Sir Jim Ratcliffe: I want to buy Manchester United | Will make a bid for the club [Telegraph]

stw2022 said:
What do you think strangers sat in their pants talking online about this is actually doing?


Do you think after 16 years they'll turn on the radio tomorrow and ask "Are we....unpopular?" and stagger back into their crypts before deciding this unexpected revelation should lead to a quick sale?

There's been speculation three or four times a year, every year, since 2008 of a reported 'credible' interest. Every year everyone's convinced its true and turns on fans who roll their eyes and recognise its just papers capitalising on fact some fans are desperate to throw money at any publication that tells them what they want to hear

Whenever the owners are back in news there is a new, unsubstantiated rumour of a billionaire poised to buy us. Funny that. Almost as if stories are being written because they know there's an audience who will be desperate to pay to read them

Trust me the first we'll hear of a bid is when it's already happened. That's how these things work. They don't play out like a transfer saga or WWE storyline. Fans are being obviously played. And this isn't the first time either

Convincing fans the Glazer tenure may be coming to a end has been very lucrative for a very long time.
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I'd actually say that this is the first time that it's felt like there might be something to it. I've never taken any of the previous rumours seriously as it's never made sense for the Glazer's to sell (as much as we wanted them to).

This time the interest feels more believable (we know Ratcliffe made an offer for the sale of Chelsea recently), and more importantly for the first time I feel the Glazer's might be tempted. With the recent defeat of the Super League proposal that was a blow to big revenue increase any time soon. The arrival of Newcastle's owners mean it's probably going to be even more difficult to compete and finish in the CL soon, although that can be balanced out by England getting five spots from 2024. The stadium can't go much longer without serious renovation. For the first time it just feels that the value of the club may have plateaued for a while, as opposed to them being able to sit back and watch the club increase in value while they effectively do nothing. Combine that over the last couple of years with even further negativity towards them both by the fans and the media than what they had previously.

Do I think it will happen? I really don't know. But for the first time I think it's a possibility.
 
stw2022 said:
What do you think strangers sat in their pants talking online about this is actually doing?


Do you think after 16 years they'll turn on the radio tomorrow and ask "Are we....unpopular?" and stagger back into their crypts before deciding this unexpected revelation should lead to a quick sale?

There's been speculation three or four times a year, every year, since 2008 of a reported 'credible' interest. Every year everyone's convinced its true and turns on fans who roll their eyes and recognise its just papers capitalising on fact some fans are desperate to throw money at any publication that tells them what they want to hear

Whenever the owners are back in news there is a new, unsubstantiated rumour of a billionaire poised to buy us. Funny that. Almost as if stories are being written because they know there's an audience who will be desperate to pay to read them

Trust me the first we'll hear of a bid is when it's already happened. That's how these things work. They don't play out like a transfer saga or WWE storyline. Fans are being obviously played. And this isn't the first time either

Convincing fans the Glazer tenure may be coming to a end has been very lucrative for a very long time. Maybe what would help is if we bought someone's excess Green and Gold merchandise stock? Because sending someone to the Bahamas for christmas will really convince those leaches to sell
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It's a substantiated rumour though and noone expects anything to be quick. The Chelsea situation will have raised eyebrows. When the Glazers took over there was speculation that they had their eye on Spanish style individual broadcasting rights, which would've led to a huge increase in value. That obviously didn't pan out so then they got on the super league train. That got stopped by people uniting and doing something. Not by people sitting in their pants coming up with sound bites to persuade everyone that everything was hopeless. There's a viable, profitable exit available to the Glazers now so it's important they're given as much encouragement to take it as possible.

On your last point, If a few local grifters spot the opportunity to make a bit off the back of it that's a lot less offensive than what the Glazers have been doing so good luck to them.
 
Rado_N said:
In a thread about finances especially it’s galling this nonsense still gets thrown about.
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It’s called being hyperbolic for effect and I’m sorry that you might not understand that. Let’s just be happy with the Glazers and how this fanbase continues to fund them yeah? I’m sorry that you find a little hyperbolic statement more galling than the Glazers’ ruining this club. Please forgive me.
 
Ema_datsi said:
It’s called being hyperbolic for effect and I’m sorry that you might not understand that. Let’s just be happy with the Glazers and how this fanbase continues to fund them yeah? I’m sorry that you find a little hyperbolic statement more galling than the Glazers’ ruining this club. Please forgive me.
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thats a bit of a stretch :lol:
 
Drz said:
Same, particularly if he is, as claimed, a true fan of the club.
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However, we have no guarantees that he will appoint the right people, invest in the club etc. but it will be much better than the Glazers for sure
 
Escobar said:
However, we have no guarantees that he will appoint the right people, invest in the club etc. but it will be much better than the Glazers for sure
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If he doesn't take money out of the club thats ALREADY better than the Glazers.

I'm not just talking about dividends. Im talking about the interest payments to the bankers/hedge funds that have been going on for almost 20 years now. Those guys are buying yachts and mansions off our interest payments every year.

You wonder why we never pay it off? Because one hand feeds the other. We're just an "asset" that is being bled dry for their personal gain.
 
DevilRed said:
If he doesn't take money out of the club thats ALREADY better than the Glazers.

I'm not just talking about dividends. Im talking about the interest payments to the bankers/hedge funds that have been going on for almost 20 years now. Those guys are buying yachts and mansions off our interest payments every year.

You wonder why we never pay it off? Because one hand feeds the other. We're just an "asset" that is being bled dry for their personal gain.
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It is one of the worst corporate deals ever. That this deal was approved is an epic failure. Yet there was never really much pressure against them (not counting the fans now)
 
DevilRed said:
If he doesn't take money out of the club thats ALREADY better than the Glazers.

I'm not just talking about dividends. Im talking about the interest payments to the bankers/hedge funds that have been going on for almost 20 years now. Those guys are buying yachts and mansions off our interest payments every year.

You wonder why we never pay it off? Because one hand feeds the other. We're just an "asset" that is being bled dry for their personal gain.
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All very true and one more thing I've only heard whispered and never looked into that much, since my bias is certainly towards believing it.

It's not just interest payments, it's also payments to consultants for services rendered which might be a sly way of draining the club. To be able to really get to the bottom of that though, you'd need to look into the financial statements and ask around. Something the so-called journalists that cover United seem to be unable or rather unwilling to do.
 
Escobar said:
However, we have no guarantees that he will appoint the right people, invest in the club etc. but it will be much better than the Glazers for sure
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That's the billion dollar question.
It also annoys me that the Glazers would pocket so much underserved money if a sale went through, as many have pointed out they have put in a pittance into the club or arguably been making money off the venture yet stand to gain handsomely if they sell.
So anyone coming in with good intentions has to have circa 6billion to buy them out and a spare billion to invest on improving the neglected venue, which makes me wonder if we need to protest the FA to make their rules (regarding ownership and leveraged buy-out of clubs) retroactive and force our current owners out or at least not to sell at a premium given they have neglected their duties as custodians of a historic club.
 
Drz said:
That's the billion dollar question.
It also annoys me that the Glazers would pocket so much underserved money if a sale went through, as many have pointed out they have put in a pittance into the club or arguably been making money off the venture yet stand to gain handsomely if they sell.
So anyone coming in with good intentions has to have circa 6billion to buy them out and a spare billion to invest on improving the neglected venue, which makes me wonder if we need to protest the FA to make their rules (regarding ownership and leveraged buy-out of clubs) retroactive and force our current owners out or at least not to sell at a premium given they have neglected their duties as custodians of a historic club.
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They get billions by spending a few 100s. Just crazy really
 
stw2022 said:
Any buyer will want to see how stadium regeneration is financed first.
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Any buyer will finance it or have plans to do so. Relying on the Glazer rats for a plan is expecting us to complete all our signings in June.
 
We need more movement on this. Greedy Glazers not wanting to give up their asset. Next step to lump the club with more debt for a stadium upgrade, no doubt.
 
The fact that all the heat has died down in a week with a couple of wins and worse, a couple of signings, is worrying.

If ratcliffe offers even 3-4b and they don’t take it, they’re bigger fools than previously thought. The current situation, and their current ownership model (extract maximum value, contribute absolutely nothing) is unsustainable for any longer than the very immediate short term. Maybe a couple of years, thenstadium redevelopment will be critical, among other things (tv income plateauing, sponsors declining, etc). If they are so pig headed that their pride/greed stops them taking a legitimate offer now, a very real possibility of rapid decline of the club, and therefore it’s value to potential buyers, comes up in the not to distant.
 
Alonzo said:
The fact that all the heat has died down in a week with a couple of wins and worse, a couple of signings, is worrying.

If ratcliffe offers even 3-4b and they don’t take it, they’re bigger fools than previously thought. The current situation, and their current ownership model (extract maximum value, contribute absolutely nothing) is unsustainable for any longer than the very immediate short term. Maybe a couple of years, thenstadium redevelopment will be critical, among other things (tv income plateauing, sponsors declining, etc). If they are so pig headed that their pride/greed stops them taking a legitimate offer now, a very real possibility of rapid decline of the club, and therefore it’s value to potential buyers, comes up in the not to distant.
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what were you expecting to happen when we dont play matches? Away fans were singing Glazers out end of last game
 
Even at the right price, I don’t think they want to sell. It’s too greater asset for them to give up easily, far beyond their talents of actually acquiring something similar through hard work and guile.
They inherited this club from their father rather like spoilt middle class brats are given houses.
 
clarkydaz said:
what were you expecting to happen when we dont play matches? Away fans were singing Glazers out end of last game
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Not sure if you meant to sound like an asshole there or if it was a genuine q.
If there wasn’t a snide tone to that - no issue with match going fans whatsoever, they were and are always fantastic. And no issue with people being optimistic about signings. It’s *worrying*, not annoying, not evidence of bad fanbase, just worrying. Worrying because without constant pressure from the whole supporter base, it will drop out of the media, and the only times there’s been clear movement ever, has been when it’s front and centre, and white hot. That’s all. I don’t think that’s controversial, and i assume we both are praying for their removal (preferably from the face of the earth, but will settle for removal from mufc)
 
Alonzo said:
Not sure if you meant to sound like an asshole there or if it was a genuine q.
If there wasn’t a snide tone to that - no issue with match going fans whatsoever, they were and are always fantastic. And no issue with people being optimistic about signings. It’s *worrying*, not annoying, not evidence of bad fanbase, just worrying. Worrying because without constant pressure from the whole supporter base, it will drop out of the media, and the only times there’s been clear movement ever, has been when it’s front and centre, and white hot. That’s all. I don’t think that’s controversial, and i assume we both are praying for their removal (preferably from the face of the earth, but will settle for removal from mufc)
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Not meant snide but we played a game 2 days ago. You cant have it a talkingpoint in the media everyday as it gets very dull to non united people. if they do go its going to be a long, stubborn process. The only time you can expect it to gain momentum is matchday, or maybe if Ronaldo does his telltale interview and throws shade at the club
 
Gary Pallister apparently said to a mate in the pub "they need to sell" so it's definitely on. If only Clayton Blackmore spoke out we could be informing the NYSE by 17:00 tomorrow to get ready. Nev, Pally, Clay...tonny(?) also part of the consortium?
 
I like that Gary has decided to act publicly and attack the owners. Helps alleviate some of the pressure Ten Hag is under. Keeps eyes off him. Hope he continues to moan about them on Sky too.
 
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