United may be used in TV trial

MANCHESTER United could be the first club to be chosen for pay per view satellite television before the end of the season.

The Premier League and Rupert Murdoch's BskyB Organisation have given themselves two years to work out the structure for the controversial pay as you watch system but at Manchester United's annual meeting yesterday the club chairman, Martin Edwards, said it was likely that United could be used in a trial before this season ends.

He was answering a question from a shareholder who asked when pay per view was likely to be introduced with many fans concerned that the system could make football in Britain even accessible.

One supporter complained that he knew a shareholder who was born within a stone's throw of Old Trafford yet could not buy tickets for games these days.

Others appealed for Old Trafford to be designated with singing areas in an effort to bring back a falling atmosphere but chairman Edwards said because there were now 40,000 season ticket holders at every game it would be impossible to move everyone around to do this.

The United chairman also defended the club's position over the issuing of new strips on a regular basis.

Liverpool have had far more shirts than we have had because they keep changing their sponsors. Every football club in the country has three strips nowadays and they change them on a two year cycle.

"Liverpool have changed theirs more than anyone because of the times they have changed sponsors and each time it means three more shirts for the fans to buy."

United made profits of £15.4 million compared with £20 million the previous year but this was largely because of the building of their £28 million North Stand.

Shareholders were told that all talk about a takeover of the club should stop in case it gives someone an idea after it was revealed that a buy out bid was rejected in May.

"I am getting a bit bored about all this takeover talk," said PLC chairman Sir Roland Smith.

"We are mindful of the position Manchester United and we are also aware that we are a public company but I don't want people to continue talking about takeovers because it only gives people ideas.

"I can't guarantee anything, of course, but we won't do anything to encourage anything along those lines."

Shareholder Johnny Flacks had demanded that directors make clear the position of the club after so much speculation of a buy out.

"It is a spectre which fills me with problems," he said. "I don't want to be a shareholder in some sort of multi national company or a conglomerate."

He appealed to United's major shareholders and the institutions who have invested in the club's shares: "Remember who we are and stay with it please."