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Saturday, May 08, 2021, 11:45
Man United owners to discuss 'fan share ownership'
By Reuters
Saturday, May 08, 2021, 11:45 By Reuters

Manchester United's US co-chairmen Joel Glazer (right) and Avram Glazer (left) attend the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Southampton at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on Aug 19, 2016. (OLI SCARFF / AFP)

MANCHESTER, England - Manchester United owner and co-chairman Joel Glazer has told supporters he is willing to discuss increasing fan shareholding in the club as part of greater consultation with them.

Violent protests against United’s American owners, who were central to plans for a breakaway Super League, led to Sunday’s Premier League match at hoem to Liverpool being postponed.

The Manchester United Fans’ Forum had written to Glazer on Monday urging him to take several steps including opening up shares to fans.

We want to work together (with supporters) to come up with an ambitious package of measures which will transform our relationship with fans and strengthen the club for the long-term.

Joel Glazer, Manchester United owner and co-chairman

Responding in an open letter here to the forum members, Glazer said: "As one of the few European football clubs listed on the public markets, we believe in the principle of fans owning shares in the club.

“We have previously engaged with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust on fan share ownership and we want to continue and accelerate those discussions, together with provisions to enhance associated fan consultation”.

Glazer said the club was committed to listening to the views of fans.

ALSO READ: Man United to punish fans who committed criminal acts in protests

“We want to work together to come up with an ambitious package of measures which will transform our relationship with fans and strengthen the club for the long-term.

“In this spirit, we will reach out to members of the forum to schedule a meeting in which I shall participate as soon as possible after the final game of the season,” he wrote.

“We recognise that we will need to significantly increase investment in Old Trafford and our training complex to ensure that the club’s facilities remain among the best in Europe.

“As part of this, we will consult with fans on investments related to the stadium and the matchday experience.

“Indeed, one of the clearest lessons of the past few weeks is the need for us to become better listeners. To this end, I can commit the club will engage across all of the issues raised in your letter”.

The Super League affair has relit the always smouldering protest movement amongst United fans with a supporter demonstration at the club’s training ground followed by Sunday’s protests which involved clashes with police.

READ MORE: Greenwood double helps Man United sink Burnley

Glazer has apologised for United’s involvement in the Super League project, which would have seen 12 of the top clubs in Europe breakaway from the established structures to create a privately owned championship.

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