OK. When I read this piece I thought it was odd because she has been a journo absolutely on our side from her spell at the FT until now. I hear from a couple of VERY good sources that Ashling was told to write the article, (her employer dissatisfied with anti-Glazer pieces she has penned previously -The Times is part of News International owned by Rupert Murdoch, whose editorial stance is strongly pro-Glazer). Reason 10 was included as perhaps a coded message to this effect (and, apparently, other similar content was edited out).
I think they'll have the message by now so it's time we leave it. Tanya > -----Original Message----- > From: claus Schiko [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: 22 October 2004 10:02 > To: SU US; SU Com; SU; IMUSA; RedDevils; Tanya & Mark > Subject: Re: [imusa] Anyone want to box Ashling's ears? > > > > > Somebody must have her e-mail address. Lets bombard her with some choice > words. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Tanya & Mark" <Mark&[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "SU US" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "SU Com" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "SU" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "IMUSA" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; > "RedDevils" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, October 22, 2004 10:00 AM > Subject: [imusa] Anyone want to box Ashling's ears? > > > > > > United can live American dream under Glazer > > By Ashling O'Connor October 21st 2004 The Times > > > > Ten reasons why fans at Old Trafford should back the entrepreneur > > To Listen to Manchester United supporters rage against a > possible takeover > > by Malcolm Glazer, anyone would think that the man ate small > children for > > breakfast. Bearded he may be, but the fans do not view the American > > entrepreneur as Father Christmas. Rather, a red-nosed profiteer > intent on > > filling his sack at the expense of the club. > > But surely he can't be that bad? He has amassed a fortune to become the > > 244th richest man in the United States and has a track record > of building > > businesses. So, in a bid to be balanced, here are ten reasons why Glazer > > could be good for United. > > > > 1. Life After Rooney > > The 18-year-old striker, costing �27 million, has blown > United's transfer > > budget for next season at a time when the team needs strengthening in > > midfield and defence. Glazer has promised to inject money > immediately into > > team-building, meaning that Sir Alex Ferguson will not have to > sell to buy > > new players. > > > > 2. Farewell To The Irish > > John Magnier and J. P. McManus have caused huge headaches not > only for the > > board, but for Ferguson, whose dispute with Magnier over Rock Of > Gibraltar, > > the racehorse, destabilised the club and pulled United directors into a > > controversy over corporate governance. Glazer plans to buy out the > Irishmen. > > > > 3. Cracking America > > Glazer's working knowledge of the US market should be an asset > for a club > > that has been striving to make an impact there in the past few years. At > the > > very least, United should get some free shelf space for replica shirts > > somewhere among the 6.3 million square feet of retail space in the malls > > that Glazer owns across the country. > > > > 4. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers > > The American football team had no prospects of success until > Glazer bought > > the franchise, recruited a top coach and spent money on players. Within > > three years they had won the Super Bowl. United may already > have won many > > trophies but if the trend of recent performances continues, their game > will > > undoubtedly need some raising. > > > > 5. Anglo-American Trade > > Britain and America may have a "special relationship" but neither > > understands the other's sports. Perhaps an American owning a leading > > Premiership side would help to bridge the cultural and economic gap. "I > know > > that Manchester United is one of the world's most successful sports > > franchises - and to the fans the 'golden chalice' - and if a Brit was > > purchasing the New York Yankees there would be an equal outcry," Paul > > Willies, chairman of the British- American Chamber of Commerce of Tampa > Bay, > > said. "But encouraging trade and investment - in both > directions - is what > > bonds our countries. So politics aside, I and the business community > applaud > > the Glazers' bid." > > > > 6. Family Interest In A Family Club > > Glazer, 76, has six children. Joel, one of his sons and > vice-president of > > the Bucs, is said to understand the game his countrymen insist > on calling > > soccer after sharing a room in college with a Tottenham Hotspur fan. > > > > 7. Long-Term Commitment > > Glazer wants to own United so badly that he has spent more than �200 > million > > acquiring a minority stake. He has hardly played a stealth game > by buying > a > > little bit of the shares here and there, driving up the price in the > > process. If would cost him about �800 million to own the club - an > > investment that is going to take some years to pay back. > > > > 8. Fans' Forums > > Although he does not yet have them onside, Glazer wants to give > supporters > > greater involvement in the way the club is run. Fans often know best, as > > they will loudly tell you. Glazer is apparently willing to listen. > > > > 9. Commercial Hunger > > Even people against Glazer's takeover believe that United's commercial > deals > > could be negotiated better. There could be more incentives for > shirt sales > > if revenue-sharing splits with Nike were more in favour of the club. > > > > 10. Cheap Tours > > Instead of luxury training retreats to the Middle East, United > could save > > money by putting the players up in Glazer's trailer parks. > > > > > > > > > > > > Please use [EMAIL PROTECTED] for general discussion. To > unsubscribe send a blank message (from the email account in question) to: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Join as a full member of IMUSA today: http://www.imusa.org/join.htm > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ****************************************************************** > ************ > The information in this e-mail is confidential and may be legally > privileged. > It is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this e-mail by > anyone else > is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, > copying, distribution, or any action taken or omitted to be taken > in reliance > on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. > Please note that emails to, from and within RT� may be subject to > the Freedom > of Information Act 1997 and may be liable to disclosure. > ****************************************************************** > ************ > > > > > > > Please use [EMAIL PROTECTED] for general discussion. To > unsubscribe send a blank message (from the email account in question) to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Join as a full member of IMUSA today: http://www.imusa.org/join.htm > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. 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