MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - Joel Glazer, expected to be named as Manchester
United's new chairman later this month, has pleaded with Manchester United fans
not to make snap judgements on his family's Old Trafford reign.
The 38-year-old son of Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner Malcolm needed to be escorted
away from the ground in a police van on Wednesday night as angry fans vented
their frustration at the American's 790-million-pound (1.17-billion-euro)
purchase of the club.
Almost constantly vilified for the past 18 months by the biggest United fans'
groups, Glazer finally spoke out in a 35-minute interview with the Red Devils'
in-house television station MUTV last night, and urged the silent majority to
give them a chance to prove the club are in safe hands.
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vilification goes with the territory," he said. "If you are not prepared for
it, you should not get involved. But the passion is part of the attraction. It
is frustrating and tough but it has not put us off, it has just made us even
more aware of the awesome responsibility that is involved here.
"You would just hope that people give us a chance and not make a judgement on
what has happened today or the last several months.
"I know what we are going to do in the future and I have confidence and faith
in what I am saying. But there are many people who do not know me and the only
way I can back up my words is with actions and actions take time.
"We understand the high expectations at this club and we have the utmost
respect for the history and traditions of Manchester United. If people are
patient and give us that time, we are satisfied and confident they will be
proud of our ownership."
While Glazer covered a wide range of topics, rejecting outright he has any plan
to either sell and lease back Old Trafford, change the United badge, scrap the
collective Premier League TV bargaining agreement, limit Alex Ferguson's
transfer spending or axe Sir Bobby Charlton from his position on the board,
there was no answer to the question fans want answering most of all, namely how
the Glazers intend to pay off the 500-million-pound debt they have incurred
buying the club.
Instead, Joel emphasised the 270 million pounds of his family's own fortune had
been ploughed into the venture, proof enough, he claimed, of their
determination to succeed.
"We would not have got involved with Manchester United if we did not feel that,
under our ownership, the club 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 our family has personally invested over 270 million pounds. I can assure
everyone the structure that was put in place is a structure we are extremely
comfortable with.
"The fans should not worry about some of the crazy stuff that has been
portrayed."
In a slick appearance, which emphasised the enthusiasm Glazer has for the
challenge, he did concede the fans would be facing higher ticket prices in the
future, although maybe not by as much as some had feared.
"Ticket prices are never a good situation in sports these days," he said.
"Unfortunately, they continue to rise. But I will say this much - this club's
ticket prices will always be competitive with other ticket prices in the
Premier League.
"If you out-price supporters, you have lost the lifeblood of the club. We are
very sensitive about that and take it very seriously.
"There was a price increase this year which happened before we even got
involved, so we are mindful of that and what supporters can and cannot do. The
game has to remain affordable for everybody."
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