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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Steven Railston

Manchester United fans have just won important battle in their 17-year war against the Glazers

The waves of anti-Glazer noise along Talbot Road prior to Manchester United's match against Liverpool in August were probably loud enough to hear from Castlefield, with around 10,000 fans marching to Old Trafford to increase pressure on the Glazers.

It felt like another significant moment in regard to protests against the Glazers' ownership, as the protest highlighted supporters' anger had not gone away. United's march against Liverpool in April 2021 was postponed due to a mass demonstration against the Glazers and this August's march had a similar militant feel, with anger against the Americans tangible again.

There were projectiles thrown at a coach, which had frightened children onboard, and there was some abhorrent chanting heard on that Monday afternoon, but the majority of the 10,000 were peaceful, as The 1958 supporters' group had requested.

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The 1958 organised the latest protest and they have attempted to maintain the pressure on the Glazers this season, by exploring different avenues, like cyber campaigns, that are designed to try to force United's owners to sell the club.

It was debatable whether the Glazers, who reside in Tampa Bay, Florida, would take notice of such protests, but it seems like the anti-Glazer noise has actually reached them, with their hold over the club now appearing to be coming to an end.

United said last month they were 'exploring strategic opportunities' for the club, which could include selling it, and that was a seismic announcement and something supporters have been hoping for since the Glazers became majority shareholders in 2005.

There has been a 17-year war against the Glazers and there have been small battles won against their ownership along the way, but the announcement that the club was up for sale and yesterday's news that dividends won't be taken out of United for the first time since 2016 represent the biggest victories so far, with the Americans appearing to be quickly running out of road.

The Glazers not taking their dividends is yet another indicator that their ownership is coming to an end, especially when considering they have been the only owners in the Premier League to take dividends, even during the pandemic.

In the previous financial results that were posted in September for the year up to June 30 2022, United paid £33.6million out in dividends, mostly to the Glazer family, which was up by more than £20m on the previous year, but that has stopped.

They have received no dividends this month and it's been suggested that's because they simply can't afford to. Fans claim the latest financial figures suggest the Glazers have bled the club dry and they're now at the bottom of the well, hence why they're open to a sale.

The Glazers became majority owners in 2005 through a controversial leveraged buyout and they have been worse than supporters feared when they acquired full control of the club, spending money the club has generated itself.

United fans have had enough and the club's cash flow has dramatically deteriorated, which likely explains why they're ready to part ways with what they see as their product, but what is actually what some supporters live and breathe for.

The announcement that the club is up for sale and that dividends won't be taken out for the first time since 2016 proves the different protests have been working, as supporters have seemed to play their part in hurting the commercial side of the club.

In Richard Arnold's sit down with disgruntled supporters in a pub in June, he allegedly said attacking sponsors and investors was damaging the club and that 'If you love United, you're not helping United', but the opposite might be true.

The Glazers seem to only care about one thing: profit. It's becoming increasingly difficult to make a profit at Old Trafford, with supporters maintaining the pressure on their ownership, and that's perhaps why the Glazers are closer than ever to selling the club.

There are obviously different factors that have contributed to that, like United playing in the Europa League, the market for Premier League clubs currently being inflated and the need for Old Trafford to be redeveloped, but it seems fans have played a role.

It has been a fractious and dividing 17-year war against the Glazers, with anti-Glazer supporter groups, with different ideas on how the Americans should be removed, coming and going, but if the club is sold, the fanbase should stand united again.

You'd struggle to find a United fan that doesn't want the Glazers to sell and their removal should bring supporters together.

There is light at the end of the tunnel and that's what fans have desperately hoped for.

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