Manchester United news and links

The Faria Alam debacle has put the spotlight on chaos at the Football Association, but the game’s governing body has for years been reeling from one scandal to another, Tom Bower reveals. Can an organisation dominated by amateurs with little commercial savvy stop the rot?

The Times: MANCHESTER UNITED ticket prices are to rise by 54 per cent within five years, under plans by Malcolm Glazer, the club’s new owner, to boost club revenues to £246 million by 2010.

Ultimately, unfair as it may seem, Malcolm Glazer’s fate will not be decided by Manchester United shareholders, hooded education committees, independent supporters or Tony Lloyd, MP for Manchester Central.

Directors of Manchester United are sitting on multi-million pound rewards after they were allowed to accept long-term incentive payments by fellow members of the board.

The full horror revealed…

Marina Hyde in the Guardian

His last-gasp goal won the European Cup, but then injury nearly halted his career. Now he’s on the way back, hears Jonathan Northcroft.

Manchester United supporters are attempting to line up a set of alternative commercial deals for fans opposed to American tycoon Malcolm Glazer’s takeover, as part of a boycott of the football club’s official sponsors.

A stressed PR man (SPRM) agreed to give Small Talk “two minutes, tops” to chat to Ray Wilkins about tomorrow’s FA Cup Final. And then immediately set his clock running.

We’re just numbers to twats like Kenyon…

Stuart Brennan in the M.E.N… If I hear one more so-called Red on the telly or the radio telling me I should “wait and see” what Malcolm Glazer has to offer, the blood vessels will start to burst.

Seating plan and directions to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The Manchester United takeover reflects a deeper corporate malaise.

Winger Ryan Giggs could overtake Bobby Charlton and set a record for Manchester United appearances after signing a two-year extension to his contract.

U.S. financier Malcolm Glazer seized full control of Manchester United on Monday, raising his stake in the club to just over 75 percent as part of a 790 million pound takeover, a source close to the matter said on Monday.

Statement to the Stock Exchange

The battle is over, but the resistance begins. As the Theatre of Dreams becomes Sold Trafford, Manchester United’s irate fans will rally to defy the American carpetbagger, Malcolm Glazer.

Sir Alex Ferguson estimates Manchester United will not be able to lose more than three games next season if they are to reclaim their position as England’s top dogs.

Of all the clubs that might have risen to the challenge posed by Roman Abramovich, Manchester United looked the best placed.

Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney will be left out of England’s squad to tour the United States later this month.

Sky to show United v Southampton game

Manchester United have unveiled ambitious plans to build a “super casino” on land close to Old Trafford.

As the second-highest scorer in the Primera Liga, the Pichichi - Spain’s golden boot - is within reach.

No Ruud, Scholes back, Rossi included.

Has the most successful manager in the domestic history of English football lost it, and if he has, what is it precisely that has gone?

Success finally beckons for silverware-starved Chelsea, but can left-leaning fans march in Roman’s legion?

From the Independent
The fans seethe with resentment. The clubs play for sympathy, but those who have the resources, or the use of a bank’s, submit to the pressure from agents. The players swim along in a tide that so often seems to sweep away any sense of personal responsibility, any relationship between the amount of […]

Greg Dyke in the Independent:
Television ratings for Champions League football are struggling right across Europe, and have been declining steadily over recent years in Britain. This could well mean broadcasters paying less for the rights when the contracts come up for renewal.

David May interviewed in the Telegraph.