation arises again this
club will be in a position to go after that player and bring him to Old
Trafford."
NO CAPPING
Glazer said reports of Ferguson having a transfer budget capped at 25 million
pounds a year were "absolutely not true", while making it clear restraint would
have to be shown in spending.
"You can get reckless and it can get the club in trouble," he said. "But if the
manager feels it's the right situation (to buy a player), then you have to
facilitate that."
Showing his support for 63-year-old Ferguson, Glazer said: "The success he has
had, and what he's brought to Old Trafford, you can't even describe it in words
... he's just done a tremendous job.
"We have the greatest respect for him and hope to work with him for many, many
years to come."
Glazer also appeared keen to win round United fans, some of whom find it
unforgivable that the American family has bought the 127-year-old club for 790
million pounds.
"I think the supporters appreciate it if you're doing everything you can to put
a successful team on the pitch.
"I think people are forgiving if they know you're doing that."
Joel Glazer and his brothers Avram and Bryan had to be escorted from Old
Trafford on Wednesday evening following scuffles between police and fans
protesting at the American businessman's takeover.
Asked about the general hostility, Glazer said: "It goes with the territory and
if you're not prepared for that then one should not get involved.
"Part of the attraction is the passion, how much people care. I care about the
same thing the supporters care about -- what happens on the pitch.
"It makes you realise even more the awesome responsibility that's involved in
here."
Despite recent protests, Glazer said the family fully planned to go to United
home games, describing it as "very, very important".
He did not rule out ticket price increases, but said: "This club's ticket
prices will always be competitive with others in the Premier League.
"We are not looking to out-price the supporters."
DEBT ISSUES
Glazer sought to play down the levels of debt involved in the takeover, one of
the main criticisms of supporters' groups, adding that his family were
personally investing over 270 million pounds.
"We would have not got involved with Manchester United if we did not feel that
the club under our ownership could continue to be the great club it has been,"
he said.
"A lot of businesses have debt.
"Debt can mean different things to different people, but I can assure everybody
that the structure that was put in place is a structure we're extremely
comfortable with."
Key to Glazer's comments was a call for his family's ownership of the club to
be judged over the long term, following months of furore surrounding the
takeover.
"We don't like what's happened over the last several months and we are
embarrassed that we have caused a lot of this to happen and we apologise for
that," he said.
"The only thing that's going to change views is things that happen over time so
I caution people that this is a marathon and not a sprint.
"Judge us over the long haul, don't judge us on a day or the last several
months."
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