ManU confirmed the death of Owner MALCOLM GLAZER on Wednesday -- nine years after the U.S. billionaire’s "controversial debt-laden takeover of the club," according to Mark Ogden of the London TELEGRAPH. The 85-year-old "had endured a series of health problems since suffering a stroke in 2006." His death was "announced on the website of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Glazer family’s NFL franchise." Glazer’s death "will not affect the running of United," with sons JOEL and AVRAM GLAZER "having run the club as co-chairmen for the past nine years." The 90% of the club which is owned by the Glazers -- 10% of ManU’s shares are listed on the N.Y. Stock Exchange -- "are split evenly" between Joel, Avram and siblings BRYAN, KEVIN, EDWARD and DARCIE GLAZER-KASSEWITZ (TELEGRAPH, 5/28).
VARYING REACTIONS: In London, Oliver Kay wrote the reaction in Manchester "was rather more muted." ManU issued a brief statement saying: “The thoughts of everyone at United are with the family tonight.” ManU’s limited public response "appeared to reflect the unease felt by many of their supporters towards an unpopular regime" (LONDON TIMES, 5/28). The BBC reported Glazer, "who never actually stepped foot inside Old Trafford, gradually bought out United shareholders" between '03 and '05. His takeover "was largely funded by loans secured against the club's assets, a move that took them heavily into debt and sat uneasily with many fans at Old Trafford." Supporters' group Shareholders United "were one of the most vociferous anti-Glazer voices during the takeover, and in the aftermath." In '10, a group of lifelong ManU fans made up 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" (BBC, 5/28).
LOOKING TO SELL? In Manchester, Adam Jupp wrote Glazer's death "will inevitably raise questions as to whether his family will look to sell United." ManU's partial flotation on the N.Y. Stock Exchange "has served to give the club a price tag based on its share price." That stands at around £2B ($3.3B), though the financial hit ManU will suffer as a result of not playing in Europe "is likely to push that down" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 5/28).
END OF AN ERA: Also in Manchester, Paul Britton noted Glazer bought ManU in '05 in a £800M takeover "which triggered widespread protests." ManU captured five Premier League titles since the takeover -- in '07, '08, '09, '11 and last year, as well as the '08 Champions League (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 5/28).
