Club Sale | It’s done!

[Utd7]

There are some great tidbits in the Financial Times reporting:

•Having sway over football decisions through controlling the committee was Ratcliffe’s “price for investing”, according to one person familiar with the matter.

•Austrian entrepreneur Toto Wolff, who co-owns the Mercedes team, said that Ratcliffe was a “sparring partner” but one who would “put every resource behind” a team to achieve its objectives. They both “hate” bureaucracy.

•Should the deal go ahead, United has also discussed raising fresh funds to plough into the club, according to two people familiar with the matter.

•But the more imminent prospect of Ratcliffe buying a minority stake raises questions over how the arrangements will work when a decision, such as whether to improve the stadium or the club’s Carrington training centre, cuts across both the football and commercial operations.

•Despite his credentials as a life-long fan, Ratcliffe is not expected to be a constant presence at United, according to people who know him. When not at home in Monaco, he regularly embarks on lengthy trips to remote corners of the globe.

•Brailsford is set to have the most involvement in the day-to-day oversight of United’s sporting operations, according to people with knowledge of Ratcliffe’s plans

 

[stevoc]

There will be Sancho money to spend

Yeah hopefully we can find someone decent for £5m.

 

[RedDevil@84]

25% with footballing control likely means they have to restructure the shares. It's probably going to take a while to thrash that out.

Ratcliffe wouldn't give 25% with these key details still needing to be thrashed out. This isn't a handshake in a pub.

 

[Pexbo]

.

The fact is that everything will still require sign off by Joel and Avram so Ratcliffe and Ratcliffe’s men will be hampered by exactly the same issues Murtough and his ilk have had before.

I am sure he will have a lot more say than Murtough and there will be something in place regarding who signs what off. Be pretty stupid to pay all that money for sporting control and allow Joel/Avram to overrule anything and everyone.

So despite retaining majority control of the club, despite having their own capital still at stake they’re going to have a complete personality change and put all their faith in people they did not personal hire to spend hundreds of millions of the company they own’s money?

Would you like to buy a bridge?

You really think JIM would spend 1.8 bil for sporting control if he thinks it meant he'd have no sporting control?

I get not trusting the Glazers but it simply would make no sense for Ineos as a company. And they are much more business savy than the Glazers.

Yeah, they will. It will be probably the first thing in the contract.

Also, are transfer funds really that much of a problem? We spent loads of money in the last 10 years. They weren't really shy in giving transfer and salary funds. The problem is how were those funds spent, transfer fees given by our incompetent directors, salary given to players. We had the money, we just spent it like idiots.

And crucially, our budget for the next years is already set by FFP. And it will not be huge. This brings as at the previous point, terrible management in the last 10 years.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Generally, I really have a hard time believing that the Glazers have any genuine interest in controlling United's fortunes on the football side.

Their original "plan" was to leave all that to Fergie. They didn't actually interfere with him at all, beyond budget restraints. Which is why he never had a problem with them. They never fecked with his absolute authority on the football side. You can think what you will about that, Fergie's "endorsement" of the Glazers and so forth: but part and parcel of that is the fact that they didn't actually interfere with his (football based) decisions.

 

[FerociousCorgis]

just when you think it cant possibly keep being a joke, it finds a way

 

[pascell]

•Should the deal go ahead, United has also discussed raising fresh funds to plough into the club, according to two people familiar with the matter.

With regards to this point, within the article I think it means shares being floated on the stock market and INEOS would acquire them, not sure how that would work.

 

[Castia]

Glazers are going nowhere it’s so obvious. This deal will be the end of this club.

They’re finally on their knees and looking to sell and Jim has given them a fecking lifeline.

A lot of people just assume it can’t get worse than the Glazers…we’re about to be proven wrong.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Generally, I really have a hard time believing that the Glazers have any genuine interest in controlling United's fortunes on the football side.

Their original "plan" was to leave all that to Fergie. They didn't actually interfere with him at all, beyond budget restraints. Which is why he never had a problem with them. They never fecked with his absolute authority on the football side. You can think what you will about that, Fergie's "endorsement" of the Glazers and so forth: but part and parcel of that is the fact that they didn't actually interfere with his (football based) decisions.

I have seen this argument before. By this you mean that when Woodward was here, we would scout a player, have everyone from the manager to Woodward to be absolutely convinced we want him and selling club and player ready and still Glazers were doing a veto for reasons other than budget constraints?

 

[Roboc7]

You probably need to read the full article, it’s only stating what was expected. INEOS in control of sporting matters, Glazets controlling commercial.

 

[Pexbo]

You probably need to read the full article, it’s only stating what was expected. INEOS in control of sporting matters, Glazets controlling commercial.

And you think transfer budgets or signing off on £50m-£100m do not come under both commercial and sporting? Therefore it’s not possible to have 100% sporting control?

 

[RedRocket9908]

Joel Glazer will be on the committee overseeing football matters

 

[golden_blunder]

There will be Sancho money to spend

I doubt we will sell him that quick. A loan is my guess

 

[Ali Dia]

Sir Joel Glazer

 

[Rightnr]

Can’t remember who it was but I’m expecting about 5 PM apologies before tomorrow morning.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

We know the Jim brigade are only fully present to ridicule other people's reasonable doubts and questions.

I am not at all surprised the shit show will continue but I am eagerly awaiting the guy who proposed a bet on us finishing top 6 to come and give me the notional.

 

[MDFC Manager]

•Should the deal go ahead, United has also discussed raising fresh funds to plough into the club, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Ah, i was suspecting this. In a decade, we could be owned by 4-5 different entities, all having different stakes.

This is really the inflection point. After this Jim deal, i can't ever see us being owned by a single entity.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

I have seen this argument before. By this you mean that when Woodward was here, we would scout a player, have everyone from the manager to Woodward to be absolutely convinced we want him and selling club and player ready and still Glazers were doing a veto for reasons other than budget constraints?

Our entire structure after Fergie retired has been fecked up.

Your specific example isn't something I can comment on - can you back that up with quotes/sources/something credible?

In general, though, what is your stance? Do you think the Glazers fancy themselves football experts, and that they would insist on being hands-on on the football side if it's true that Jim's intention is to gain control over that side?

Specifically, do you think the Glazers (who? Avram? Joel?) would interfere and meddle with people employed by Jim (as the new 25% owner)?

 

[golden_blunder]

Joel Glazer will be on the committee overseeing football matters

So some fans want to see murtough and Fletcher go because of “jobs for the boys” and we instead will get one of Sur Jim’s boys on a crucial committee

 

[Redstain]

As feared this is solely a minority investment, the full takeover is nonsense coming from INEOS to keep fans appeased but nothing is changing in the immediate future. United will still have dividends subtracted, the team will be hampered by FFP and won't compete to sign the sought after talent. Despicable.

 

[Roboc7]

And you think transfer budgets or signing off on £50m-£100m do not come under both commercial and sporting? Therefore it’s not possible to have 100% sporting control?

And you think no one has discusses this or realised this most basic principle and agreed how it will work. Not like it’s difficult to work out what they have likely agreed upon.

 

[Remember the geese]

Joel Glazer is obviously not going to be overseeing footballing matters.

 

[MegadrivePerson]

Glazers are going nowhere it’s so obvious. This deal will be the end of this club.

They’re finally on their knees and looking to sell and Jim has given them a fecking lifeline.

A lot of people just assume it can’t get worse than the Glazers…we’re about to be proven wrong.

In what way will it be the end of the club?

 

[MDFC Manager]

As feared this is solely a minority investment, the full takeover is nonsense coming from INEOS to keep fans appeased but nothing is changing in the immediate future. United will still have dividends subtracted, the team will be hampered by FFP and won't compete to sign the sought after talent. Despicable.

Yup increasingly looking like a minority investment with no real commitment towards a full buyout

 

[Ubik]

Brailsford? Jesus god.

 

[VP89]

.

Let me explain properly, because you have clearly missed what I said.

Ratcliffe isn't going to opt for the 25% WITHOUT footballing control garunteed. But for that to be structured will take time, and he's not going to take some pub handshake to get a pass into the club in the meantime.

Its likely there's are many creative ways of structuring the shares for this model, but it doesn't get completed overnight.

 

[SmallCaine]

I hope ineos/ratcliffe are paying the Muppet babies well for the amount of cognitive dissonance they show. The FT article states glazers will have control over commercial ie financial side of utd, it also states Joel glazer will have a say in football side of business but Muppet babies are whining about the fact that the pr Ratcliffe and Ineos tried to sell about how they will takeover the football side of business is bs and being rightly called out.

 

[Redstain]

Feel like this is a strong sign that the club's demise will be worse off over the next decade. Consider the league is a far more competitive environment, the middle east are still showing interest in another league team potentially and the genuine landscape of English football is requiring traditional wealth to be ousted and it's only consortiums and financial behemoths to keep clubs competitive at the highest level United will capitulate over time. Thats not even giving consideration to the stadium investment and infrastructure.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Your specific example isn't something I can comment on - can you back that up with quotes/sources/something credible?

I am not saying it happened. I am trying to understand what you mean by greater Glazer interference after Fergie, if you are not talking about budget limits.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Joel Glazer is obviously not going to be overseeing footballing matters.

Obviously not.

(But watch some people go into meltdown based on...something.)

 

[Frank Grimes]

Joel Glazer will be on the committee overseeing football matters

Alledged drug cheat Brailsford?

Glazer still has a vetoe on footballing matters?

This is disastrous. Fans have been duped once more.

What a sorry mess the club is in.

 

[USREDEVIL]

The only reason Jassim has pulled out imo is because the Ratclffe offer is happening, re-negotiating isn’t an option as this is all they will accept.

Him pulling out just saves face so it’s not reported he got beat.

The problem in this thread is people are speaking factually when in reality none of us know what’s going on or how this will work out, I am convinced though that Ratcliffe isn’t a stupid man and will ensure he gets the terms he wants, even if it means dancing to the Glazer tune initially.

I can only speak for myself. But i was not speaking "factually" - I was talking bullocks.

 

[hobbers]

You’d have to be a naive buffoon to believe the rat or the leeches have any intention of moving to a state of full sale in any measurable timescale.

It is only minority investment and that’s all it was intended to be. Avram and Joel never wanted a full sale and Rat clearly can’t finance one.

 

[Mainoldo]

Sounds good so far. Joel has always been the guy that doesn’t understand why they get a bad rep and the one who always claims he “cares”. Not shocked to see him wanting this position even if just to stroke his ego if Jim gets it right.

Let’s just hope Brailsford can get things done a lot faster than previously. For the love of good too. Get us a new DoF and Technical director. Arnold will hopefully be shifted back to the commercial side.

 

[Woodzy]

So this is becoming less appealing by the day. Sounds like top red Jim’s involvement will be the square root of feck all while he goes swanning off on holiday all year.

 

[USREDEVIL]

The disgusting glazers had the opportunity to sell to the best owner in the bunch. They could have pocketed billions and handed the keys over to an owner who could have changed the course of United for the better. We would still hate them but would have at least said thank you on their way out. Now they are sticking the knife further in our backs. We will never forgive them.

 

[Mainoldo]

Alledged drug cheat Brailsford?

Glazer still has a vetoe on footballing matters?

This is disastrous. Fans have been duped once more.

What a sorry mess the club is in.

Explain to me how your theory works? So ETH says he wants Antony and Joel Glazers veto says?

 

[Castia]

In what way will it be the end of the club?

Because Jim won’t be in a rush for full control now he’s got footballing control. For a billion quid he’s running Manchester United he will be delighted.

The Glazers are staying, his cycling mate will be running the football side of things with Joel what could go wrong

 

[Partridge]

I doubt we will sell him that quick. A loan is my guess

Loan until end of season, with the team taking him paying half his wages would be the most probable outcome. No mandatory purchase afterward.

 

[MegadrivePerson]

Because Jim won’t be in a rush for full control now he’s got footballing control. For a billion quid he’s running Manchester United he will be delighted.

The Glazers are staying, his cycling mate will be running the football side of things with Joel what could go wrong

How is that the end of the club though?

He's not going to deliberately take the club backwards.

 

[Woodzy]

Imagine having run decision not only by Joel was already impossible to reach apparently, but now also Jim who will be fannying about somewhere in his helicopter