An investment bank has offered disgruntled Manchester United supporters a new means of combating Malcolm Glazer’s takeover approach, according to a report.

Scottish mining entrepreneur Harry Dobson could hold the key to Manchester United fans group Shareholders United thwarting Malcolm Glazer’s takeover bid.

MALCOLM GLAZER will spend next week trying to work out the best way to persuade Irish duo John Magnier and JP McManus to part with their 28.9% stake in Manchester United.

THE future ownership of Manchester United will be decided by Irish investors John Magnier and JP McManus following a decision by the club to let shareholders vote on Malcolm Glazer’s takeover offer.

Malcolm Glazer is ready to turn the heat on David Gill if his £800m (€1.2bn) Old Trafford takeover plans fail to earn the backing of Manchester United’s beleagured board.

MANCHESTER UNITED’S beleaguered board will take another step towards staving off the threat of a Malcolm Glazer takeover tomorrow - and upset supporters too.

Manchester United fans have warned Malcolm Glazer to forget any notion of trying to win their support for his intended Old Trafford takeover by giving them their own stake in the club.

Manchester United are heading into a 10-day period that could shape the destiny of the Old Trafford club on and off the pitch.

MANCHESTER UNITED have confirmed they will provide Malcolm Glazer with "limited due diligence" in order to advance his takeover plans - but have stated they do not believe they would be able to back his bid proposal.

SHARES in Manchester United leapt by nearly 5% yesterday following confirmation Malcolm Glazer is making a third attempt to buy the former Premier League champions.

Shares of Manchester United rose more than 4% yesterday after US financier Malcolm Glazer told the world’s richest football club he was planning an £800 million (€1.16 billion) takeover offer.

MALCOLM GLAZER has once again approached Manchester United about a possible takeover bid.

MANCHESTER United shares fell 2.5% yesterday as pressure mounted on potential bidder Malcolm Glazer to disclose his plans for the club.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has backed Manchester United supporters’ groups in their opposition to Malcolm Glazer’s attempts to buy the club – though insists he cannot use his position of power to intervene directly.

MALCOLM GLAZER stepped up his assault on Manchester United yesterday, raising his stake to almost the same level as Irish investors John Magnier and JP McManus.

Malcolm Glazer has launched his third Stock Market raid in as many days to take his stake in Manchester United to 28.11%.

MALCOLM GLAZER has increased his stake in Manchester United to 27.63%.

The Manchester United takeover saga took another twist tonight when it emerged sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer had raised his stake in the club to 25.3% at a cost of around £44m (€63m).

The London market ended the week on a low note today after investors fretted over insurance stocks and high oil prices.

Manchester United’s plc board today confirmed “no talks are currently ongoing” with Malcolm Glazer but that a takeover by the American multi-millionaire remains a “possibility”.

Manchester United fans have called on the club’s major sponsors to help ring-fence shares to stave off further takeover threats.

Fears about oil supplies kept the London market firmly in negative territory today.

Billionaire US sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer could announce a bid for Manchester United as soon as this week if the club’s largest shareholders accept his terms, it was reported today.

A REPRESENTATIVE of prospective Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer last night made official contact with the club’s major shareholders, just as Red Devils fans were stepping up their fight to block any takeover plan.

MANCHESTER UNITED fans have threatened to launch a ‘civil war’ against the club in the battle to stave off a threatened takeover by American businessman Malcolm Glazer.

Manchester United supporters have vowed to fight any takeover bid after the club’s plc board today confirmed a “preliminary approach” to the company.

Newspaper reports suggest American multi-millionaire Malcolm Glazer is poised to launch a takeover bid for Manchester United.

Manchester United have today announced a pre-tax profit of £27.9m (€41.1m) for the financial year ended July 31, 2004.

Major shareholders of Manchester United may take control of the club, the Observer newspaper reported, citing unidentified bankers.

SHARES in Manchester United fell yesterday after rumours of a possible meeting between its Irish investors JP McManus and John Magnier and the club's second-largest shareholder to discuss a potential takeover were dismissed.

News of yet another potential takeover of Manchester United has been met by anger amongst the club’s supporters.

AMERICAN football sports tycoon Malcolm Glazer’s has continued his stake building strategy in Manchester United as the owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spent stg£10.25 million to increase his stake to 18.25%.

American tycoon Malcolm Glazer has increased his shareholding in Manchester United to 18.25%.

Malcolm Glazer has increased his stake in Manchester United to 16.69% after buying one million ordinary shares.

Manchester United fans have been given permission to stage a protest against Irish tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus on Gold Cup day at Cheltenham.

MANCHESTER United has sought to dampen takeover speculation by saying it has not had any formal or informal offers for the club.

MANCHESTER United's second largest shareholder Malcolm Glazer has confirmed he may be interested in making a bid for the club.

SHARES in Manchester United hit a three-year high yesterday after it emerged that US billionaire Malcolm Glazer was considering a bid for the club.

FRENETIC trading in Manchester United shares continued yesterday with US billionaire Malcolm Glazer raising his share in the club to just over 16%.

Billionaire American businessman Malcolm Glazer has increased his stake in Manchester United less than 24 hours after John Magnier and JP McManus did the same thing, fuelling rumours of a takeover war between the two camps.

THE brinkmanship engaged in between the Coolmore Mafia and Alex Ferguson continued last night with the world’s richest club, Manchester United, and racing’s blue riband, the Cheltenham Gold Cup caught in the cross hairs.

John Magnier and JP McManus have increased their shareholding in Manchester United to 28.89%.

Sandown are not planning to lay on extra security tomorrow despite the threat of disruption by Manchester United fans angered at the involvement of owners John Magnier and JP McManus in financial in-fighting at Old Trafford.