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05-12-2005, 03:34 PM
Manchester United fans are furious that US tycoon Malcolm Glazer has launched a formal takeover for the club.
Glazer has a 57% share after securing the 28.7% stake of Irish racing tycoons JP MacManus and John Magnier.
Nick Towle, chairman of fans pressure group, Shareholders United, claimed he has ripped up his season ticket.
He said: "I am very sad - I still love the club but I refuse to put a penny into the company. And I believe as many as 20,000 fans may also leave Man Utd."
Supporters are concerned about the level of debt involved in Glazer's bid and fear for the club's future.
Oliver Houston, also a member of Shareholders United, told BBC Radio Five Live that Glazer is "no Roman Abramovich".
He said: "He's not turning up with a suitcase full of his own cash.
"He is, in effect, asking Manchester United fans to pay for his takeover, to pay for increased ticket prices and increased merchandising."
A protest has been hurriedly organised to take place outside Old Trafford at 1700 BST on Thursday.
Fans are being urged to take with them their season ticket renewal forms and burn them in a gesture of defiance.
Michael Crick is another who believes Glazer's "hard-nosed business record" spells danger.
He said: "He is going to be much keener to boost profits, particularly as he's going to have to borrow so much to buy the club.
"I can only see that it's the fans who are going to lose out here in a big way."
Fans are also flooding the BBC Sport message boards.
One United supporter said: "Glazer buying us is just another nail in the coffin of football as we know it.
"Football should be for the normal man in the street, not for rich business men to play with like toys."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4541093.stm
Glazer has a 57% share after securing the 28.7% stake of Irish racing tycoons JP MacManus and John Magnier.
Nick Towle, chairman of fans pressure group, Shareholders United, claimed he has ripped up his season ticket.
He said: "I am very sad - I still love the club but I refuse to put a penny into the company. And I believe as many as 20,000 fans may also leave Man Utd."
Supporters are concerned about the level of debt involved in Glazer's bid and fear for the club's future.
Oliver Houston, also a member of Shareholders United, told BBC Radio Five Live that Glazer is "no Roman Abramovich".
He said: "He's not turning up with a suitcase full of his own cash.
"He is, in effect, asking Manchester United fans to pay for his takeover, to pay for increased ticket prices and increased merchandising."
A protest has been hurriedly organised to take place outside Old Trafford at 1700 BST on Thursday.
Fans are being urged to take with them their season ticket renewal forms and burn them in a gesture of defiance.
Michael Crick is another who believes Glazer's "hard-nosed business record" spells danger.
He said: "He is going to be much keener to boost profits, particularly as he's going to have to borrow so much to buy the club.
"I can only see that it's the fans who are going to lose out here in a big way."
Fans are also flooding the BBC Sport message boards.
One United supporter said: "Glazer buying us is just another nail in the coffin of football as we know it.
"Football should be for the normal man in the street, not for rich business men to play with like toys."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4541093.stm