Manchester Utd

Charlton gives apology to Glazers
Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton has said sorry to Malcolm Glazer's sons for the violent scenes that greeted their Old Trafford visit. Joel, Avi and Bryan Glazer had to be escorted from the stadium in a police van as around 200 supporters clashed with police outside the ground. "I apologised to them for what happened last night," said Charlton on Thursday. "There is no room for violence in football. I don't think they were rattled by it, maybe a bit surprised." Charlton told the Glazers it was important for them to realise just how strongly fans felt about their £790m takeover. "I tried to explain they couldn't ignore the fans, who are so emotionally involved in the club but who sometimes do go a bit too far," he said. Charlton met with the Glazers to hear what their plans were for the club. "I'm like any other football fan. I've been waking up in the night wondering what was going on," said the World Cup winner. "But they allayed a lot of my fears. I asked them questions about the future of the club - and the future of people who were wrapped up in the club. "They were receptive to everything and said they'd do everything they could to make this a successful football club." The Glazers arrived at the ground before 0800 BST on Thursday to continue their fact-finding tour of the club. They also visited Manchester United's Megastore behind closed doors. On Wednesday, fans opposed to the Glazers takeover of the club had gathered outside Old Trafford, many chanting "die Glazer, die" and erecting makeshift barricades to try and stop the brothers leaving. Police used batons and dogs to clear an exit, with the brothers leaving in a decoy police van. The Glazers had originally planned to leave in the same blacked-out people carriers in which they had arrived. The protests also forced them to abandon plans to stay in a city-centre Manchester hotel. Two arrests followed - one 19-year-old for possession of a CS gas spray can and a 15-year-old was cautioned for causing criminal damage to a police vehicle.

Fans not won over by Glazers' vow
Fans' group Shareholders United remain deeply dismayed with Manchester United's new owners despite Joel Glazer's pledge over transfer budgets. Joel, son of United's billionaire owner Malcolm, says the club will have money to spend and will keep its big stars. But Shareholders United chair Nick Towle told BBC Sport: "They are just warm words to appease the fans. Where will the money come from? "Now the banks have their hooks into the club, they will say what happens." Towle's comments are tame in comparison with those other fans - and some of their protests have enraged United chief executive David Gill. He said: "Quotes from various people calling the Glazers repulsive are not right. "Those kind of comments by supposed fans repulse me and it makes me wonder what they think they are achieving." Glazer borrowed heavily to finance the £790m takeover of United and fans have been furious with the way their club has been bought. It has been reported that Glazer will rise ticket prices and cap the amount of money spent on new players. Towle believes it is inevitable and has dismissed Joel's claims a transfer cap will not be imposed. "The takeover is based on a massive level of debt - the club is no longer in control of its finances, the banks are," Towle added. "The Glazers' two-year profit plan for the club is very aggressive and I can't see how they are going to achieve it. "They will just milk the club all they can, hike up ticket prices and possibly try to negotiate a new TV contract or some other drastic course of action. "I've already given up my season ticket and I hate to think how the atmosphere will be at Old Trafford when all the true fans have disappeared." But Gill, who admitted he had initial reservations over the Glazers' business plan, said: "You have to move forward and understand that things have changed. "We need to work with the Glazers and explain to them why we had concerns and ensure we have a very profitable future. "All along we have reinvested the profits we have made back into the club, whether it be on player transfers, contracts or expanding the stadium and the Glazers understand that. "As long as we continue that successful strategy of what happens on the pitch determines what happens off it, I think we have a bright future."

Saha linked with Everton switch
Manchester United striker Louis Saha has been linked with a season-long loan move to Everton as boss David Moyes says he wants four more new signings. The 26-year-old is down the pecking order at Old Trafford, and Moyes is interested in taking him to Goodison Park, according to reports. Moyes revealed he is hopeful of two more signings before leaving for a pre-season trip to Austria on Tuesday. He has landed Simon Davies from Spurs and Denmark defender Per Kroldrup. "I am confident that we will have more new faces," Moyes told the Liverpool Echo. "I don't want to put a time-scale on anything. "But I hope to have at least a couple more new players by next week." Everton have been linked with Roma defender Matteo Ferrari, but while Moyes admits the player has been watched, he is not currently on their list of targets. The Scot has dismissed rumours linking him with Grazer AK midfielder Rene Aufhauser and Juventus midfielder Stephen Appiah, who has been interesting Middlesbrough.

Souness tried to sign Vieri/Smith
Newcastle boss Graeme Souness fears he may miss out in a bold double raid for Inter Milan striker Christian Vieri and Manchester United's Alan Smith. The 31-year-old Vieri has been released by Inter and is looking for a club. Souness said: "We did inquire about Christian Vieri. I got a mutual friend to have a word with the player, but it appears he wants to go to Spain." The manager told the club's website: "We also made an inquiry for Alan Smith but were told there is nothing doing." Souness is looking for a strike partner for Alan Shearer after Patrick Kluivert was released and Craig Bellamy had a well-publicised bust-up with the manager. The Scot has vowed never to play Bellamy again, and is hoping to offload him before Newcastle return for pre-season training on Monday. If he fails to land a new marksman, Souness faces the prospect of starting the new season with only two strikers - skipper Shearer and youngster Michael Chopra. Shola Ameobi is still at the club but will miss the start to the campaign with a hip injury.

Glazers make promise to Ferguson
Manchester United's new owners have pledged to spend big on new players. Joel Glazer, son of billionaire Malcolm, also said he looked forward to working with manager Sir Alex Ferguson for many years to come. Glazer told the club's television channel MUTV: "We are there to provide the manager with what he needs to compete and win at the highest level. "We have the greatest respect for Sir Alex and hope to work with him for many, many years to come." In his first interview since arriving in England, Joel Glazer insisted the budget would allow Ferguson to buy players of the calibre of Wayne Rooney. He said: "When I read about caps and hands being tied it's very frustrating. You can't have caps in this game, in any sport. "Nobody was more excited than us last year when the club signed Wayne Rooney (for £27m). "If that situation arises again this club will be in a position to go after that player and bring him to Old Trafford." Malcolm Glazer's takeover of United cost £790m and a large part of that sum was borrowed. Joel Glazer played down the levels of debt, but remained non-commital over whether ticket prices would rise. He said: "We would have not got involved with Manchester United if we did not feel that the club under our ownership could continue to be the great club it has been. "A lot of businesses have debt. "Debt can mean different things to different people, but I can assure everybody that the structure that was put in place is a structure we're extremely comfortable with. "This club's ticket prices will always be competitive with others in the Premier League. "We are not looking to out-price the supporters. "It is not a bottomless pit but the way this club has been operating in the past is going to be the way it's going to operate in the future." The club's takeover has infuriated many United fans, and some supporters clashed with police during demonstrations when the Glazers visited Old Trafford on Wednesday. But Joel Glazer asked supporters to judge them over the long term. "We don't like what's happened over the last several months - we are embarrassed that we have caused a lot of this to happen and we apologise for that," he said. "The only thing that's going to change views is things that happen over time, so I caution people that this is a marathon and not a sprint. "Judge us over the long haul, don't judge us on a day or the last several months. "This should not scare you. It is business as usual, business as it's always been. It is time to put all the distractions aside, compete on the pitch and win the trophies everyone wants."

Ferguson gives support to Glazers
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has given his backing to the club's new owners, the Glazer family. After meeting brothers Joel, Avi and Bryan Glazer at United's training camp, Ferguson is hoping that the club and the fans can focus on the football. Ferguson said: "The meeting was very positive and relaxed and they made it clear they would back the team. "This has been a difficult time for all involved but the most important thing now is to get back to football." Ferguson added his voice to the appeal for calm following the violent scenes as supporters mounted a protest when the Glazers made their first visit to Old Trafford last Wednesday. He said: "There is a lot of emotion around Manchester United at the moment and the quicker the season starts and we can get back to playing football, the better for everyone." Ferguson's position appears to be stronger following his meeting with the Glazers. In an interview with Radio Five Live, United chief executive David Gill insisted that Ferguson had not been given an ultimatum to deliver success. Ronaldo is very close to signing, the financial terms are agreed Man Utd chief executive David Gill Gill said: "The Glazers understand that you can't guarantee success and you have to give the manager the tools to do the job." The United chief executive dismissed speculation that the change of ownership to a private company made Ferguson's position precarious. Gill added: "Alex has got a rolling contract and I don't think it's a topic I even want to go in the direction of." Ferguson is set to be boosted by Cristiano Ronaldo signing a new contract and Gill is confident that Rio Ferdinand will follow suit. Gill claimed that Ronaldo is ready to sign his new deal. "Ronaldo is very close to signing, the financial terms are agreed but these days it just takes a bit more time to do the paperwork," he said. "I don't know why Rio has not signed, you would have to ask him that. "But we want him to stay and he clearly wants to stay and, in my experience, that normally happens."

Rooney not for sale, insists Gill
Manchester United chief executive David Gill has insisted that the club's new owners, the Glazer family, will not be tempted to sell striker Wayne Rooney. Gill said that meetings with the Glazer family had allayed fears that any debts would lead to the sale of star players. He told Live: "The Glazer family have experience in sports ownership and realise that success on the pitch drives what happens off it. "I think I can say that Wayne Rooney will definitely not be sold." Gill said his meeting with Joel, Avi and Bryan Glazer this week had calmed fears that the debt incurred in the takeover would force the Glazers into drastic measures - such as the sale of the 19-year-old England forward. He also insisted that money will be made available to manager Sir Alex Ferguson and that there would be no cap on the transfer budget. Gill added: "There is no transfer cap. The Glazers made it clear that money will be made available, although I do not think there is a huge amount of investment needed in the team." "All along the strategy has been about making us strong on the pitch because if you don't have a successful team what you want to do commercially will not work. Gill also moved to quell rumours that Old Trafford would be sold and leased back to the club to help ease the Glazers' debt burden. Gill said: "Joel Glazer and his brothers have been categoric on that. There is no need to do it as they have got the finance in place. "We own all our assets, whether it be Old Trafford or our training ground at Carrington, and such a move is simply not required." Gill also felt that a change in United's ownership structure from a publicly-quoted company to a private one owned by the Glazers may benefit the club. In a reference to Chelsea, whose Premiership title was financed by owner Roman Abramovich, Gill said: "Being a private company as against a a publicly-quoted one, is in football today, the right model. "Some of our competitors are not publicly quoted and it was becoming increasingly difficult for Manchester United to compete at the highest level being a quoted company. "As a publicly-quoted company there is pressure to get a good return on assets like Wayne Rooney." Gill also said the Glazers had not given Ferguson any ultimatum to deliver success. "There are no specific targets and the Glazers understand that you cannot guarantee success," said Gill. "They know you have to give the manager the tools, in terms of players, to ensure you can compete at the highest level. "Our goal is to be in the top three or four teams in Europe, competing in and winning the Premiership and FA Cup and doing better in Europe."

Park cleared for Red Devils move
South Korea international Park Ji-Sung has been cleared to join Manchester United after he was given a work permit following a hearing on Monday. United had appealed against the initial decision to refuse Park entry as he had not played in 75% of his country's internationals in the last two years. The £4m signing from PSV Eindhoven may now be officially unveiled next week. Park, 24, could make his debut in one of United's early friendlies at Clyde (16 July) or Peterborough (19 July). However, he will definitely join the Red Devils' Far East tour at the end of the month, which takes in visits to Hong Kong, China and Japan. He will also be available for the opening game of the Premiership season - at Everton on 13 August - after being allowed to miss South Korea's World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.

Re: Park cleared for Red Devils move
South Korea international Park Ji-Sung has been cleared to join Manchester United after he was given a work permit following a hearing on Monday. United had appealed against the initial decision to refuse Park entry as he had not played in 75% of his country's internationals in the last two years. The £4m signing from PSV Eindhoven may now be officially unveiled next week. Park, 24, could make his debut in one of United's early friendlies at Clyde (16 July) or Peterborough (19 July). However, he will definitely join the Red Devils' Far East tour at the end of the month, which takes in visits to Hong Kong, China and Japan. He will also be available for the opening game of the Premiership season - at Everton on 13 August - after being allowed to miss South Korea's World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia. Another money spinning idea , useing an average player . typical man utd

Well I think he will settle down quite well along with the rest of the average team! :lol:

take out ferdinand, scholes and rooney and they struggle. watch next season 8) 8)

take out ferdinand, scholes and rooney and they struggle. watch next season 8) 8) It will be a shame if they struggle as their fans travel a long way from Surrey to watch them play at home :wink:

Crewe sign Johnson in loan deal
Crewe have signed Manchester United striker Eddie Johnson in a six-month loan deal, reports BBC Radio Stoke. It is a return to Gresty Road for the 20-year-old, who was born in Chester and came through Crewe's academy before moving to Old Trafford. He has only had one substitute outing for United's first team - in the Carling Cup against Leeds in 2003. But he spent last season on loan at Coventry City, scoring five goals from 26 Championship appearances.

Six weeks out for injured Fortune
Manchester United utility man Quinton Fortune will be sidelined for up to six weeks after having knee surgery. The South Africa international, 28, suffered a cartilage injury in training and had an operation on Wednesday. It means he will miss all of pre-season training, as well as the start of the Premiership season on 13 August. Fortune will also be absent for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier, and the four-game Far East tour at the end of this month.

Ferdinand contract talks deadlock
Rio Ferdinand's agent has admitted the England defender's contract talks with Manchester United are deadlocked. The 26-year-old had been discussing a new deal at Old Trafford before the end of last season, but United were frustrated as discussions stalled. Agent Pini Zahavi told The Independent: "No-one is having talks. "There is no need to speak. He has two years. There was at some stage an idea for a new contract but we could not reach an agreement." United are still hopeful Ferdinand will stay, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson warned before the FA Cup final that he wanted the deal sorted out. But there has been no sign that the two sides are close to an agreement. Zahavi, however, added: "But he is loyal to Manchester United and I am sure at the end of the day he will stay." United's fans were angry at the delay, jeering Ferdinand in the victory at Charlton, particularly after United stood by him during his eight-month ban for a missed drugs test. However, United chief executive David Gill has already rejected the allegations of disloyalty levelled against the former Leeds captain and insisted he should only sign "when the time is right". "We want him to stay, he wants to stay and in my experience, when that situation prevails, invariably the player stays," said Gill.

View Full Version: Manchester Utd