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Birmingham Post
Birmingham Post
Business
Jon Robinson

Joel Glazer pledges investment in Old Trafford and training ground amid European Super League fall out

The executive co-chairman of Manchester United Joel Glazer has pledged to increase investment in Old Trafford and the club's training ground in the wake of the fall out over the proposed European Super League.

In an open letter to United's Fans' Forum, Mr Glazer also promised "to come up with an ambitious package of measures which will transform our relationship with fans and strengthen the club for the long-term".

Mr Glazer said he would personally meet the forum as soon as possible after the end of the season.

The letter comes after protests forced United's Premier League game with Liverpool to be postponed recently.

He said: "We have supported sustained investment in the team over many years, and that will continue this summer.

"We recognise that we will need to significantly increase investment in Old Trafford and our training complex to ensure that the club’s facilities remain among the best in Europe."

Mr Glazer was writing in response to a letter from Fans’ Forum members last week which called for increased consultation with fans following the controversy around the abandoned plans for a European Super League.

He reiterated his apology "for the mistakes that were made" when United agreed to join 11 other European clubs in backing the new competition, before withdrawing their support.

"I want to reassure you that my family and I care deeply about Manchester United and feel a profound sense of responsibility to protect and enhance its strength for the long-term, while respecting its values and traditions," he added.

"Our top priority is, and will always be, competing for the most important trophies, playing entertaining football with a team comprised of top-quality recruits and some of the world’s best homegrown talent. Under Ole, we feel we are absolutely on the right track."

Mr Glazer said he was "personally humbled" by the Forum members’ "heartfelt" letter explaining their anger over the Super League and made clear the club had to "become better listeners".


"I want to acknowledge the need for change, with deeper consultation with you as our main fan representative body across a range of important issues, including the competitions we play in," he said.

"We also recognise the importance of fan and football interests being embedded in key decision-making processes at every level of the club, and we are open to constructive discussions on how to reinforce that principle.

"We remain committed to working with the wider football community to make the game stronger and more sustainable over the long-term, and we will now refocus our efforts on doing this within the existing structures of UEFA and the Premier League."

Mr Glazer said the club would "willingly and openly engage" with the fan-led review of football recently announced by the UK Government, "with the aim of putting fans at the heart of the game and ensuring their interests are advanced and protected".

"We have previously engaged with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust on fan share ownership and we want to continue and accelerate those discussions, together with provisions to enhance associated fan consultation", he said.

The Fans’ Forum includes the likes of season ticket holders, members, official supporters’ clubs, family stand fans, over 65s, disabled supporters and local residents.

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