Supporters of Premier League rivals ManU and Liverpool "took action on Friday to ensure their clubs remained at their historic homes of Old Trafford and Anfield," according to Keith Weir of REUTERS. Fans "have applied to their local councils to register the two grounds as 'Assets of Community Value.'" If approved, the designation "would give the fans' groups the right to bid for the land if the clubs ever tried to sell up." Liverpool fan group Spirit of Shankly spokesperson Paul Martin said, "Anfield is an important part of our club and the community. We have to ensure that remains and safeguard it, ensuring it can continue to always be integral to the local community" (REUTERS, 4/26). The MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS reported Trafford council "now has eight weeks to make a decision, leaving open the potential for the Glazers to appeal." Manchester United Supporters Trust CEO Duncan Drasdo said, "A listing reduces the chances that Old Trafford could be secretly sold off and worse still Manchester United move to a new location, as we’ve seen with such disastrous effects at several other English clubs" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 4/27).
