Confessions of a Correspondent : Glazers

Green & Gold protest to rumble on

Andy Mitten — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:30:00 GMT

Sir Alex Ferguson opined in his programme notes for the Newcastle game that the “one situation which clouds the new season is the continued opposition to the Glazer family.”

The United manager added that he had “no problem with the green and gold campaign” and that “fans are entitled to protest as they see fit – but not to the detriment of the team.”

The objections about United’s ownership aren’t going away and not even a man of Ferguson’s power and influence can change that. They exist because United fans have genuine and legitimate concerns abut the future of the club. They exist because fans resent the fact that the most financially successful club in world football was effectively bought on tick and plunged into a massive debt.

Many decided to ‘wait and see’ after the takeover in 2005. They saw their season tickets rise at rates higher than any other club in the Premier League to the point that the waiting list diminished and they were put on open sale this summer.

United could strike commercial deals with snake oil companies or war criminals for all fans care, but hammer them with price rises and there’ll be uproar, just as there was when United revealed their inner financial workings in January as they sort to finance a £500 million bond. That appalled not just the political fringe, but the usually tolerant supporting majority.

The green and gold campaign was spawned and it was hugely visible and effective. It won approval from most in an increasingly divided red fan base. Those divisions and intolerance of the opinions of others have been one the saddest aspects of the Glazer takeover.

The protests also made people at the club realise the extent of the opposition to the Glazer ownership, a constant and embarrassing reminder that had to be explained to visiting directors. This wasn’t a noisy minority as some in senior positions Old Trafford had claimed, but included most match going fans.

Well, seeing as you asked so nicley...

Granted, some of them didn’t know what they were protesting about. I stood outside Old Trafford Metrolink station before the Liverpool game in March with the lads selling G&G scarves. They couldn’t keep up with the demand, yet it was apparent that many buyers had little clue why they were handing over a fiver - other than because everyone else was.

It was easy to cynical about tourists wearing green and gold while clutching bags of official merchandise – but it was a simple and striking way for many to demonstrate that they wanted the Glazer family out. And it worked, to a small degree. Do you think season ticket prices would have been held if it wasn’t for the green and gold?

Still, it wasn’t high profile enough for some. Asked for his opinions about the green and gold campaign, one former United legend who still lives in Manchester replied: “The what? Never heard of it.”

The actions of some fans also baffled. One, who had made several anti-Glazer flags, found himself sharing a lift with Joel Glazer in America pre-season. What did he do? Smiled and requested a photo with him.

And Ferguson’s fear of protests having a negative effect on the team are unfounded because the campaign galvanised the all too frequently mournful Old Trafford atmosphere. Would Burnley and Hull at home in January been half as lively if the fans were stood up in full voice protesting? The players have never been targeted, nor the manager.

Many fans won’t be around to protest as they didn’t renew their season tickets, yet Old Trafford will be full more often than not - though thousands of former match going fans will now watch games in pubs or FC United at Gigg Lane. And the Glazers only have themselves to blame.

The manager has made his position clear and he clearly thinks the Glazers are terrific owners. Compared to some of the autocrats he’s worked for in the past, they probably are. The Glazers let him get with doing his job – which he continues to do exceptionally well - because they know he’s United’s greatest asset.

Ferguson is more powerful than those who employ him, but that power does not extend to stopping the fans protesting.

Will history prove them right? For that we’ll have to wait and see.

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Texts from Forlan, golden geese and Georgie Thompson

Andy Mitten — Wed, 05 May 2010 11:38:00 GMT

Inter Milan were not the only visitors in Barcelona last week. FourFourTwo chief Hugh Sleight came along with Terry Venables, Marcel Desailly and Georgie Thompson from Sky Sports. (Yeah, you would).

They were speaking at some posh do in the Arts hotel, where Manchester United held their post match party in 1999, and where Roy Keane takes his family and lets his 64 kids run wild and enjoy the sea view.

I’ve heard good things about Desailly for a while. A journalist mate who went to Ghana to cover the African Nations met him and was invited to his family home for dinner.

Hugh introduced me to Georgie and Terry, who started telling me about my uncle Charlie. After he finished playing, he became an agent and took Chelsea on a pre-season tour to Sweden when Venables was a player.

Charlie was known as the penalty king when he played for Manchester United and held the club record until Eric Cantona took the crown.

"Charlie was in his 50s, but he was still showing us how to take penalties," recalled Venables. Then the former Barca and England manager paused, looked behind me and said, "Now there’s a pair of strikers." Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito were not walking past, but a buxom blonde.

I spoke to Gerrard Pique after the Inter game. He was pragmatic, professional and congratulated Inter.

Coach Pep Guardiola and outgoing club president Joan Laporta continued on that theme – which partially made up for Sergio Busquets’ cheating and the small mindedness of Barca officials who switched on the pitch sprinklers to stop the Inter players celebrating.

Most of them were right to ignore this (or dance in the water) as they celebrated in front of the 5,400 travelling fans.

Jose Mourinho was pure theatre after the game. The man has charisma, presence and a self assured arrogance to match Eric Cantona. He’s a genuine genius – though I doubt history will remember Inter’s defensive football as well as his contribution.

The Inter fans were still singing his name on the streets around Camp Nou three hours after the match. He’s their new hero over any player.

Diego Forlan texted after his first goal against Liverpool. He was assured that his name was still sung loud and proud by United fans.

A match going Liverpool fan I like and trust also emailed. ìDon’t believe the hype about Liverpool fans yesterday wanting us to get beaten (against Chelsea). Most I know wanted us to beat the tw*ts.î

Had you watched the Liverpool fans – none of them with Scouse accents - interviewed on Sky Sports, you would have thought that the opposite was true. But then if you judged Manchester United fans on the type of jester-hatted clowns they speak to outside Old Trafford, you’d be under the impression that no United fans come from Manchester...

How the media works, part 2983

You get an idea for an article about different club ownership models. You are particularly interested in the German model and travel to Germany.

Through a series of phone calls and a process of elimination, you develop the right contacts and speak to the best people. It takes nine days in total.

You write the piece. Another journalist reads it and gets in touch for some of the German contacts. You want to help him out. He repeats the gist of your article and speaks to the same people. Hey presto, he’s writes virtually the same article without ever leaving the office...

Glazer and the golden goose

Interesting times at Manchester United. The renewal rate for season tickets so far has been very low and there are plenty of concerned people at the club.

Many United fans have simply had enough of the Glazers and the fact that 70 pence in the pound goes to pay off the club’s debts.

The January bond prospectus made hideous reading for fans, with statements like: "We have been able to consistently increase matchday ticket prices for both general admission and seasonal hospitality seats at levels above the rate of inflation.

"Between the 2006/07 season and the 2008/09 season, weighted average general admission ticket prices for Premier League games increased 8.5 per cent on a compound annual growth rate basis. Furthermore, while other Premier League clubs have experienced a flattening or reduction in ticket prices in response to the economic downturn, we were able to increase aggregate ticket prices for the 2009/10 season by 2.5 per cent."

Ticket prices have risen by an average of 48% since they took over five years ago this month and United have been the only Premiership club to increase ticket prices in each of the last five years – though they have been held for next season.

Such has been the drop in demand the club would have been committing commercial suicide if they had tried to increase prices again. With demand lower and empty seats inside Old Trafford for league games for the first time since 1992 this season, fans no longer need a season ticket to see matches and tickets are regularly sold for less than face value at Old Trafford. The greed of the Glazers is killing the golden goose.

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