Manchester United bidder Thomas Zilliacus believes the Glazers’ disconnect with fans is a major reason for their unpopularity.
Zilliacus formally submitted his proposals on Friday after the Raine Group - the US bank conducting the takeover process - extended its Wednesday soft deadline for second bids.
The Finnish businessman told the Manchester Evening News that his offer was “on the same level” as those from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. On Saturday morning, the 69-year-old announced that he had further increased his bid.
READ MORE: United bidder explains unique app ownership model
Zilliacus, head of social media business novaM Group, proposes that he would own 50 per cent of the club with investing fans holding the second half and being able to vote on certain topics through a newly-designed app. This bid is being funded through XXI Century Capital investment firm, which is owned by his holding company.
Zilliacus admits that his fan-share ownership model is a novel idea for English football. He pointed out that most Scandinavian clubs require at least 51 per cent ownership from fans to prevent one owner from taking full control.
Asked on whether this system could work in England, Zilliacus told MEN Sport: “The club is nothing without the fans, the fans are the club.
“My understanding is, based on public information as I haven't been privy to detailed information yet, that the current owners [the Glazers] have not been very popular with the fans exactly for the reason - that they have not been involving the fans in the ways fans were expecting.
“If that is true, to me, that is a major issue that needs to be changed.” Many United fans have been frustrated with the lack of consistent presence of the Glazers at United since their 2005 arrival.
Avram Glazer was at Wembley to watch United lift the Carabao Cup last month, greeting Erik ten Hag and the players in what was his first game since the opening day 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
Zilliacus - a boyhood United fan - pledged that he would be present at “the vast majority of games” given he now spends most of his time in Europe having been based in Singapore in previous years. He added: “I would want to be very present.
“This is about building the club to its biggest potential. I would want to be there for every single game if possible and I think it would be, so at least the vast majority of games.”
The former HJK Helsinki chairman acknowledges that he has entered the bidding process late, revealing: “Frankly I missed that this club was for sale and was alerted to it very late in the process and that’s why I came in so late with my bid.”
When asked about why fans should trust him given his delayed submission, he responded: “That is a fair question because I am new in this. I fully understand that the fans want to know more about me before they can say whether my bid is good or not.
“But I can only say, I have been a Man United fan since I was a small kid when I first saw Manchester United play at the Olympic stadium against HJK, the team I later became chairman of.
“The players from the era, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and so on - they were my idols for myself and United was the team I always followed. So for me, it's a dream come true to be in the process that I hope ultimately will end in me becoming owner of the club.”
Zilliacus has contacted the representatives of Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe to propose a combined bid. “I want what’s best for the club, there is no ego in this,” he insisted. “I don’t only aspire to be the only owner, that’s why I’m asking to join forces for the best of the club.”
Zilliacus claims he has received a large amount of positive responses from United fans since submitting his bid, suggesting that some have even offered money to help his cause.
He continued: “The feedback from the fans has been tremendous. I’ve been contacted by a large number of fans, official fan clubs, by online sites presenting fans and so forth.
“All of them have voiced very strong support for my bid, saying that as a fan, that is exactly what they would like to see. They've offered help to do whatever needs to be done to see my bids win, they have also offered money from the fans, so a very strong response.
“But it’s not about me owning the club, it’s about me doing what is best for the club.” Zilliacus recalled his favourite memories of United games aside from their visit to Helsinki.
“What I always remember is the dramatic final, I don’t remember the year anymore, against Bayern Munich when Manchester United scored in the last minute when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winning goal and won the game.
“But also quite recently, I was quite impressed by the two games against Barcelona in the Europa League. It’s nice to see that there are not just amazing moments in the past, but right now as well.”
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