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| Glazers rule out selling Manchester United for at least five years | Glazers rule out selling Manchester United for at least five years |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Glazers have no plans to sell Manchester United in the near future, with the club’s controversial American owners determined to be in place for at least the next five years. | The Glazers have no plans to sell Manchester United in the near future, with the club’s controversial American owners determined to be in place for at least the next five years. |
| The news will not be well received by those supporters who harbour on-going discontent at the family’s ownership model, which heaped around £700m of debt on to the club when Malcolm Glazer bought it in 2005. | The news will not be well received by those supporters who harbour on-going discontent at the family’s ownership model, which heaped around £700m of debt on to the club when Malcolm Glazer bought it in 2005. |
| The anger felt towards the six-strong family of five brothers and one sister who now control United following their father’s death in May flared up again following Saturday’s shock 2-1 defeat to Swansea City at Old Trafford – the first time United had lost an opening home fixture in the Premier League era, in what was Louis van Gaal’s first competitive match. | |
| This prompted some fans to blame the owners for the lack of transfer activity since June, when Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera were bought for a combined £56m, and vent their fury on Twitter. The Glazersout hashtag was used more than 100,000 times according to Topsy, an official Twitter aggregator, and there are already tentative plans to protest against the Glazers at United’s next home match, against Queens Park Rangers on 14 September. | This prompted some fans to blame the owners for the lack of transfer activity since June, when Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera were bought for a combined £56m, and vent their fury on Twitter. The Glazersout hashtag was used more than 100,000 times according to Topsy, an official Twitter aggregator, and there are already tentative plans to protest against the Glazers at United’s next home match, against Queens Park Rangers on 14 September. |
| Despite the recent share issue which earned the family around $150m (£89m) and raised to 15% the amount of the club ceded by the Glazers to outside interests, the Guardian has learned that they are intent on continuing as proprietors of the 20-times champions for the foreseeable future. | Despite the recent share issue which earned the family around $150m (£89m) and raised to 15% the amount of the club ceded by the Glazers to outside interests, the Guardian has learned that they are intent on continuing as proprietors of the 20-times champions for the foreseeable future. |
| While the share issue had no material affect on who controls United, it once more caused speculation that the Glazers may be preparing to cash in by selling the club in its entirety. In May Forbes valued United at around £1.85bn, meaning the family are now in charge of an asset that has more than doubled in value from the £790m paid nine years ago. | While the share issue had no material affect on who controls United, it once more caused speculation that the Glazers may be preparing to cash in by selling the club in its entirety. In May Forbes valued United at around £1.85bn, meaning the family are now in charge of an asset that has more than doubled in value from the £790m paid nine years ago. |
| With United currently experiencing exponential growth commercially the Glazers are content with the direction of the club, according to high ranking sources at Old Trafford, with the aim to continue marrying the on-field success of recent years with the expansion of its global profile. | With United currently experiencing exponential growth commercially the Glazers are content with the direction of the club, according to high ranking sources at Old Trafford, with the aim to continue marrying the on-field success of recent years with the expansion of its global profile. |
| While the previous season ended without a trophy under the disastrous tenure of David Moyes, the owners continue to have a long-term vision for United which has been accelerated in recent years. | While the previous season ended without a trophy under the disastrous tenure of David Moyes, the owners continue to have a long-term vision for United which has been accelerated in recent years. |
| Last summer the club finally started its own Twitter account, which now has more than three million followers, while United’s Facebook page is equally as successful, drawing over 55m “likes”. In total, the commercial department says United have 690m fans worldwide. | Last summer the club finally started its own Twitter account, which now has more than three million followers, while United’s Facebook page is equally as successful, drawing over 55m “likes”. In total, the commercial department says United have 690m fans worldwide. |
| The Glazers believe the increase in United’s number of sponsors, which currently stands at 35 globally, plus recent lucrative blue-chip deals will continue. | The Glazers believe the increase in United’s number of sponsors, which currently stands at 35 globally, plus recent lucrative blue-chip deals will continue. |
| Despite United not being in the Champions League for the first time since 1995 the club was still able to secure a record £750m kit contract with adidas in July that starts next season. The club’s Carrington base has been rebranded as the AON Training Base in a naming rights deal signed in 2013 worth £180m, while other blue chip agreements include the £47m a-year paid by Chevrolet to be shirt sponsors. | Despite United not being in the Champions League for the first time since 1995 the club was still able to secure a record £750m kit contract with adidas in July that starts next season. The club’s Carrington base has been rebranded as the AON Training Base in a naming rights deal signed in 2013 worth £180m, while other blue chip agreements include the £47m a-year paid by Chevrolet to be shirt sponsors. |
| Despite proving unpopular owners – the £700m interest loan was replaced by an equally controversial £500m pik bond issue in 2010 – United has experienced its most successful era since the Americans took charge. Since 2006 five titles, one Champions League and three League Cups have been won, with United also reaching two more European Cup finals. | Despite proving unpopular owners – the £700m interest loan was replaced by an equally controversial £500m pik bond issue in 2010 – United has experienced its most successful era since the Americans took charge. Since 2006 five titles, one Champions League and three League Cups have been won, with United also reaching two more European Cup finals. |
| The debt has also gradually been reduced, though it still remains at an eye-watering level of around £295m, according to the most recent figures available. | The debt has also gradually been reduced, though it still remains at an eye-watering level of around £295m, according to the most recent figures available. |