Club Sale | It’s done!

[Andy_Cole]

It has gone very quiet in recent weeks, we haven’t even had the usual BS either.

It’s either happening behind closed doors and something is going on, or they’ve closed up shop and decided not to sell. If it’s the latter I sincerely hope there’s a riot inside the stadium and we stop every home game for the foreseeable future. This is the final straw.

If they closed shop we’d have surely heard about it? Qatar and Jim would have officially announced it’s over.

 

[horsechoker]

1970 everything turned brown.

 

[LawCharltonBest]

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honestly think we are stuck with the Glazers

Not great reading

The writer suggests at the end that Glazers may have just cut off communication and will sit tight until the new Champions league format brings in extra money in 2024.

It seems it will take one of the bidders (or a new bidder) making a £6bn offer for them to sell, which doesn't seem remotely likely

 

[Fully Fledged]

The FTC's appeal is even weaker than their PI case. Will lose badly, they appealed just to avoid even more merger grilling during Lina's hearing today.

What I got from yesterday's hearing is that they prosecute cases on ideology rather than evidence.
Big tech is bad. Need to block.

 

[DevTheRed]

Has to be the final straw. Nothing is more important then getting them gone. The aim should be to cause so much upheaval that the PL makes us play behind closed doors - then they might make a decision.

100% I think there’ll be absolute uproar if this doesn’t go ahead now.. surely they must know that too.

If they closed shop we’d have surely heard about it? Qatar and Jim would have officially announced it’s over.

Very true. We haven’t really heard anything since Qatars final take it or leave it bid, well and truly squeaky bum time.

 

[Andy_Cole]

Not great reading

The writer suggests at the end that Glazers may have just cut off communication and will sit tight until the new Champions league format brings in extra money in 2024.

It seems it will take one of the bidders (or a new bidder) making a £6bn offer for them to sell, which doesn't seem remotely likely

So rather than rejecting. Just ghosting the bidders.

 

[ShinjiNinja26]

So rather than rejecting. Just ghosting the bidders.

Sounds like the Glazers. These lot don’t have the decency to inform anyone what’s happening. Classless cnuts to the bitter end.

 

[Adisa]

Surely we should be at the preferred bidder stage by now. It's just rank amateur all round.

There might not even be a preferred bidder but the idea that Raine haven’t even as much as given the bidders an update sounds incredible to me. I’m struggling to believe it.

 

[downxandxout]

Fully expecting a two sentence statement on our website soon explaining that the search has been unsuccessful.

Logic goes out the window when it comes to Glazer business decisions.

Yes, there will be more protests (which I'm a big fan of) but I unfortunately can't imagine there's enough fight/coordination in our fanbase to make them worry about the backlash.

 

[McGrathsipan]

The Glazers aren’t staying people, calm down.

100% they are.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I'm beginning to lose hope

 

[nickm]

Not great reading

The writer suggests at the end that Glazers may have just cut off communication and will sit tight until the new Champions league format brings in extra money in 2024.

It seems it will take one of the bidders (or a new bidder) making a £6bn offer for them to sell, which doesn't seem remotely likely

That does explain the lack of activity.

Fcuk.

 

[Andy_Cole]

Fully expecting a two sentence statement on our website soon explaining that the search has been unsuccessful.

Logic goes out the window when it comes to Glazer business decisions.

Yes, there will be more protests (which I'm a big fan of) but I unfortunately can't imagine there's enough fight/coordination in our fanbase to make them worry about the backlash.

Shame we don’t have the aggressive fan base in America. Genuinely should make their lives as uncomfortable as we legally can. Harass the feckers to sell.

 

[davidmichael]

I think it’s all gone quiet because the final things are being negotiated and reality is sports journalists aren’t going to be the ones with any genuine information, if the parasites were going to stay then Qatar or/and Ratcliffe would have come out and said so they don’t look silly and spin it so it’s on the parasites as both Qatar and Ratcliffe would want to remain looking like serious business people.

 

[Rooney24]

It’s sickening that these cnuts got control of the club without investing one single fecking cent of their own money and are now refusing to budge unless they get x billion.

absolute wankers.

 

[sglowrider]

New owners would not affect the FFP restrictions United are currently under.

Unless we I!prove our top line revenues. Qatar airways pays us 80million annual for that real estate on the chests of our players?

 

[Appletonred]

If they were staying then Qatar as they did in 2011 would walk away, something has to give here, can't see how the Glazers can save face in the business world if they have been merely stringing along Qatar, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Raine Group for almost 9 months, they cannot burn bridges with these people.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Not great reading

The writer suggests at the end that Glazers may have just cut off communication and will sit tight until the new Champions league format brings in extra money in 2024.

It seems it will take one of the bidders (or a new bidder) making a £6bn offer for them to sell, which doesn't seem remotely likely

They do realise that there will be a lot of teams vying to get into the CL even in it's bigger format. Wouldn't it be funny if we actually don't get in it. The other clubs are investing in bigger and bigger amounts. They need to wake up.

 

[cyberman]

Athletic have been nowhere near this story at any stage. If we think this is true then we’re putting them about Reuters, Bloomberg and FT who have all stated there been communication with both parties

 

[putzmcgee123]

Don’t bother reading that Athletic article, there’s absolutely feck all in there.

They've got to hit that quota somehow. Some people are paying for the privilege to read their articles, that often say as little as possible in as many words as possible.

It will be quite satisfying if, eventually, shortly after a sports journalist comes out with a piece like this, we get something completely contradictory by way of an official announcement or credible business news outlet.

 

[shd0w]

If they are ghosting both of them its clearly them wanting Sir Jim or SJ to come back with another bid. Can't see this being resolved in 2023 at this rate

 

[Ronaldo's Love Child]

I'm giving this saga another week and then I am planting myself firmly in the "it's not happening" camp.

There's only so much to'ing and fro'ing that can be involved even in a complex deal such as this. Any obstacles would have been identified as deal breakers or solvable during this lengthy time frame.

It's beginning to look like something has broken down.

 

[Roane]

My thoughts, ignoring some of the stuff being printed, are that the sale will go ahead. Too much exposure for it not to.

Personally think it will go to Qatar. I think it was always going to as they simply offered money up front in a lump sum.

I think Jim has had input into various ventures but I personally feel it's for PR for ineos than seriously wanting to buy.

Lots of stuff going on behind the scenes, unrelated to football which ultimately will decide the sale rather than the actual cash being offered. With this point maybe I am giving too much kudos to the Glaser's and their business acumen (I think redcafe generally seems to suggest "they ain't got a clue").

 

[Pes6Monster]

can't see how the Glazers can save face in the business world if they have been merely stringing along Qatar, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Raine Group for almost 9 months, they cannot burn bridges with these people.

You are correct to suggest this but I doubt many entities trusted them to begin with.

Although doing business with the Glazers henceforth will provoke serious caution, the prize is Manchester United. The Glazers are holding the cards, not the shareholders, Qatari regime, Ineos or any other.

 

[pcaming]

I knew it was too good to be true.

They will only leave when there is mass and consistent protesting, or when they've run the club to the ground.

 

[Champ]

Who is paying for transfers? Thats what I want to know.

It says alot of what is going on if you ask me. Glazers dont pay lump sums up front. Mount and Onana are 100 million. Whos 100 million?
If there is new owners imminent how can the Glazers agree to spend someone elses money over a number of years?

The only rational explanation is that they are staying. Why would they be investing in the team if they are going? makes no sense.

Time to face the fact they are not going anywhere. #Glazersin

The club are paying for transfer, the club has always paid for transfer and always will pay for transfers.
The new owners cannot just chuck money in for transfers, the Glazers aren't investing in the team, the club is investing into the team.

 

[Champ]

Unless we I!prove our top line revenues. Qatar airways pays us 80million annual for that real estate on the chests of our players?

Well yeah there is that, but that wouldn't be straight away, not would it be ratified by the Premier League.
That wouldn't affect this window at all in any way shape or form,

 

[Champ]

They would, not to a ridiculous extent, but they could affect it should they choose to. First is our transfer debt to the tune of £50m, and owners can put in £90m over 3 years period to cover operational losses, which the Glazers have put in... 0.

So if both of those happens we can effectively triple our budget for this summer.

That still wouldn't affect this year's financial budget, only immediate outgoings would improve the budget for this window.

 

[BluesJr]

Some eggs at their windows please. More heat needed.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Don’t bother reading that Athletic article, there’s absolutely feck all in there.

It’s a pretty good summary of all the stuff that’s been fecking done to death in here already. So worth reading for anyone who doesn’t want to wade through this abomination of a thread to understand where we are right now.

And the conclusion seems reasonable. There’s a good chance the Glazers won’t sell, due to obvious concerns about both the SJH and Ineos bids, combined with the absence of any other serious bids. Obviously people won’t want to hear this but that’s not a good reason to ignore that possible outcome.

 

[greenoffpearson]

Who gains for waiting?

Glazers will be under pressure internally, 4 want out 2 pretend they know better. Pressure will build.

Small shareholders - will pressure the board to move things along.

If no dividend is declared then the Glazers are starved of their day to day income, some 18-20 (?) million, taking out the slice to the A class group, between 6 siblings which is good but not that great when you have 4.5 billion waiting on which you can make much more, in interest, with safe and secure easy investments with no risk (Government bonds etc).

If there are no dividends, then the Glazers earn nothing (merely await capital appreciation). Previously they were selling shares, they are not really able to do that whilst they try and sell the club.

Sir Jim and Jassim know the Glazer predicament and therefore why continue to overpay. Sir Jim's finance is more complicated, but he is not that cavalier, and Jassim can take baby steps because he has reserves.

The last battle may be between who between Jassim and Sir Jim, the Glazers are waiting to see what Sir Jim can muster in the hope that he can do enough to exceed what’s on the table but more likely to get Jassim to up his bid.

So the question is how long does it take to get together a few billion pounds with the general erratic financial backdrop.

The Glazer mob are just waiting on Sir Jim in my opinion.

 

[Ikon]

100% they are.

100% I agree

 

[NK86]

It’s a pretty good summary of all the stuff that’s been fecking done to death in here already. So worth reading for anyone who doesn’t want to wade through this abomination of a thread to understand where we are right now.

And the conclusion seems reasonable. There’s a good chance the Glazers won’t sell, due to obvious concerns about both the SJH and Ineos bids, combined with the absence of any other serious bids. Obviously people won’t want to hear this but that’s not a good reason to ignore that possible outcome.

Do you think the Glazers would have even contemplated selling United unless they absolutely had the need to sell. Have those conditions vanished? Unless they have stumbled upon a unicorn pissing gold, I am pretty sure they will have to sell. I feel it's a matter of who blinks first in this saga. Qatar/JR or those bloody leeches.

 

[Irrational.]

This has been dragging on for 8 months. If the cnuts wanted to sell it would have been done and dusted already. See the sale of Chelsea for comparison: no stalling tactics, no smoke and mirrors, no press leaks about bids, no multiple rounds of bidding.

It’s complete bullshit. The Glazers wanted a realistic valuation of the club and have put us through this whole fecking charade to do so. The cowards don’t even have the minerals to face the fans or keep us in the loop of what’s happening, whilst their greed grows exponentially.

They’ve already ruined this transfer window and probably the next. They’re almost certainly staying put.

 

[Melville Red]

100% I think there’ll be absolute uproar if this doesn’t go ahead now.. surely they must know that too.

Very true. We haven’t really heard anything since Qatars final take it or leave it bid, well and truly squeaky bum time.

Oh they know it alright, they just don’t care and why should they when they live in lovely Florida mansions?

 

[MDFC Manager]

This has been dragging on for 8 months. If the cnuts wanted to sell it would have been done and dusted already. See the sale of Chelsea for comparison: no stalling tactics, no smoke and mirrors, no press leaks about bids, no multiple rounds of bidding.

It’s complete bullshit. The Glazers wanted a realistic valuation of the club and have put us through this whole fecking charade to do so. The cowards don’t even have the minerals to face the fans or keep us in the loop of what’s happening, whilst their greed grows exponentially.

They’ve already ruined this transfer window and probably the next. They’re almost certainly staying put.

Looking increasingly this way. Wonder what this whole charade has cost us in terms of fees to Raine etc., apart from the intangible costs that you've called out.

 

[rajds89]

We’re never getting rid of these parasitic cnuts are we?

 

[Cee90]

How sure are you?

100% they are.

I still honestly believe they will sell and them delaying the sale is part of their ‘strategy’.

Perhaps I’m being naive, but I just can’t see how the Glazers can stay on.

For now, I remain calm about it but let’s see how things develop towards the end of the month.

 

[Rooney24]

Who gains for waiting?

Glazers will be under pressure internally, 4 want out 2 pretend they know better. Pressure will build.

Small shareholders - will pressure the board to move things along.

If no dividend is declared then the Glazers are starved of their day to day income, some 18-20 (?) million, taking out the slice to the A class group, between 6 siblings which is good but not that great when you have 4.5 billion waiting on which you can make much more, in interest, with safe and secure easy investments with no risk (Government bonds etc).

If there are no dividends, then the Glazers earn nothing (merely await capital appreciation). Previously they were selling shares, they are not really able to do that whilst they try and sell the club.

Sir Jim and Jassim know the Glazer predicament and therefore why continue to overpay. Sir Jim's finance is more complicated, but he is not that cavalier, and Jassim can take baby steps because he has reserves.

The last battle may be between who between Jassim and Sir Jim, the Glazers are waiting to see what Sir Jim can muster in the hope that he can do enough to exceed what’s on the table but more likely to get Jassim to up his bid.

So the question is how long does it take to get together a few billion pounds with the general erratic financial backdrop.

The Glazer mob are just waiting on Sir Jim in my opinion.

I’m not quite sure what you mean by that bolded part.

The Glazers control the Board of Directors and It’s the directors of a company who decide whether a dividend is to be declared or not. 9 times out of 10 they have done this.

the only way a dividend isn’t gonna be declared generally is when there is insufficient income produced in order to do so.

with a club like united that is rarely the case. There is always income.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Do you think the Glazers would have even contemplated selling United unless they absolutely had the need to sell. Have those conditions vanished? Unless they have stumbled upon a unicorn pissing gold, I am pretty sure they will have to sell. I feel it's a matter of who blinks first in this saga. Qatar/JR or those bloody leeches.

I think they want to sell the club in the way that makes the most money possible for them. I don’t think that means they have no choice other than to sell up immediately. As per the piece in the Athletic, it’s very possible that they make more money by muddling along as is for another season or two until someone makes them a better offer than the two they’ve received so far. Both of which seem to be well below what they think/hope they can make.