Glazers seeking to sell Man Utd


Germany is different though isn't it? With the Bundesliga clubs the voting rights are majority fan controlled via the 50+1 rule so as far as I am aware they would have far more say than English club supporters for example.

German soccer rules: 50+1 explained (Bundesliga)
To a point yes. But fact remains Whether they had shares or not German fans just wouldn't take it. Certain clubs in this country have fan ownership or with Chelsea the fans own the pitch to prevent a sale for property development. What we should encourage is fan part ownership if possible. Even if only 10 or 20 percent it gives fans a material say. Maybe something we could press government for. Doubt our mp's would be too keen as its common sense and doesn't line their pockets.
 
I have to admit I’m conflicted about this . The Saudis should be nowhere near any of our clubs but it on the other hand , it would piss on the Mag’s chips big time .
It would almost certainly relegate Newcastle United to third choice if this hypothetical situation actually happened, given LFC and MUFC already have an established global appeal. That said the KSA won't be wanting to be seen as having weak links so they either prove their might so to speak by financially backing NUFC to compete at the top level, or they dispose of their investment in them to a third party but they may not find a buyer to their terms or could see doing that as a failure.

I hope I'm completely wrong because otherwise football as we know it in this country is over.
 
It would almost certainly relegate Newcastle United to third choice if this hypothetical situation actually happened, given LFC and MUFC already have an established global appeal. That said the KSA won't be wanting to be seen as having weak links so they either prove their might so to speak by financially backing NUFC to compete at the top level, or they dispose of their investment in them to a third party but they may not find a buyer to their terms or could see doing that as a failure.

I hope I'm completely wrong because otherwise football as we know it in this country is over.
I suppose KSA have so much money they could just give Newcastle to the Reubans , if they really wanted one of the other two .
 
Not saying it will happen but can easy see a situation where a someone from Saudi buys Man U but it’s really ran by the state. I mean the fa couldn’t even work out the Saudi state are trimming Newcastle
 
Not saying it will happen but can easy see a situation where a someone from Saudi buys Man U but it’s really ran by the state. I mean the fa couldn’t even work out the Saudi state are trimming Newcastle
It will be dressed up under supposed private companies and the FA will lap it up. Multiple American owners currently and they won’t have an issue with multiple Saudi owners. No chance they will unravel the structures. Some Premier League matches will be played in Saudi within 5 years IMO.
 
To a point yes. But fact remains Whether they had shares or not German fans just wouldn't take it. Certain clubs in this country have fan ownership or with Chelsea the fans own the pitch to prevent a sale for property development. What we should encourage is fan part ownership if possible. Even if only 10 or 20 percent it gives fans a material say. Maybe something we could press government for. Doubt our mp's would be too keen as its common sense and doesn't line their pockets.
As much as I'd love to see it happen, take Chelsea it was sold for £3.5b so you'd need to find £350m from the fans just for the purchase then it's only 10% so basically no say, then 10% of any transfers and running costs (unless football clubs finally start making real profits). The horse has already bolted on that for the big clubs and most medium sized ones too. It'll end up with some sort of fans board which looks good but has no teeth what so ever.
 
Germany is different though isn't it? With the Bundesliga clubs the voting rights are majority fan controlled via the 50+1 rule so as far as I am aware they would have far more say than English club supporters for example.



German soccer rules: 50+1 explained (Bundesliga)


4 clubs don't abide by that rule
 
As much as I'd love to see it happen, take Chelsea it was sold for £3.5b so you'd need to find £350m from the fans just for the purchase then it's only 10% so basically no say, then 10% of any transfers and running costs (unless football clubs finally start making real profits). The horse has already bolted on that for the big clubs and most medium sized ones too. It'll end up with some sort of fans board which looks good but has no teeth what so ever.
Legislation would be required. Not to take part private but to take it to supporters at discounted rate. Its not in line with capitalism but its sensible to stop owners ruining historic institutions.
 
Legislation would be required. Not to take part private but to take it to supporters at discounted rate. Its not in line with capitalism but its sensible to stop owners ruining historic institutions.
Could only be at a discounted rate if the current owners wanted to sell at that rate though, otherwise it'll end up in court and be dragged on for years, it would be one of the very few times every owner in the league agreed to work together. Then you'd still face the issue of the 'owner' needing to fund 100% but then only having 85% of the shares. We need to do something though, but I've not heard a single option which would be agreed by fans and owners or seem fair for both (not that I care about American/Thai/Saudi billionaires, but they are rich enough to drag everything through courts for years.
 
Could only be at a discounted rate if the current owners wanted to sell at that rate though, otherwise it'll end up in court and be dragged on for years, it would be one of the very few times every owner in the league agreed to work together. Then you'd still face the issue of the 'owner' needing to fund 100% but then only having 85% of the shares. We need to do something though, but I've not heard a single option which would be agreed by fans and owners or seem fair for both (not that I care about American/Thai/Saudi billionaires, but they are rich enough to drag everything through courts for years.
Government have compulsory purchase orders. Perhaps this could be amended to partial purchase. Or make it a condition of any future sale and state a fan purchase fee. All sorts of options if your in charge of country. Depends on political will though.
 
Government have compulsory purchase orders. Perhaps this could be amended to partial purchase. Or make it a condition of any future sale and state a fan purchase fee. All sorts of options if your in charge of country. Depends on political will though.

Good idea in theory but even if we are just playing with 10% figures (this gives fans no real say in how the business is ran) average cost of a club is around £1b so the government (or fans) would need to find £2b (that's just for the top 20 teams). I agree on the new conditon of any future sales, that could work but all the rules would need to change saying fans have the final say and sadly its not how English football will run, doesnt matter whos in charge nobody would screw over English football that much (as a business). The whole system needs to fail before we can really change anything that would help fans out, Id love to see a possible change and I know Im sounding really negative but its not the man of the streets sport now, its a rich mans plaything and they wont just give it up without dragging it through every court in the land.
 
Good idea in theory but even if we are just playing with 10% figures (this gives fans no real say in how the business is ran) average cost of a club is around £1b so the government (or fans) would need to find £2b (that's just for the top 20 teams). I agree on the new conditon of any future sales, that could work but all the rules would need to change saying fans have the final say and sadly its not how English football will run, doesnt matter whos in charge nobody would screw over English football that much (as a business). The whole system needs to fail before we can really change anything that would help fans out, Id love to see a possible change and I know Im sounding really negative but its not the man of the streets sport now, its a rich mans plaything and they wont just give it up without dragging it through every court in the land.
As yoy said system would need to change. A golden share fir supporters needing their say on.specific questions like stadium moves for example. It would require a lot of change and could be done without any money being spent by government or fans if laws changed. As I said needs political will and change in football. Change is coming but whether its positive it remains to be seen. Could go the other way.
 
If 3 pl clubs are effectively owned by Saudi Arabia, does anyone believe it would be above board? How much can they buy refs etc for these days?
 
It’s difficult to know where Man United ownership will go. Glaziers will want out at some point and will want top dollar. Can’t be that many people who would want them that badly to pay what the Glaziers are probably asking. Abu Dhabi owns City, Qatar owns Paris and Saudis own the Mags. Russians and Chinese are out of the game, which leaves Americans who want a profit not to spend money.

It's going to take another country / sovereign investment fund to do it and find a way to wipe out the debt the Glazers have dumped on the club.

There was rumours that the Saudi IF might flog the mags and buy them before Xmas, but it all went very quiet.
 

Think these American owners are starting to spit their dummies out now they know that they can't get their closed competition off the tracks.
Saudi money is not making it profitable to own with a top 4 position in the league year in year out
 

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