The Glazers are "unlikely to ever be liked, let alone loved," by fans of ManU, according to Neil Maidment of REUTERS. Yet the Glazers are now "assuaging some of their critics" as the club said that it will "bankroll new player signings and is in a position to return to Europe's biggest cup competition" after failing to qualify in '14 for the first time in 19 years. Crucially, their transformation of ManU into a "commercial cash machine may give them an advantage over rivals." There have been "modest signs of hope for investors in the club's New York-listed shares, which have outperformed the S&P 500 so far this year." Last week, consultancy Brand Finance declared that ManU had "regained its position as the most valuable football brand in the world in annual rankings." ManU and the Glazers -- the family "rarely make any public statements -- declined to comment for this story." A world record £750M ($1.17B) 10-year kit deal with adidas, signed last year, underlined ManU as "commercial leaders" in football. That followed a seven-year, $559M shirt-branding deal with Chevrolet. N.Y.-based hedge fund manager Ron Baron, who owned 40% of the shares not controlled by the Glazers at the end of last year -- said in January that he "expected to double or triple his money" on ManU over the next four to five years. He "declined to comment for this article." Some smaller investors are "also hopeful." Legal services company Clutch Group Senior Dir Steve Schmelkin said, "There's always the chance that the solid and incalculable value of the Manchester United brand and related intangible worth will prevail, and ultimately reflect in the stock's performance" (REUTERS, 6/15).
