Read on Twitter
The world is in a different place to 12 months ago and the landscape of football moving forward has changed. Dramatically.
It may seem like a distant dream for the Glazers to sell Manchester United... but it might be closer than any of us think.
A thread... (again):
It may seem like a distant dream for the Glazers to sell Manchester United... but it might be closer than any of us think.
A thread... (again):
The Pandemic.
We’ll start with the obvious one, COVID.
It has impacted us all in one way or another and has had a massive financial impact on every football club. We’re now over 12 months without any match-day revenue which has put a serious dent in United’s finances.
We’ll start with the obvious one, COVID.
It has impacted us all in one way or another and has had a massive financial impact on every football club. We’re now over 12 months without any match-day revenue which has put a serious dent in United’s finances.
On top of match-day revenue, people in general have had less disposable income to buy merchandise and any income the stadium generated from the on-site Megastore or Museum/Tours has also been lost.
The pandemic has already had a direct impact on Manchester United but once we’re back to ‘normal’, it’s doubtful that everything will be exactly as it was.
There could be a huge financial reset in football across the board - from TV deals to sponsorships.
There could be a huge financial reset in football across the board - from TV deals to sponsorships.
In the 2019-20 financial statement which included the start of the pandemic (March-June), the club’s overall revenue dipped from £627.1m the previous year to £509m, although failure to qualify for the CL impacted that figure too.
In 18/19 the club showed a net profit of £18.9m.
In the period of 19/20, the club made a LOSS of £23.2m. In this statement, the pandemic only really impacted them for 3 months (March-May).
Dividends were still paid - of course.
In the period of 19/20, the club made a LOSS of £23.2m. In this statement, the pandemic only really impacted them for 3 months (March-May).
Dividends were still paid - of course.
The Debt.
The debt at United currently stands at £511m. The debt as of 2005 was £540m meaning that just £29m has been paid off the balance in 16 years.
There are benefits for larger companies to hold debt but it has cost the club £828m+ alone to service the debt since 05.
The debt at United currently stands at £511m. The debt as of 2005 was £540m meaning that just £29m has been paid off the balance in 16 years.
There are benefits for larger companies to hold debt but it has cost the club £828m+ alone to service the debt since 05.
That debt won’t be going anywhere any time soon.
There have been points where the debt has crippled Manchester United - see 2009 - but it’s a huge figure that lurks in the background that is a constant concern if not managed correctly.
There have been points where the debt has crippled Manchester United - see 2009 - but it’s a huge figure that lurks in the background that is a constant concern if not managed correctly.
Given the sheer volume of the debt outstanding and the on-going payments limiting what the club can do - and more importantly for the Glazers what they can take out - I imagine they’d be happy for that to be someone else’s problem.
Rising competition.
In 2005, you only really had United & Arsenal as the ‘big hitters’ in the Premier League, with Chelsea recently acquired by Abramovich.
Plus United had a wealth of young talent (Rooney/Ronaldo) and perhaps the greatest of all-time in the dugout.
In 2005, you only really had United & Arsenal as the ‘big hitters’ in the Premier League, with Chelsea recently acquired by Abramovich.
Plus United had a wealth of young talent (Rooney/Ronaldo) and perhaps the greatest of all-time in the dugout.
Fast forward 16 years and the competition at the top has increased immensely.
City and their billions.
Chelsea and their billions.
Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal and Leicester usually there or thereabouts too.
City and their billions.
Chelsea and their billions.
Liverpool, Spurs, Arsenal and Leicester usually there or thereabouts too.
On top of those, Everton have ambitious owners with a new stadium on the horizon... or docks.
Potential new ownerships for Newcastle and Arsenal linger in the background too.
The point is that the aim of the owners is CL football to secure the money that comes with it.
Potential new ownerships for Newcastle and Arsenal linger in the background too.
The point is that the aim of the owners is CL football to secure the money that comes with it.
It won’t get any easier to qualify for the Champions League in the next few years and United will need consistent, sound investment to make that a reality.
United need investment to challenge but they’ll also need substantial investment just to keep up.
United need investment to challenge but they’ll also need substantial investment just to keep up.
Investment that the Glazers may not be prepared to sanction, especially in a post-pandemic world and the mis-investment at the club over the past decade, which of course they are partly responsible for too.
If the CL money dries up and sponsorships take a hit, that’s a huge blow to the Glazers in the only way they feel it - financially.
And despite what an investment banker once said, playing performance does impact finances.
The investment needed may outweigh their gains.
And despite what an investment banker once said, playing performance does impact finances.
The investment needed may outweigh their gains.
The Super League.
A breakaway league in some capacity has always been a key component in the Glazers’ long-term plan at the club. The guaranteed income that it would bring each season would eclipse qualifying for the CL and there would be no risk.
A breakaway league in some capacity has always been a key component in the Glazers’ long-term plan at the club. The guaranteed income that it would bring each season would eclipse qualifying for the CL and there would be no risk.
It’s fair to say that those plans have been scuppered. They may try again in the future but after the last couple of weeks, any plans from these same people who tried to take our game away will be dead in the water.
I’d go as far as saying that the Super League itself is enough reason for them to call it a day - it was that big of a deal for them.
Add that to a pandemic & stagnating revenues and there may never be a better time for them to sell.
Add that to a pandemic & stagnating revenues and there may never be a better time for them to sell.
There are other things, such as the 50+1 legislation that could be enforced, potential sponsorships and TV deals being worth less to the club and genuine fan unrest which could all contribute.
The main takeaway from this thread is that there may never be a better time to drive the Glazers out of our football club.
Hit them in the pocket. Don’t buy merchandise. Buy a retro shirt on eBay instead of the new kits. Boycott the companies who sponsor the club.
Hit them in the pocket. Don’t buy merchandise. Buy a retro shirt on eBay instead of the new kits. Boycott the companies who sponsor the club.
Don’t renew your season ticket for next season, cancel MUTV - don’t do anything to benefit the club financially.
Protest. Online and offline. Make your feelings heard - to the club and the sponsors. Sign the 50+1 petition.
Wherever you are in the world, you can play your part.
Protest. Online and offline. Make your feelings heard - to the club and the sponsors. Sign the 50+1 petition.
Wherever you are in the world, you can play your part.
Support the team. Back the players and the manager.
We will never get a better chance to rid ourselves of the leeches that have plagued our club for 16 years.
Do your bit.
#GlazersOut #GetOutGlazers
We will never get a better chance to rid ourselves of the leeches that have plagued our club for 16 years.
Do your bit.
#GlazersOut #GetOutGlazers
Link to petition. Please sign. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/583310
