Joel Glazer meets with Manchester United fans for first time as much-maligned owner AGREES to let them have votes in running the club after European Super League disaster while pledging investment in stadium and squad but plan is met with scepticism
- Joel Glazer has met with Manchester United supporters for the first time
- United’s ownership are looking to build bridges after European Super League
- The Glazers have agreed to allow supporter votes via a Fan Share Scheme
- Investment into the squad and the stadium and training ground was confirmed
- Manchester United Supporters Trust say they are cautious about the scheme
Manchester United are in talks with supporters to introduce a new fan share scheme that will give them the same voting rights as their owners — but the plan was met with immediate scepticism.
United co-chairman Joel Glazer confirmed dialogue has begun on the initiative, which they hope to agree ahead of next season, on a virtual fans’ forum on Friday.
Glazer fronted up and broke 16 years of near silence, promising greater communication with fans following United’s involvement in the European Super League.
Joel Glazer met with Man United fans for the first time in a bid to build bridges with supporters
That sparked protests against the unpopular Glazer family, including one that led to the abandonment of United’s League game against Liverpool.
During the event, which the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) described as containing ‘a frank exchange of views’, Glazer outlined plans to create a fan advisory board to give followers a greater say.
MUST said: ‘MUST is cautious about whether the Fan Share Scheme will meet their own tests before they give it approval as despite the huge concession on voting rights that this proposal signals as ever the devil is always in the detail.
‘MUST is concerned that there is a risk that the scheme will limit the number of such Fan Shares made available so reducing the opportunity for this to achieve a meaningful collective fan ownership stake — and ultimately with the potential to result in a change in control of the club.’
Glazer also defended the huge dividend payments taken out of the club and refused to commit to paying off United’s eyewatering £430m debts.
United fans are demanding the owners leave following the disastrous European Super League
Red Devils fans stormed Old Trafford last month in protest against the despised ownership
Now, Glazer has pledged fan votes in a bid to strengthen the relationship with supporters
The American billionaire also promised to invest in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad this summer
The Glazers will also invest to improve Old Trafford and United’s training ground, Carrington
