Manchester Utd

FA charges Rooney agent Stretford
Agent Paul Stretford has been charged by the Football Association over his acquisition of Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney. It is the first time an agent has been charged relating to an alleged breach of both Fifa regulations and FA rules. Stretford was representing Rooney in September 2002, but this allegedly overlapped an agreement the player had with his former agent Peter McIntosh. Stretford's licence could be withdrawn if he is found guilty of the charges. But the agent, who has 14 days to respond, has denied any wrongdoing and a spokesman for Proactive Sports Management said he would request a personal hearing. "The charges laid against Paul Stretford are entirely without foundation and he will be seeking a personal hearing in order to fully rebut them," the spokesman said. "Both the company and Paul Stretford have co-operated fully with the FA throughout and we are surprised and disappointed that the FA has chosen to proceed to take the matter further. "Paul Stretford, therefore, welcomes the opportunity to set the record straight once and for all." Rooney has revealed his shock at the charges levelled against Stretford by the FA. SOME OF STRETFORD'S CLIENTS Andy Cole (Fulham) Sean Davis (Tottenham) Mikael Forssell (Birmingham Thomas Gravesen (R Madrid) Francis Jeffers (Charlton) John O'Shea (Man Utd) Claudio Reyna (Man City) "I have already informed the FA as to how I came to be represented by Paul Stretford and Proactive," said Rooney in a statement. "I am surprised that the FA has charged Paul Stretford and Proactive Sports Management as I have already written to them explaining my decision. "I was happy then and I still am." Stretford was accused of misleading a court in October 2004 after charges were dropped against three men accused of blackmailing him. He said the three men, John Hyland and brothers Christopher and Anthony Bacon tried to make him sign a contract splitting his Rooney profits 50-50 at a meeting in a Warrington hotel in June 2003. But the prosecution said information showed that Stretford misled the court by making false statements while giving his evidence. They showed that Stretford secured the services of Rooney in September 2002 and not December as he had told the court. Rooney later joined Manchester United in a deal which could eventually be worth £27m in August 2004.

Obi makes plea for Chelsea switch
Nigerian prodigy John Mikel Obi wants Fifa to cancel the contract he signed with Manchester United so he can join Premiership champions Chelsea. United and Chelsea are waiting for Fifa to rule over the Old Trafford club's complaint regarding Obi's transfer. Obi is particularly unhappy with the role played by Lyn technical director Morgan Andersen in transfer. "Andersen knows Chelsea are responsible for me, but he doesn't want to tell the truth," Obi told the Daily Mail. United announced Obi's £4m transfer on 29 April after he scored twice on his Lyn debut. But Obi then changed his mind and claimed he wanted to join Chelsea. Obi trained with United as a 16-year-old, but in the last two years the Nigerian has spent time with Chelsea. "I went to Manchester United, they said they wanted to sign me but it didn't come up because what they promised, they did not fufil. "But everything was fine with Chelsea, I was really happy to move to Chelsea and that's where it's been deep down inside me for the past two years. "All my heart and my mind was to play with Chelsea - because the coach likes me, the people there like me, the players - the big boys - they all like me. Last week Fifa refused to reveal when it would make a decision on Obi's transfer. "We've no comment on how long a ruling will take," a Fifa spokesman told BBC Sport. "Fifa has several hundred transfer dispute cases pending." According to Lyn lawyer Erik Nadheim, the Norwegian club and United sent a complaint to Fifa on Chelsea and two agents involved in the deal, John Shittu and Rune Hauge. Hauge has said that First Division Lyn do not have the right to sell Obi. Lyn believe they have a valid contract with Obi, which runs until the end of 2006. Obi added: "Everything is with Fifa now. I just want them to take decisions for me. But I have to make my own final decision. "I just want them to sort things out for me because everyone just wants to get money for themselves and I don't think that's nice."

Man Utd fans stage Uefa protest
Manchester United fans, angered by Malcolm Glazer's takeover of the club, have urged Uefa to block United's participation in European competitions. Thirty fans staged a peaceful protest at the City of Manchester Stadium as European football's governing body met ahead of the Women's Euro 2005 Final. The fans got the chance to speak to Uefa chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson during the meeting. He was told Glazer's takeover had landed the club with a £265m debt. 'No intervention' Fans urged him to ban United from European competitions. Olsson said: "We can voice an opinion, but we do not have any right to intervene. If clubs are allowed to have debts under their domestic legislation then that is okay. "But under our licensing system they are not allowed to have debts to others in the football family." One of the protesters, Nick Clay, of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association (IMUSA) said: "Malcolm Glazer is saddling Manchester United with a huge debt and 98% of supporters are against him. "We want Uefa to look at whether the clubs in debt should be allowed to continue in European competition."

Ferguson talks up trophy chances
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson claims his team will bounce back after a trophyless campaign. "The test of any manager or player however is how they handle adversity," Ferguson told United magazine. "We've always been galvanised by disappointment because there's a good character in the team. "We didn't deserve what happened (losing to Arsenal in the) FA Cup Final. We'll get ourselves off the ground next season." In addition to losing the FA Cup Final on penalties after dominating the match, United finished third in the Premiership and were eliminated at the last-16 stage of the Champions League. Ferguson has now challenged his players to start the new season in top form - as holders Chelsea did last year - and is confident his young players will be a key factor. "We're heading towards a new team with some of the young players that are here," added the United manager. "You could have tossed a coin for man of the match out of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo in the FA Cup Final. They were great, the pair of them. "I always felt Wayne was a player that could re-shape our future and that is the way it is looking at the moment. "There's a great future for those boys, and Darren Fletcher as well."

FC United given League go-ahead
The new football club set up by disillusioned Manchester United fans has been accepted into the North West Counties League for next season. FC United of Manchester will join the Second Division of the competition and play at Droylsden FC's Butcher's Arms Ground, subject to council approval. The Conference North side have a stadium with a capacity of 3,500. FC United are currently interviewing potential managers and will hold an open trial for players on 26 June. More than 2,600 Manchester United fans fighting Malcolm Glazer's takeover have already pledged money and help to FC United. Droylsden's owner and manager, Dave Pace, is a lifelong Red Devils fan who was keen to help his fellow supporters. He told BBC Sport: "I've done everything I can and it looks like they are going to be playing at our ground. "It's hard to say how it will go. The fans feel like they want to do something to counteract Glazer and it could work. "It's a stand and all credit to them. It is hard to run a club - and they will find that out - but they are determined and they seem to have backing from quite a few, so good luck to them. "I'm trying to do my bit. I interviewed a couple of managers and pointed the club in the right direction because they didn't really know the non-League scene. "I'm helping them all I can and will continue to do so. "The managers they are talking to have a good idea of the players at this level and who they want to get hold of. "If they struggle to get players I'll probably lend them a couple of mine."

Fan in court for Rooney missile
A 35-year-old football fan is to appear in court after a mobile phone was thrown at Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, police have said. The alleged incident happened in January after Rooney scored a match-winning Premiership goal at Anfield against Liverpool. The 19-year-old England star ran to The Kop, where Liverpool fans were seated, and celebrated by cupping his ears. Television cameras showed a mobile phone being thrown onto the pitch. The missile could clearly be seen flying past the footballer's shoulder as other Manchester United players ran to congratulate him. Merseyside Police said on Tuesday that a 35-year-old man, from Huyton, had not been charged but summonsed to appear before magistrates in connection with the incident. A police spokeswoman said: "Merseyside Police have summonsed a 35-year-old man from Huyton following an incident at Anfield in January this year. "The man has been summonsed on suspicion of throwing a missile at a regulated football match. "He will appear at Liverpool City Magistrates Court on 27 July."

Man Utd shares leave stock market
Shares in Manchester United have been delisted from the London Stock Exchange after 14 years on the market. The action had been widely expected following the takeover of the club by US entrepreneur Malcolm Glazer. The move means remaining shareholders will have to trade shares privately if they want to buy or sell them. Mr Glazer owns 97.3% of United shares, but this is expected to rise past 97.6% - a level which would allow him to buy the remaining shares compulsorily. An update on the precise level of Mr Glazer's share ownership is expected by Monday, the deadline he set for shareholders to sell their remaining shares to him for £3 each. Mr Glazer, who owns NFL franchise Tampa Bay Buccaneers, became the majority shareholder of the club on 16 May in a £790m takeover.

Man Utd line up Antwerp friendly
Manchester United will play at feeder club Royal Antwerp in August as part of their pre-season programme. The game on Wednesday, 3 August is part of the Belgian side's 125-year anniversary plans. It was originally scheduled for the following week but has been brought forward to allow United to take part in Champions League qualifying. Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to send a strong side in recognition of the close links between the sides. United start their pre-season campaign with a game against Clyde on Saturday, 16 July and then fly to Asia for a four-game tour which finishes on Saturday 30 July. They then face Wrexham on Tuesday, 2 August before rounding off their close-season fixtures against Antwerp. United will play not play any of the games at Old Trafford because of the rebuilding work currently being undertaken to expand the ground to its intended 75,000 capacity.

Champions League boost for trio
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have been named among the top tier of seeds for the Champions League. But under Uefa's coefficients system, which are used to calculate each team's seedings, Chelsea will be among the second group of eight seeded teams. Arsenal and Chelsea enter at the group stage, while the other three English teams face qualfying games. Everton's lowly status - they are ranked 42nd - means they could face tough opponents in qualfying rounds. David Moyes' side will be in the fourth and lowest group should they qualify. Both Everton and Manchester United enter the competition at the third and final qualifying round - but Moyes' teams low ranking means they could face Inter Milan, Sporting Lisbon or even Liverpool to make it into the group stage. Arsenal and Chelsea have automatically qualified for the group stage. But the seeding system means Chelsea could find themselves in a group with either Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona, Inter Milan or Bayern Munich. Jose Mourinho's team could even face Liverpool, who have no 'country protection' after being given special admittance into the qualifying rounds of the competition to defend their trophy. Celtic's strong ranking - 21st in the list - should guarantee them seeding for the second and final qualifying rounds - and Rangers would almost certainly be seeded as well in their qualifying round. Liverpool have three qualifying rounds to surmount but in each round would be seeded and avoid the strongest opposition teams. The Champions League draw for the first qualfying round takes place on Friday.

Man Utd dismiss Owen speculation
Manchester United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz has dismissed suggestion of a swoop for Real Madrid pair Michael Owen and Iker Casillas. Queiroz, who had an ill-fated stint as Real coach, also ruled out a bid for Luis Figo, who is set to leave the Spanish giants this summer. "Casillas is not in Manchester's plans, Owen does not interest us either, and there is no Figo negotiation," he said. Queiroz also denied that Real had made an approach for Cristiano Ronaldo. A representative for the Portuguese winger, who is two years into a five-year deal at Old Trafford, confirmed that he is prepared to negotiate a revised contract. "He still has three years to go on his contract so we will see what happens," Luis Correia, business partner of Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes commented. "He will travel to Portugal with his team later this month so maybe a deal will be sorted out then. "Of course, he is a top player and will attract interest from other clubs, but he is just concentrating on his football at the moment."

Park passes Old Trafford medical
South Korean midfielder Park Ji-Sung has passed his medical at Manchester United and will complete his £4m move from PSV Eindhoven next month. Park, 24, will seal his switch to Old Trafford on 1 July, subject to United obtaining a work permit for him. He will not take part in United's training camp in Portugal next week and will return to the club on 4 July ready for the tour of the Far East. Park joined PSV in December 2002 from Japanese club Kyoto Purple Sanga. And he insisted he has not joined United to help them sell more shirts in Asia. "It was a hard decision to leave but I am confident in my ability and will do my best to play as many games as I can," he said. "I want to show my value to United in terms of my ability, not for some marketing strategy for Asia. I am not going to England for business. "Manchester United is the most famous club in the world. I am getting the chance to play in the best team with the best players. "I am confident in my ability and will do my best to play as many games as I can." Park, who has 38 caps, recently helped South Korea book their place in their sixth consecutive World Cup by scoring in the 4-0 thrashing of Kuwait. He impressed during PSV's superb run in the Champions League last season, scoring in the second leg of the semi-final against AC Milan, and is United's second signing of the summer after 34-year-old Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar. He is also be the third player in recent years - after Jaap Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy - to swap PSV for Old Trafford.

Fortune cool on move to Newcastle
Manchester United utility player Quinton Fortune has distanced himself from rumours linking him with a move to Premiership rivals Newcastle. "I have heard the stories that Newcastle are interested but it is just speculation," Fortune, 28, told South African football magazine Kick Off. "My manager has heard nothing concrete on the Newcastle issue. "Every time I pull on a United shirt, I have to check myself. It's me, Quinton, playing for Manchester United. Fortune is not a regular in the United team, but said that he is determined to wait for his opportunities. "There are times when you sit on the bench and ask yourself `what is happening to my life?' but every single game is a highlight," he said. "I never see myself as just a squad member. I see myself as a first-teamer. "A club like United needs lots of players even if some of them are not always in the first XI. "You have to work really hard and you have to be really patient." Fortune, whose contract expires at the end of next season, joined United in 1999 from Atletico Madrid for £1.5m and has made more than 100 appearances for the Old Trafford club. He is due to link up with his team-mates next week at their training camp in the Algarve.

Hibs continue wait for Stewart
Hibernian manager Tony Mowbray would like to add Michael Stewart to his squad but insists a deal for the midfielder has yet to be resolved. The 24-year-old is negotiating a release from Manchester United after a season on loan at Hearts. "He has the necessary quality and if we can bring him to our football club that would be a plus," Mowbray told the Edinburgh Evening News. "But I am reluctant to talk further as nothing has yet happened." Stewart hopes to sign a one-year deal at Easter Road after an injury-hit season at Hearts, during which he made just seven starts. And Hearts fan Stewart told the Sunday Herald: "I know there will be stick from some quarters, but Tony Mowbray is a manager who is clearly going places with Hibs. "I wanted to stay in Edinburgh and I'm delighted with this opportunity." Stewart has a year of his Old Trafford contract still remaining but does not feature in Sir Alex Ferguson's first-team plans. "We have had a chat with him but nothing has been done at this moment and he remains a Manchester United player," added Mowbray. "We¿ll see how it goes but we see him as someone we believe can bring a different dimension, something different to our midfield. Stewart, who has three Scotland caps, joined United as a youth and had loan spells with Royal Antwerp and Nottingham Forest before his move to Tynecastle.

Glazer nears total Man U control
The deadline has passed for Manchester United shareholders to decide whether to take up US tycoon Malcolm Glazer's offer to buy their stock. He holds 97.3% of the club, and another 0.3% will give him the right to force any remaining investors to sell. Mr Glazer became the club's majority shareholder on 16 May in a £790m deal, and delisted its shares on 22 June. Mr Glazer is expected to reveal on Tuesday how many remaining shareholders have accepted his £3-a-share offer. Fans' stand-off Most of the remaining shares are believed to be in the hands of loyal Manchester United fans who have promised to fight the US tycoon, who owns NFL franchise Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to the end. At the last count on 14 June, the Glazers needed to get their hands on a total of 204,504 shares to force a compulsory purchase order. If Mr Glazer's offer succeeds and he wins the required 97.6% share of the club, remaining shares in the hands of investors who refused to sell will be worthless. Despite continued anger among fans about the takeover, critics believe Mr Glazer's 100% ownership is inevitable. An announcement on the success or failure of his most recent offer is expected late on Monday or early on Tuesday.

Glazers escape after fans protest
Joel, Avi and Bryan Glazer had to leave Old Trafford in police vans on Wednesday after fans angry at the £790m takeover protested outside the stadium. The Glazer brothers, sons of new owner Malcolm, were making their first visit to the club since taking it over. Echoes of "die, Glazer die" rumbled around the stadium as about 300 fans vented their frustration. Barriers were erected around the ground as fans tried to stop the Glazers leaving and two arrests were made. It took more than 100 Greater Manchester Police officers and a massive security operation to get the Glazers out of the ground as fans swarmed around the stadium. Some fans pelted police vans with missiles and police in return used batons and scores of dogs to try to get the supporters under control. Colin Hendry, from the Manchester United Independent Supporters Association, said he thought police were too heavy-handed. "There were barricades across a road and people were standing and chatting," Hendry told BBC Radio Five Live. "The barricade went up, the Glazers started to move and people sat down in front of the barricade. "But police in riot gear, with batons, without warning, without instruction to disperse, just attacked those people." However, a Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said: "Police were called to Old Trafford following reports that a number of fans were protesting outside. "High visibility patrols, dog handlers and officers from the tactical aid unit went to Old Trafford to ensure the protest remained peaceful." Joel Glazer, who is expected to be confirmed as chairman of the club, is believed to have spent part of his evening recording an interview for the club's television station, MUTV. The interview will be broadcast on Friday evening. Shareholders United, who oppose the takeover of the Premiership club, insisted Wednesday's protests showed there was still significant ill-feeling towards the Glazer family. "The Glazer family are the enemies of Manchester United," said Shareholders United vice-chairman Sean Bones. "We find them disgusting and repulsive. They may have captured the club but they only have it on a temporary basis. "It might take a long time, maybe two or three years, but we are showing Glazer that we won't give up. "In the long-term the Glazer brand will be suffocated. The previous Manchester United brand was peerless in terms of sporting brand names. "The Glazer brand is toxic and tarnished, uncool and unstylish. Glazer will lose the war." The Glazers were accompanied on a tour of Old Trafford by chief executive David Gill and commercial director Andy Anson, who had been ousted and then reinstated to the United board by Malcolm Glazer. Their visit followed meetings with club sponsors and discussions with English football's governing bodies, plus Sports Minister Richard Caborn. On Thursday the brothers are expected to return to Old Trafford to address staff before heading back to Florida. But former Manchester United player Arthur Albiston fears the Glazer family will never be able to actually watch a match at the ground. "I can't see Glazer or his sons actually turning up at Old Trafford because the repercussions would be enormous," he told BBC GMR.

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