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#GlazersOut - A thread.
With the true damage of the Glazers' ownership becoming clear to everyone, 15 years after they pitched up in Manchester, there's no better time to make your voice heard, wherever you are.
If you're a Manchester United fan, please read this.
With the true damage of the Glazers' ownership becoming clear to everyone, 15 years after they pitched up in Manchester, there's no better time to make your voice heard, wherever you are.
If you're a Manchester United fan, please read this.
Manchester United fans are disillusioned. The protests didn't work in 2005 or 2010, why bother now?
I disagree, without those protests the club could well be in an even worse state today.
The Glazers would want nothing more for fans to 'give up'.
I disagree, without those protests the club could well be in an even worse state today.
The Glazers would want nothing more for fans to 'give up'.
Right, lets start the thread with the stats. I'm recycling some information but it's important for those who may not be aware.
The stats make for scary reading [Stats published by Red News - @barneyrednews]
The stats make for scary reading [Stats published by Red News - @barneyrednews]
CURRENT DEBT - £511m
As of the latest accounts submitted in June 2019, the debt stands at £511m.
With the majority of repayments barely touching the actual debt, at the current rate, it would take Manchester United over 150 years to be debt free again.
As of the latest accounts submitted in June 2019, the debt stands at £511m.
With the majority of repayments barely touching the actual debt, at the current rate, it would take Manchester United over 150 years to be debt free again.
In 2005, The Glazer's leveraged buyout saddled the club with £540m of debt, meaning that the debt has been reduced by just £44m in 14 years.
Here's a timeline of the debt.
Here's a timeline of the debt.
INTEREST PAID - £806m
In interest alone, Manchester United have spent £806m, essentially just to service the debt that The Glazers placed on the club.
To give this figure some perspective, it took United 13 years under The Glazers to spend this amount on players.
In interest alone, Manchester United have spent £806m, essentially just to service the debt that The Glazers placed on the club.
To give this figure some perspective, it took United 13 years under The Glazers to spend this amount on players.
SHARE SALES - £452m
Since Manchester United was launched on the NYSE in 2012, £452m worth of shares have been sold - none of which has been invested into the club.
In September, the Glazers issued preliminary prospectus to sell up to £322m more shares.
Since Manchester United was launched on the NYSE in 2012, £452m worth of shares have been sold - none of which has been invested into the club.
In September, the Glazers issued preliminary prospectus to sell up to £322m more shares.
GLAZER DIVIDENDS - £89m
In 2012, unlike the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, Manchester United decided to commence dividends payments.
Since 2012, £89m has been paid to the Glazers, with an additional £21m to other shareholders.
In 2012, unlike the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, Manchester United decided to commence dividends payments.
Since 2012, £89m has been paid to the Glazers, with an additional £21m to other shareholders.
The latest dividend was taken just last week, in the middle of a transfer window where Manchester United are struggling to make any additions to a depleted squad.
A further £9m dividend is expected to be taken in June which will take the total figure to £98m.
A further £9m dividend is expected to be taken in June which will take the total figure to £98m.
DIRECTORS' FEES - £92m
Over the last 11 years, £92m has been taken in Directors' fees of which the Glazers take a significant slice.
Before the launch on the NYSE in 2012, they were also taking £8m a year in 'Consulting Fees'.
Over the last 11 years, £92m has been taken in Directors' fees of which the Glazers take a significant slice.
Before the launch on the NYSE in 2012, they were also taking £8m a year in 'Consulting Fees'.
The figures are damning. The Glazers bought Manchester United on debt with a personal stake of around just £200m. They currently own 80% of the club, which is now worth billions.
Credit to Red News for putting the hard graft in to collate all of those stats.
Credit to Red News for putting the hard graft in to collate all of those stats.
UNDERINVESTMENT
Ever since the Glazers set foot in Manchester there has been a mixture of underinvestment and misinvestment.
The best example of underinvestment came under Ferguson. Whilst the recruitment was relatively sound under Ferguson, it was limited.
Ever since the Glazers set foot in Manchester there has been a mixture of underinvestment and misinvestment.
The best example of underinvestment came under Ferguson. Whilst the recruitment was relatively sound under Ferguson, it was limited.
Since his retirement, the club have tried to play catch-up thanks to 8 years of severe underinvestment.
United had a net-spend of just £158m across 8 years - that's just £19m per season!
Here's the breakdown of the money paid in transfer fees, by season, under SAF;
United had a net-spend of just £158m across 8 years - that's just £19m per season!
Here's the breakdown of the money paid in transfer fees, by season, under SAF;
During those 8 years, we were fed the 'no value in the market' line. Whilst City were building one of the best squads in the world, United were resigned to signing Antonio Valencia as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo
The year City signed Aguero, United signed Young.
The year City signed Aguero, United signed Young.
If those 8yrs encapsulated the underinvestment, the following 6yrs demonstrated the misinvestment.
The wage structure at United is out of control, the transfer strategy is erratic and there’s a feeling that whoever the manager is, they don’t have the final say on transfers.
The wage structure at United is out of control, the transfer strategy is erratic and there’s a feeling that whoever the manager is, they don’t have the final say on transfers.
Ed Woodward, the man largley responsible for this admitted as much in his recent interview with @UWSmag
In Mourinho's final summer, an investment banker with no knowledge of football told one of the greatest manager's in the game that he knew better. The ego is unparalleled.
In Mourinho's final summer, an investment banker with no knowledge of football told one of the greatest manager's in the game that he knew better. The ego is unparalleled.
With Woodward at the helm, United have overpaid for average players and given out ludicrous contracts to even worse ones. Despite having the worst squad in the top six, and with other clubs catching up, United have the highest wage bill in the league. https://twitter.com/SwissRamble/status/1178562654425817088?s=20
Almost every transfer window under Woodward has been a desperate scramble. The writing was on the wall in Moyes' first summer when United ended up paying £3.5m more than Fellaini's release clause on deadline day in 2013.
I'll let you make your own conclusions on Ed Woodward, but every decision he makes is for the benefit of himself or the owners - not the club.
He's been unchallenged in his current role for 6 years because he's doing exactly what his bosses want him to do.
He's been unchallenged in his current role for 6 years because he's doing exactly what his bosses want him to do.
Woodward has also suddenly become the owner of 539,000 A class shares valued at a whopping $10.8m.
He will have received a $48,000 dividend a few days ago and the same again in June.
He isn't going anywhere.
He will have received a $48,000 dividend a few days ago and the same again in June.
He isn't going anywhere.
Woodward & Solskjaer's "rebuild" has seen United lose Lukaku, Fellaini, Sanchez, Smalling, Herrera, Valencia & Darmian, only to be replaced by a Championship player, a CB a year too late and a RB six years too late.
The "rebuild" is Woodward slang for "save the owners money".
The "rebuild" is Woodward slang for "save the owners money".
Never forget his infamous quote.
“If I answer that just very simply and candidly, playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business" - Ed Woodward
“If I answer that just very simply and candidly, playing performance doesn’t really have a meaningful impact on what we can do on the commercial side of the business" - Ed Woodward
Manchester United are falling behind their rivals on and off the pitch.
The average spend on refurbishments across all of the club's properties - Old Trafford, Carrington and The Cliff - is just an average of £3.7m per year - the majority of that being spent in hospitality.
The average spend on refurbishments across all of the club's properties - Old Trafford, Carrington and The Cliff - is just an average of £3.7m per year - the majority of that being spent in hospitality.
It goes deeper than that, even plans to expand the Ticket Office were shelved in an attempt to save money which leads to situations we saw in the Manchester Derby just last night. https://twitter.com/RFFH/status/1214852077312266245?s=20
The entire structure of the club is dated. The facilities are dated. Old Trafford, one of the most historic stadiums in world football is being left to decay.
The roof is leaking. The paint around the ground is tired and tatty.
The roof is leaking. The paint around the ground is tired and tatty.
I could go on all day about the damage the Glazers have done in the time they've been here but most are already aware.
The real question is what can fans do?
The real question is what can fans do?
We as a fanbase need to do anything we can to unite against the owners.
This isn't about a bad season. This isn't about not signing a midfielder or two. This isn't even about success. This isn't about being a spoilt fan because I've seen nothing but trophies all my life.
This isn't about a bad season. This isn't about not signing a midfielder or two. This isn't even about success. This isn't about being a spoilt fan because I've seen nothing but trophies all my life.
This is about the future of Manchester United.
The Glazers will be pissing themselves laughing watching fall-out of fans on twitter, fans attacking the fan channels and vice-versa.
We need to put our differences aside for a common cause.
The Glazers will be pissing themselves laughing watching fall-out of fans on twitter, fans attacking the fan channels and vice-versa.
We need to put our differences aside for a common cause.
The only language the Glazers understand is money, and the only way we will have an impact is if we collectively do our bit.
Every fan across the globe has their part to play - whether you live in Stretford or Shangai, every fan can have a huge impact.
Every fan across the globe has their part to play - whether you live in Stretford or Shangai, every fan can have a huge impact.
I'm doing my bit by not renewing my Season Ticket next season.
Others can do their bit by not buying merchandise or doing the online stuff as per the image in the last tweet. https://twitter.com/TFWriter/status/1214598810544017410?s=20
Others can do their bit by not buying merchandise or doing the online stuff as per the image in the last tweet. https://twitter.com/TFWriter/status/1214598810544017410?s=20
I'm not sat here pretending that a few demonstrations and a hashtag on twitter will convince the owners to sell the club - nobody is - it's about getting our voice heard and forcing a change that benefits Manchester United Football Club, not Manchester United PLC.
