Manchester United call emergency fans' forum meeting

Manchester United have called an emergency fans' forum for Friday following their fleeting involvement in the Super League.

Ten United supporters have been invited onto an 11am call on Friday as the club wants to 'hear their thoughts' after the forced withdrawal from the Super League.

United announced their intended participation in the Super League two days after their latest fans' forum, when there was no mention of the breakaway concept.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward did not dial into the forum, having spoken on the previous call in November. The April 16 call was hosted by director of communications Charlie Brooks and chief operating officer Collette Roche, while managing director Richard Arnold was described as 'unusually quiet'.

Woodward fell on his sword over the Super League fiasco and resigned as executive vice-chairman last Tuesday. It is unclear if he will speak on Friday's call or if the co-chairman Joel Glazer will directly engage with supporters for the first time during his family's 16-year ownership of United.

During the November fans' forum, United fans were reassured by Woodward the club would 'keep matchgoing fans firmly in the centre of thoughts' over possible changes to European club competition. A source present on that call has confirmed to the MEN fans were not consulted on United's involvement in the Super League whatsoever.

United withdrew from the Super League within 48 hours of confirming their participation but the fallout continues to spread, with a protest against the Glazer family's ownership planned to take place at Old Trafford before the Liverpool game on Sunday.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to anti-Glazer plane banner at Elland Road

Last week, around 20 fans protested at United's Carrington training complex, where they engaged with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Although Solskjaer insisted Joel Glazer 'loves' the club, his conversation with the supporters was amicable and they left the site peacefully.

On Saturday, 1,000 United fans protested against the Glazers on the Old Trafford forecourt by the Trinity statue of Sir Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George Best.