Manchester United Supporters’ Trust write open letter to Joel Glazer

Manchester United Supporters’ Trust says it does not want protests to become a “regular event” and have issued a four-point plan and demand a public response in writing from clubs owners by Friday.

MUST has urged Joel Glazer and his siblings to engage in fan consultation to avoid a repeat of the scenes at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The group is not in favour of further protests, like the one that caused postponement of the home match against Liverpool and has outlined a way forward with a four-point plan.

Thousands of fans protested outside of Old Trafford on Sunday, with several breaking into the stadium to protest on the pitch ahead of the behind-closed-doors match for the biggest fixture in the English football calendar.

Kick off was originally set for 4.30pm but was completely called off after an hour delay. The FA is looking at new dates to play the match.

MUST’s letter read, as per Sky Sports News: “Let’s be very clear that no-one wants what happened at Old Trafford yesterday to be a regular event.

“What happened was the culmination of 16 years in which your family’s ownership of the club has driven us into debt and decline, and we have felt ever more sidelined and ignored.

“After 16 years not one member of the Glazer family has ever had so much as a conversation with us, the club’s Supporters’ Trust.

MUST’s four-point plan sent to Glazer family

• 1. Willingly and openly engage and promote the government initiated fan-led review of football and use this as an opportunity to rebalance the current ownership structure in the favour of supporters
• 2. Immediately appoint independent directors to the board whose sole purpose is to protect the interest of the club as a football club, not its shareholders
• 3. Work with the Manchester United Supporters Trust and supporters more broadly to put in place a share scheme that is accessible to all and that has shares with the same voting rights as those held by the Glazer family. Should the appetite be there amongst fans then you should welcome, and offer no opposition to, the Glazer Family shareholding being reduced to a minority or indeed being bought out altogether.
• 4. Commit to full consultation with season ticket holders on any significant changes to the future of our club, including the competitions we play in
“Yesterday, that frustration reached boiling point. We support the right of fans to protest lawfully and, although we did not personally witness any such acts, of course we do not condone any acts of violence.
“None of us want this to continue. We all have better things to do. So we need to find a way forward.”

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