May 29 – American billionaire entrepreneur Malcolm Glazer, head of the family that runs Manchester United and arguably the most controversial of all foreign owners in English football, has died aged 85.
The news was announced by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the American gridiron club he owned for nearly 30 years describing him as a “pioneering thinker” and “dynamic business leader”.
Glazer bought Manchester United for £790 million in May 2005 and saw the club subsequently win five Premier League titles as well as the Champions League. But he never actually attended a game at Old Trafford and his ownership split opinion because of the amount of debt leveraged to complete the buyout.
Whilst little is likely to change in the immediate future, with Louis van Gaal about to step in as manager, Manchester United Supporters’ Trust vice-chair Sean Bones commented: “It would be inappropriate for me to make any comment about the death of Malcolm Glazer as I didn’t know him or his family personally. However, as a supporter, I am aware of the detrimental effect the Glazers have had on the football club and the huge debt that has been placed on Manchester United.”
In 2010, a group of lifelong United fans made up mainly of City bankers and lawyers set up the Red Knights consortium in an attempt to buy the club with the support of fans, but their plans failed.
Despite concerns over United’s debt which now stands at around £400 million, the club still generate record revenues.
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