The deadline for bidders to submit initial bids for Manchester United will pass today. Details are expected to emerge in the coming days over who has stepped forward, and what they have offered.
There is one issue Manchester United fans are truly united on, and this is a desperation to get the Glazers out of the club.
It’s important for a moment just to reflect and really embrace that this long-held dream could soon become a reality for the first time since 2005.
This is what we have all wanted, fought for, and became depressed over, believing there was no hope of them going. While not getting carried away until the door has shut behind them, it feels like they are halfway gone.
Now the talk has turned to who will step up. And this is where United fans stand divided.
Potential bidders
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to bid, The Guardian report. There is a great story here, of an investor born in Greater Manchester looking to buy the club and restore it to it’s former glory.
But it is absolutely crucial to recognise, that Ratcliffe’s birth place does not make him the best person for the job.
This applies in business just like it would in all walks of life, including playing football, where Manchester United welcome footballers from around the world.
Manchester United need the best owners, not simply local ones. And this is where it is correct to ask, is Ratcliffe the best option? His lack of success at French side Nice is not convincing.
A strong rival bid is set to come from Qatar, The Times reports while The Telegraph claims private investors could emerge from Saudi Arabia.
There is some trepidation among some fans, whether these bids could be state-backed. It is also right to acknowledge that some fans would fully support this, they simply want Manchester United to win, and be governed with care.
No one fan is right or wrong. It is all a matter of opinion. Some may not gain satisfaction from seeing United win a certain way – but millions of others would.
When it comes to the authorities ruling on football ownership – the horse bolted two decades ago, when Chelsea’s, and then City’s takeovers were waved through, while United’s Glazer takeover should never have been approved.
No one supporter’s voice is more worthy than another – but ultimately, everyone wants what is best for the club in both the short-term and the long-term. At this stage it is too early to judge, especially when there is an information vacuum.
The first step for would-be owners
The first step for would-be owners for Manchester United is very important, and it should be a very easy one.
The Glazer family set an incredibly low bar, fuelled by their reluctance to communicate with supporters since day one.
United’s bidders must consult with supporters, make clear who they are, what they are planning to invest, and how they plan to uphold the club’s traditions.
They must also guarantee not to take money out of the club, and have a straightforward plan to clear the club’s debt.
Manchester United finally have the right manager in place with Erik ten Hag. They must offer him their support, and back him in the transfer market.
United’s next owners must invest in the academy, make much-needed changes to the training ground, and redevelop Old Trafford and the surrounding area.
These can’t be the kind of empty, late promises made by the Glazers. There needs to be substance.
United supporters do not want mystery unaccountable figures operating the club, who run it like a corporate business instead of a football club.
The next owners must make their plans very clear, and communicate. At this early stage of the process too, this is a very simple step to take to get fans onside.
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