Manchester United co-owner Joel Glazer pledged to dramatically improve his relationship with supporters by holding talks тАЬon fan share ownershipтАЭ and investing in upgrades to Old Trafford.
Glazer’s letter on Friday followed the postponement of United’s game against Liverpool last Sunday, when thousands of fans blocked access into Old Trafford in an anti-ownership protest that included clashes with police.
Long-running anger against the American owners that began with a 2005 leveraged takeover that loaded debt onto the club reignited when United joined the European Super League, which quickly collapsed under widespread condemnation.
Glazer acknowledged a тАЬneed for changeтАЭ and reiterated his apology for the Super League fiasco.
тАЬIndeed, one of the clearest lessons of the past few weeks is the need for us to become better listeners,тАЭ wrote Glazer, the club’s executive co-chairman and director.
тАЬTo highlight some specific points, 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.тАЭ
Glazer’s letter тАФ to representatives of the club-led fan forum тАФ acknowledge the need for better consultation on important issues.
тАЬWe also recognise 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,тАЭ he wrote.
One long-held complaint of fans is the neglect of Old Trafford.
тАЬWe 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,тАЭ Glazer wrote, promising to consult with fans on the topic.
The Manchester United SupportersтАЩ Trust, which boasts more than 200,000 members, responded cautiously to the letter, saying Glazer’s commitments could represent тАЬin theory onlyтАЭ a change in the right direction.
тАЬWe will, however, determine our position based on the resulting actions rather than these words alone,тАЭ the trust said in a statement. тАЬWe have seen empty words too many times previously.тАЭ
MUST’s main objective, it said, is тАЬto 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.тАЭ
The Glazers, who also own the NFLтАЩs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, have largely declined to engage with fans or media since buying United in 2005.
Joel Glazer’s letter said he would commit to a meeting with members of the fan forum тАЬas soon as possibleтАЭ after the season.
тАЬWe 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,тАЭ he wrote.
Glazer also voiced support for the direction of the team under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
тАЬSuccess on the field must be underpinned by solid foundations off it. We have supported sustained investment in the team over many years, and that will continue this summer,тАЭ Glazer wrote.
United fansтАЩ protests against the Glazers have been sporadic as United became the record 20-time champions of England. But the last Premier League title was won in 2013 and since then neighbor Manchester City has become the dominant force in England.
United was among six Premier League clubs that tried to form an exclusive Super League along with three clubs each from Spain and Italy. Widespread opposition quickly ended the project, with all six English teams backing out within 48 hours of the announcement.
