LONDON, July 1 (Reuters) - Joel Glazer, son of new Manchester United owner
Malcolm, has given a long interview to the Premier League club's television
company MUTV.
In brief, these are his answers on issues affecting the club in the family's
first major interview since buying United:
WHY BUY UNITED?
"The success the club has, the tradition it has and the history it has.
Manchester United has always had a unique aura about it, and when you watch
them play everyone knows it's something special."
MANAGER ALEX FERGUSON
"Manchester United are very, very fortunate to have the most wonderful manager
in Sir Alex Ferguson. 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."
FANS
"It's our duty...to be a great steward of this club for the supporters. The
supporters are the lifeblood of this club and sometimes people forget that. I
know I don't forget that...and I'll keep reminding people of that."
CHANGE
"People aren't going to notice a change... 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."
COMMUNICATIONS
"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 and apologise that we haven't been able to speak out and communicate
directly.
"It has been frustrating for us not being able to communicate because people
are so passionate about this club."
PRIORITIES
"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."
POSSIBILITY OF SALE AND LEASEBACK OF OLD TRAFFORD
"Absolutely ridiculous. Old Trafford is the heritage and the real foundation of
this club. There is no thought process whatsoever to be doing that."
CHANGING THE LOGO
"That's another absolutely ridiculous thing. There's absolutely no plan to
change that."
TICKET PRICES
"This club's ticket prices will always be competitive with others in the
Premier League. We are not looking to out-price the supporters. The game has to
remain affordable for everybody."
DEBT
"Our family personally has invested over 270 million pounds ($481 million). We
have every reason to see this be successful as it has always been.
"A lot of businesses have debt. I can assure everybody that the structure that
was put in place is a structure we're extremely comfortable with."
TRANSFER FUNDS
"We are going to provide the manager with the resources necessary to put the
best team on the field.
"Nobody was more excited than us last year when the club signed Wayne Rooney,
but if that situation arises again this club will be in a position to go after
that player to bring him to Old Trafford."
ATTENDING MATCHES
"Sure we're going to come to Old Trafford, sure we're going to attend the
matches. It's very, very important."
TV RIGHTS
"We don't think that breaking up the collective selling agreement is in the
best interests of the Premier League and we communicated that very clearly to
officials at the Premier League and at the FA.
"Without a strong league you don't have strong competition."
FAMILY VILIFICATION
"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."
MESSAGE TO THE FANS
"People shouldn't be concerned about us and what we may do.
"People don't want to hear from me, they want to see the players, and so the
quicker we can get out of the way, get the focus back on the pitch...the
greater everything will be in the future because the results will be there."
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