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We will not take our eye off the ball until he officially declares that Malcolm Glazer is not going to make a bid
Independent Manchester United Supporters Association
Manchester United are expected to clarify on Friday whether the club is facing a takeover bid.
American tycoon Malcolm Glazer is said to have been in talks with John Magnier and JP McManus, whose Cubic Expression Group is the major shareholder.
Those negotiations are believed to have stalled and the club's share price fell by 10p in early trading to 254p amid speculation that the deal was off.
United supporters have campaigned against any takeover by Glazer.
Fans expressed fears that the American would put up ticket prices in order to recoup his investment, and have now reacted with cautious optimism to the news that the deal could be off.
"If it does turn out that he's pulled out we will be delighted," said Jules Spencer, the chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMUSA) which met in Stretford on Thursday to discuss the issue.
In the end, this has been a false alarm but one day it might not be
Independent Manchester United Supporters Association
Spencer added: "But we will not take our eye off the ball until he officially declares that he is not going to make a bid."
Glazer owns 19% of the club but had reportedly been keen on purchasing the 28.9% owned by Magnier and McManus.
It has been claimed that Glazer was ready to pay just over £3 a share for their stake but Magnier and McManus reportedly told the American there was no basis for a deal.
Now IMUSA has announced it will lobby the United chief executive David Gill in an attempt to create a situation where 10.01% of the club is left in the hands of ordinary fans.
That would leave any future bidder needing to be publicly accountable for the way the company is run.
It is suggested that companies such as Nike and Vodafone, which already have sponsorship deals with United, offer shares as rewards for buying products.
"You could have a 'buy a shirt, get a share' system with Nike, or 'buy a phone, get a share' system with Vodafone," explained IMUSA spokesman Mark Longden.
"It may seem a strange concept but it would actually benefit the club and the sponsors because what we have gone through over the last two weeks destabilises the club to the detriment of everyone involved in it.
"We are talking about multi-billion dollar corporations. It would be a drop in the ocean to them. All we want to do is put pressure on the board and get them to put something in place to stop this kind of thing happening again.
"In the end, this has been a false alarm but one day it might not be and all the problems and concerns about the club will become reality."
Shares in Man Utd Plc fluctuated on Thursday amid the speculation over Glazer.
Man Utd condemn protest
United shares fell as much as 4% but recovered to trade down 0.6%.
Another supporters group, Shareholders United, had written to every fan with shares in United in September asking them not to sell their stake in the event of a takeover bid.
And according to group spokesman Oliver Houston they had a "fantastic response".
Meanwhile, another organisation against a possible Glazer takeover recently registered their unhappiness at a Manchester United reserve game at Altrincham.
Members of Manchester Education Committee (MEC) invaded the pitch in a peaceful protest, aiming a 'Not For Sale' banner at the cameras of MUTV.
And they have warned the club that if it continues to ignore fans' concerns, they would render it "ungovernable".
Manchester United director Maurice Watkins has also been targeted, with vandals damaging his car.
Independent Manchester United Supporters Association
Manchester United are expected to clarify on Friday whether the club is facing a takeover bid.
American tycoon Malcolm Glazer is said to have been in talks with John Magnier and JP McManus, whose Cubic Expression Group is the major shareholder.
Those negotiations are believed to have stalled and the club's share price fell by 10p in early trading to 254p amid speculation that the deal was off.
United supporters have campaigned against any takeover by Glazer.
Fans expressed fears that the American would put up ticket prices in order to recoup his investment, and have now reacted with cautious optimism to the news that the deal could be off.
"If it does turn out that he's pulled out we will be delighted," said Jules Spencer, the chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association (IMUSA) which met in Stretford on Thursday to discuss the issue.
In the end, this has been a false alarm but one day it might not be
Independent Manchester United Supporters Association
Spencer added: "But we will not take our eye off the ball until he officially declares that he is not going to make a bid."
Glazer owns 19% of the club but had reportedly been keen on purchasing the 28.9% owned by Magnier and McManus.
It has been claimed that Glazer was ready to pay just over £3 a share for their stake but Magnier and McManus reportedly told the American there was no basis for a deal.
Now IMUSA has announced it will lobby the United chief executive David Gill in an attempt to create a situation where 10.01% of the club is left in the hands of ordinary fans.
That would leave any future bidder needing to be publicly accountable for the way the company is run.
It is suggested that companies such as Nike and Vodafone, which already have sponsorship deals with United, offer shares as rewards for buying products.
"You could have a 'buy a shirt, get a share' system with Nike, or 'buy a phone, get a share' system with Vodafone," explained IMUSA spokesman Mark Longden.
"It may seem a strange concept but it would actually benefit the club and the sponsors because what we have gone through over the last two weeks destabilises the club to the detriment of everyone involved in it.
"We are talking about multi-billion dollar corporations. It would be a drop in the ocean to them. All we want to do is put pressure on the board and get them to put something in place to stop this kind of thing happening again.
"In the end, this has been a false alarm but one day it might not be and all the problems and concerns about the club will become reality."
Shares in Man Utd Plc fluctuated on Thursday amid the speculation over Glazer.
Man Utd condemn protest
United shares fell as much as 4% but recovered to trade down 0.6%.
Another supporters group, Shareholders United, had written to every fan with shares in United in September asking them not to sell their stake in the event of a takeover bid.
And according to group spokesman Oliver Houston they had a "fantastic response".
Meanwhile, another organisation against a possible Glazer takeover recently registered their unhappiness at a Manchester United reserve game at Altrincham.
Members of Manchester Education Committee (MEC) invaded the pitch in a peaceful protest, aiming a 'Not For Sale' banner at the cameras of MUTV.
And they have warned the club that if it continues to ignore fans' concerns, they would render it "ungovernable".
Manchester United director Maurice Watkins has also been targeted, with vandals damaging his car.
