The co-chairman of Manchester United Joel Glazer has spelled out measures the club is planning to take to give the club’s supporters more say in the club to end the fans’ agitation against the Glazers family.
Recall that supporters of the Premier League club have not been happy with the takeover of the club by the Glazers family who they believe have not given the fans enough say in the running of the club.
The supporters also believe that the family has not invested enough for the continuous growth of the club. They also alleged that the Glazers’ family took out over 1 billion pounds from the club that has not been accounted for.
The agitation against Joel Glazer and his family took a new dimension when it was announced on April 18 that Manchester United as part of the 12 clubs that signed up for the failed European Super League.
On May 2, 2021, the club’s supporters took the protest against the Glazer’s family to Old Trafford ahead of a Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool. The supporters became uncontrollable to the extent they gained access to the stadium.
BREAKING: Angry Manchester United fans are staging a protest against the club’s owners after getting inside their Old Trafford stadium.
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 2, 2021
Read more: https://t.co/UlMC47LNkj pic.twitter.com/dDtHI04cGa
The protesters caused so much damage to the pitch that they made the match venue unsafe for the Premier League fixture and had to be postponed to May 13, 2021.
Amidst all the agitation against the Glazer family, Joel Glazer stressed that he is still committed to ensuring that the communication between the club and the club’s supporters would be strengthened.
Joel Glazer said: “We also recognize the importance of fan and football interests being embedded in key decision-making processes at every level of the club, and we are open to constructive discussions on how to reinforce that principle.
“We remain committed to working with the wider football community to make the game stronger and more sustainable over the long-term, and we will now refocus our efforts on doing this within the existing structures of UEFA and the Premier League.”
In reaction to Joel Glazer’s promise to give Manchester United’s supporters a say in the running of the club, the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST), urged the American businessman to put his words into action.
“The response could in theory – and we emphasize in theory only – be a change in direction and approach by the owners versus their silence and disregard for communication over the last 16 years”, a statement from the Supporters’ Trust says.
“We will, however, determine our position based on the resulting actions rather than these words alone. We have seen empty words too many times previously. We will seek a mandate from our members and from the wider fanbase before proceeding. We only wish to engage in this process should our supporters want us to.
“The onus remains on the club to put right the problems of the past, not just the European Super League but the overall lack of communication and consultation by the owners.
“Our primary objective remains to ensure a supporter share scheme is put in place which carries equal voting rights to the shares held by the Glazer Family. This scheme would be promoted to the global fanbase and should, in turn, build a notable stake in the club.”
