If the Glazers put the club up for sale...

[Pexbo]

How would you feel about it?

Just for discussion - at this point there is no mention of potential buyers, it could be an Oil Sheik, Red Knight style crowd funding or Glazer style shrewd speculators.

Would you feel relieved they're finally going or nervous about what might come?

 

[Scholesy]

Are the Glazer's that bad?!

 

[Castia]

If it clears the debt and the new owners are willing to invest in the squad id be all for it. A debt free club with an income like ours should be unstoppable.

 

[Pexbo]

If it clears the debt and the new owners are willing to invest in the squad id be all for it. A debt free club with an income like ours should be unstoppable.

Out tax bill would be pretty huge without that debt.

 

[Valar Morghulis]

I'd say I'd feel somewhere between indifferent to mildly happy. They've siphoned a lot of money out of the club and new owners would most likely be an improvement but we're functioning fantastically as things are despite the Glazers so I'm pleased either way.

 

[Scholesy]

Out tax bill would be pretty huge without that debt.

High tax on high income is better than low tax on low income.

 

[Ainu]

If it clears the debt and the new owners are willing to invest in the squad id be all for it. A debt free club with an income like ours should be unstoppable.

The debt does not stop United from being one of the strongest (in terms of financial options) clubs in the transfer market, nor would the absence of it necessarily mean United's position would improve. Having a debt can be a very favourable situation when it comes to taxes.

 

[711]

Surely an owner that put money in rather than took it out would be preferable?

 

[Castia]

Out tax bill would be pretty huge without that debt.

True but id still rather be debt free.

I'm not complaining about the Glazers commitment though, debt or no debt they've invested millions into the squad so I'm thankful for that.

 

[Gambit]

Not much of the debt left now.

 

[MounchesterUtd]

I think, if you consider all factors, the Glazers have been one of the better owners of big sports teams (compared to other football clubs, NBA, MLB and NFL) over the past 20+ years.

 

[Massive Spanner]

I'm not bothered. They know how to run a business, that much is clear.

It's also satisfying knowing your club can outbid almost any team in Europe for players even though it has owners who take money from it and is in debt. What other club could possibly do that?

 

[Edgar Allan Pillow]

True but id still rather be debt free.

I wouldn't be really sure.

For all the debt, the Glazers have run the club pretty well, provides enough transfer money and generally keep out of the clubs footy side of things.

I'd hate to jump out of this and end up with some Russian mobster who'll handle the club like a personal hobby.

If a good buyer comes, we can consider...but not in generic terms.

 

[Revan]

If it clears the debt and the new owners are willing to invest in the squad id be all for it. A debt free club with an income like ours should be unstoppable.

It won't make any difference at all. We spend around 25m pounds at interest/debt each year. Without that, some money from that would have gone to taxes, maybe some in dividends but even not, it wouldn't make any difference at all.

 

[Bojan11]

In the Fergie years I was praying for it to happen. I was convinced with significant investment that Fergie could have won another treble.

But seems it was Fergie rather than the Glazers who didn't want to spend much. As we seen the crazy amounts that we spent since he left.

So now I'm not too bothered about them as long as they stay out of the footballing side.

 

[stepic]

If it clears the debt and the new owners are willing to invest in the squad id be all for it. A debt free club with an income like ours should be unstoppable.

Why take the risk?

And are you seriously suggesting our current debt is impeding our ability to sign players?

 

[Dyslexic Untied]

Given the OP scenario (wealth and motivation of buyer not set), I think I would prefer the known status quo intead of the unknown.

Our club is run extremely well, and I'd be worried if new (unknown) owners came in.

 

[sullydnl]

I'd be worried.

 

[Eckers99]

Not much of the debt left now.

Yeah, it's only about £340m. Nowt.

Would depend on the buyers though. If a Chinese consortium came in and wanted to change the board, name, stadium etc it could be terrible. We've been lucky that the Glazers have been fairly hands-off on the football side, leaving things to Fergie, Woodward etc. Imagine being owned by someone like Peter Lim?

 

[manutddjw]

I always said after Sir Alex left we would find out what the Glazers were all about. They would've been smart enough to keep Sir Alex happy because he could've ruined their tenure had they pissed them off. Sir Alex left and they've been great.

Financially we're in very good shape, despite falling off by our standards. We are in no danger of becoming a Leeds which quite rightly was the fear in 2005. Every manager has been backed to be successful. Consider this. We willfully through money away because LvG felt a lighter schedule and less travel during preseason would benefit performance. That's backing a manager and being more concerned with results than money.

 

[glazed]

I'd be doing cartwheels of delight. They're crap owners. How soon people forget.

 

[Big Ben Foster]

Sustainable debt is not a bad thing. Quite the opposite actually. It's basic corporate finance.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

I'd be extremely worried indeed, hope they continue to run the club in the same way for many many years to come.

 

[Oscie]

I'd be doing cartwheels of delight. They're crap owners. How soon people forget.

What is it people are forgetting? It seems that every scare story we had about the Glazers by the so called 'experts' at the time, never came true. Is stage 2 of the plan to pretend it did and hope nobody notices?

The Glazers are like football's version of the millennium bug, only with people trying to pretend they were right all along about how much of a disaster their ownership has been and that the millennium bug actually happened and caused chaos.

 

[ravi2]

I've been very critical of the glazers in the past but it's evident they understand how to run a franchise.
They (And Woodie) enable mufc to make serious money and they stay out or the footballing side of things.

 

[stepic]

I'd be doing cartwheels of delight. They're crap owners. How soon people forget.

So crap they spend record fees on players! Obtain the best available managers possible! Oh woe is us!

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

So crap they spend record fees on players! Obtain the best available managers possible! Oh woe is us!

I don't think this is from their personal money. Probably through the club's internal sources of revenue.

It's good how they aren't involved much though.

 

[Snow]

I wouldn't be too happy about it. Looking at the host of other teams that have been bought in the last two decades, getting owners that hire competent people and don't interfere poorly with the club is rare. The Glazers seem like the least controversial characters you could get. There are no comments from them, there are no morally bad ties and unlike the typical American owner they don't even take the credit for anything. What more could you ask for really?

 

[Oscie]

Fergie always maintained he was backed by them and we've been throwing cash at the team ever since he retired. Unless we're holding the Glazers responsible for team selection, formation and tactics then I can't really see what the grumble is with them. Also can't see them selling, they're clearly long-term sports 'franchise' owners.

 

[Earthquake]

If they suddenly decided to sell up and feck off, I'd be slightly concerned, as they're no mugs and it'd mean something bad iss on the horizon.

 

[VanHaal'sRedArmy]

Highly doubtful they will sell the club. If a new owner comes in, it would most likely be a huge investment group rather than a wealthy individual.

 

[Raoul]

I'd be a bit nervous. We've had our best spell under the Glazers.

 

[Red Dreams]

If they sell out, it can only be to similar people like that own the bitters.
That would be the end of the club.

Not that I love the Glazers.

 

[MDFC Manager]

Any new owner will likely look to milk the club far more than the Glazers have done. Simply because the investment required will be monstrous.

Thank feck it won't happen.

 

[MDFC Manager]

I'd be a bit nervous. We've had our best spell under the Glazers.

Financially, we continue to do so. If only the on field stuff follows..

 

[Red Dreams]

I believe the club will be sold for a huge amount in the future.

Its an investment.

 

[Livewire1974]

It might be up for sale now. Share price went up after Jose saying he wants to stay a while.....

 

[Sky1981]

Thank god we have glazer, imagine if the fans of co92 peter lim has the money. He'd install giggs / neville as manager and assistant manager.

 

[Raoul]

It might be up for sale now. Share price went up after Jose saying he wants to stay a while.....

Share price has been steadily marching downwards for a few months. This is actually a great time to buy if you are betting we will make the CL. Our stock could rise by as much as 25% if we make the CL and or win the FA Cup.

 

[Eyepopper]

Green and Gold til the club is sold, or maybe for a few months.

The Glazers haven't been perfect, the lack of input or any sort of voice for fans is a bugbear of mine, although the militant approach adopted by MUST hasn't helped on that front either. The way they financed the takeover still grates but from the minute the club was floated it was always a possibility that that would happen.

Overall I think its hard to say they have been bad owners, from a business point of view they haven't put a foot wrong and have turned the club into a behemoth. On field they haven't interfered and have signed off on huge investments.

Stick with what you know would be my vote.