The question of whether to continue supporting the team AND by default the Glazer regime, has perplexed and divided supporters since the Florida based family takeover of United in 2005.
United fans' have argued among themselves about the merits of supporting the team or staying away. Two sets of supporters emerged following the takeover, those that walked away and those who would 'fight from within'. Until the 'Green and Gold' campaign was launched, the 'fight from within' was in serious danger of withering out, but now with the support of MUST together with over 159,000 members the 'fight from within' is very much alive.
However, the question of whether to renew those season tickets, and in so doing continuing to support the Glazer regime will be all the more vexing following last night's excellent edition of Panorama.
Into the red exposes the problems facing the Glazer family and their business affairs in a way that should deeply concern anyone with United's interests at heart. The Glazers' are '£1.1bn in debt', contrary to David Gill's statement last week, Panorama claims sources close to the owners have confirmed the family may well use United to pay off their PIK loans.
United are in a complete financial mess and it is entirely down to the Glazer family. Personally, I haven't given the Glazer family a penny since 2005 I implore others to follow the lead of those who have walked away. If you continue to support the Glazers' you are by default prolonging the day of reckoning for the owners.
I have been following United since 1969 so I know how hard the decision to walk away will be for many like minded supporters, but the greater interest of the club going forward is more important.
UPDATE: This could be very good news, if it proves to be true; reports claim less than a third of season ticket holders have renewed.
Glazers's on the rack?
Please give up your season tickets so we can get some real Manchester United supporter into Old Trafford with Red and Which not this silly green and yellow.
ReplyDeleteNot one of the family are you by any chance Brian?
ReplyDeleteNo not one of the family he spells his name Bryan but then you are so blinded by this silliness you would not know that. PLEASE PLEASE do not come to Old Trafford with your green and yellow (gold my arse) PLEASE stay away or better still go to City
ReplyDeleteDid you give up your season ticket in 2005?
ReplyDeleteBrian,
ReplyDeleteCan I politely ask you to **** off?!
WE gave up our season tickets following the takeover.
ReplyDeleteBrian,
ReplyDeleteI forgot to add that someone with a Florida ip address has been looking at this thread. Just thought I'd mention that.
So you've not given Utd a penny since 2005 (does that include a Sky tv subscription, away tickets, etc.) and because of that you think I should do the same?! You're obviously 10 years older than me (I only started in 1977 in theory - aged 6 - though probably 1981 when I could actually make an 'informed' choice - though I never supported any other team I don't think anyone can count the first 10 years of their life as you might as well declare yourself a fan of Barney the Bear). But I don't get how my £780 will make the difference, or even if 6,000 other reds with me in the Stretford End done the same. Nowhere in the bond document when they highlighted the risks to the club did it say 'fans might start wearing green and gold and not buy club scarves' or '10,000 fans might not renew'. These are not fundamental risks to the business and would not affect the Glazer's business plan (10,000 non-renewals who weren't replace - which is a point for another argument -represents around 3% of club turnover). Removing this income would come straight out of a transfer budget not out of the Glazer's financing plans so it woul do nothing more than make a terrible situation even worse. I'm fed up with non United fans like yourself constantly telling match going reds what to do. I reckon that of a sample of 20 regular reds around me in the Stretford End only around 4 wear the green and gold scarves. I've not found anyone who isn't renewing. The 'red knights' was always going to be a bluff/disaster and we're in for a long hard period of stability under the Glazers. Note I said stability - we'll not spend but we'll continue to challenge, the young players will continue to develop, we'll continue to be a selling club, and the value of the club will continue on an overall upward trend.
ReplyDeleteWe have to learn to accept it because, barring a sudden rich individual or conglomerate coming in with altruistic goals, this will be our lot for a few years to come and there'll be nothing we can do about it. Especially not giving up our season tickets and missing out on the one release that most of us get each week.
As a final question, can I ask, if the Glazers went tomorrow and were replaced by JP McManus or any other individual who was willing to refinance the club with equity and remove the debt interest payments, would you buy a season ticket?
(I know which answer I'd guess at)
Paul,
ReplyDeleteThis really is quite simple. If the vast majority of season ticket holders had stopped when I did the Glazers' would no longer be our owners.
I don't care who owns United as long as (a) it is run properly, like it was prior to 2005. (b) the manager has funds to spend when he wishes (c) tickets are priced reasonably.
I think you'd have to agree the Glazers are failing on all three conditions.
I read the comment "But I don't get how my £780 will make the difference, or even if 6,000 other reds with me in the Stretford End done the same."
ReplyDeleteDo your maths Paul: 6,000 x £780 = £4,680,000.oo
Now that is serious money and = US$6,807,757.75 and that is only counting should season ticket holders not renew their over priced season tickets!
Add to that the possible 'stay away' fans who do not support the thieving Glazer's.
AND
Then add to that a 100% loss of sales from the United 'shop'.
So lets all get real.
LET US NOT RENEW OUR SEASON TICKETS, DO NOT ATTEND ANY HOME GAMES AT OLD TRAFFORD THIS SEASON (Yes we can still give the team, OUR MANCHESTER UNITED, support at away games)
DEFINITELY DO NOT BUY UNITED KITS FROM THE UNITED SHOP.
INSTEAD SHOW YOU ARE A REAL UMANCHESTER NITED FAN AND HELP GET RID OF THE ***BOY GLAZERS.
IT WILL ONLY TAKE ONE YEAR, OR LESS, OF PERSONAL SACRIFICE TO GET RID OF THE YANK DUE 'sic' BOY THIEVES!
Born and Bred Red,
ReplyDeleteAt last, the voice of sanity!
I couldn't agree more.
Paul,
ReplyDeleteCheck out today's news. It's very good news if true, because less than a third of fans have renewed thus far.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Glazers-shocked-as-Manchester-United-season-ticket-renewals-plummet-amid-talk-of-boycott-article453961.html
Raymond,
ReplyDeleteJust promise one thing; you will come back next season when and if my predictions come true about Rio being a bit-part player from now on.
I have been going to OT for over 30 years not all as a season ticket holder but certainly 12 as an st and before that LMTB. I will not be renewing. I can afford to renew but am choosing not to.
ReplyDeleteNon renewal needs to be done en masse to make a difference.
If 10,000 or more don't renew come deadline day i will view that as a success. I hope that 15,000 to 20,000 decide enough is enough. It really is the only way to change things.
The people saying £680 wont make a difference can be proven wrong, if enough people stand firm, don't renew and apply the pressure the most effective way they can.
The Green and Gold campaign is not a 'silly' campaign. It has been very effective. Anyone suggesting otherwise is clearly blinkered. It is not a minority as Mr Gill suggests. The momentum has been building and the groundswell of opinion is that it is time for a change and time for action. If Manchester United fans can successfully wrestle control from the Glazers it will be a great achievement.
If only Sir Alex would add some weight to the campaign. He has the power to end their reign. I don't understand why he is scared of talking. They couldn't sack him without massive revolt.
Chorlton Boy,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you totally.
Regarding Fergie. When the takeover was first mooted, someone who works in the city said if Fergie had spoken out strongly against the Glazer takeover, the institutions might not have backed the Glazers.
I don't know how much truth there is behind that claim and we will never know, but I've been very disappointed in Fergie, he has backed them to the hilt and it reflects badly on his own judgement. Rather than publicly back the owners he should have said nothing at all, that way he could have kept on doing his job and stayed onside with the fans.
James - as you are a big follower of the "get the glazers out" movement I wondered if you would take a look at our campaign which is heavily related:
ReplyDeleteWe have setup a campaign called "Oi! FA" which is trying to unite people who disagree with the whole leverage takeover and plunging the clubs into debt. We are putting together an online petition (400+ signups at time of writing this after being live for 6 days!) which we are going to forward onto the FA asking them to act. The website is www.oi-fa.com.
I would appreciate your thoughts and feedback on this, and as a prominent Man U blogger we would really appreciate you being able to blog on us to really help spread the word.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions
Thanks
Phil,
ReplyDeleteI will definitely take a look.
Cheers
James
Thanks James,
ReplyDeleteAny support you can give us would be very gratefully recieved. Having you on board would make a big difference to us.
Any questions, please just drop me an email
Thanks
Phil
Phil,
ReplyDeleteI will support you 100%, but I don't have your email address!
But no matter.
Cheers
James