Gary Neville fears Glazer family have ‘scary plan’ to stay at Manchester United
The Americans announced in November that they were seeking ‘strategic investment’ in the club, which could range to partial stakes or a complete takeover.
The Raine Group, who are overseeing the process, received several bids last Friday after announcing a ‘soft deadline’ for interested parties to submit offers.
The most prominent offers have come from Qatari investor Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jaber Al Thani and British businessman Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
However, giant US hedge fund Elliott has offered financing to the Glazers that would allow them to remain in charge but receive the funding they need to continue as owners.
Old Trafford either requires major developement or knocking down for a new stadium, while the training ground also requires a revamp.
But despite optimism from fans over an end to the Glazers’ 17-year spell in charge, Neville says there is a fear that the Americans will remain in charge.
‘I think what scares Man Utd fans most is the feeling this Man Utd ownership are running this process to drive a massive price up to try to somehow establish a level which means two of them can stay in and the rest of the family that want out can be bought out by an American fund who wouldn’t mind owning a minority or significant share but not the entirety of the share,’ said Neville on his SkySports podcast.
‘That’s the biggest concern. The whole emphasis at this moment in time from Man Utd fans is this has to be the end of the Glazer ownership.
‘They’ve run out of money, they’ve not invested in the stadium… the fans want a new stadium, whether that’s Old Trafford refurbished or a new one rebuilt, we need new facilities. Man Utd’s stadium is behind a lot of the big [clubs] in Europe
‘I still think there is a focus that this isn’t one big charade that the Glazers are running to try to establish a value which would be for their brothers and sisters to exit and the couple that want to stay in to stay. There’s a priority at this moment in time for them to go.’
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