Friday 13th - Glazer Day

Yesterday, the Irish racing duo sold out their stake in Manchester United to Malcolm Glazer, taking his holding by the end of the day to over 70% - a controlling interest. He'll pass the 75% threshold today when he will make the official bid for the club and take over.

This is the situation we were in 2 years ago. The difference is that Roman Abramovich has money, and Glazer doesn't. Plus, I'd rather be a Russian than a Yank, frankly!

Few can argue that Roman has been good for the game, and not just at Chelsea. Glazer is unlikely to be the same. This is a guy who has never been to Old Trafford, and who wants to take the world's best run "soccer" (its football, you septic twat) team, and borrow against it to pay for his takeover! He'll saddle them with debt, and likely run it into the ground.

The worry for everyone else is that he will pull out of the TV rights deal, which could potentially net him a lot of money by selling his own rights to broadcasters. This will cause huge problems for the rest of the Premiership clubs. We'll survive obviously, but most are in a different situation.

Not only that, but he looks like a cross between Michael Moore and John McCririck.



I have sympathy with the Mancs. Its all well and good to laugh about their situation, which *might* turn nasty for them, but we know what it is like to almost lose your football club, and that would be a lot worse with a septic at the helm.

Many will argue that nothing has changed. They are a business, and having been a PLC for years, have been owned by outsiders, and still are. The difference this time is that they had a good management team before who were running the business debt free, answering to shareholders. Now, one man pulls the strings and his plan to take the club straight into a £300m debt makes this a very different proposition.

The interesting thing now is what will happen to the club. Many fans have said they will walk away. Some will, most won't. Glazer won't give a toss - there are ten more to take each place. Some playing staff may even leave, and Fergie could lead an exodus. Prices in the stands are likely to rise immediately. Interesting times ahead.