Fans unhappy with United share base

Manchester United supporters do not believe it is "particularly healthy" that 75 per cent of the club is in the hands of only…

Manchester United supporters do not believe it is "particularly healthy" that 75 per cent of the club is in the hands of only 1 per cent of investors.

Reports this morning claim that the Premiership champions could be the next club to be targeted for takeover by a Russian businessman.

The Daily Expressand Daily Starsay a "mystery Russian bidder" is planning a move for United and that the club could be sold for £500million.

Last week there were unsubstantiated claims that Irish billionaires John Magnier and JP McManus might be ready to offload their shareholding.

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Mr Oliver Houston, spokesman for Shareholders United (SU), the organisation set up to oppose BSkyB's takeover bid in 1999, told the Press Association at the time: "If they are going to sell I would urge them to think of the long-term interests of the club rather than just pure profit.

"We think of Shareholders United as the natural guardians of Manchester United's 125-year history and while the possibility of fans on their own being able to find the money to purchase such a significant stake in the club [is unlikely], once we have spoken to our brokers and bankers and friends in the Manchester business community, you never know what might be achieved."

Houston added: "At the moment 99 per cent of Manchester United's 35,000 shareholders are small investors but 75 per cent of the club is held by the other 1 per cent.

"We have never thought that was a particularly healthy situation.

"We would much prefer to see shares in some form of football community model with people holding small blocks rather than huge chunks, which is the situation we have now."

PA