‘Scam’ claim laughable, says United fans’ group
SU officials insist they are ready to combat any dirty tricks campaign.
They claim to have received an e-mail from a prominent member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers UK supporters’ club which suggested stories were circulating that ‘unsuspecting United fans had been scammed out of money by Shareholders United’.
“This desperate threat of a dirty tricks smear campaign is laughable,” said SU spokesmen Oliver Houston.
“SU is an open, democratic, respectable organisation with 22,000 committed and active members and we are backed by a number of highly regarded individuals and institutions.
“We have nothing to hide. If people would like to make these allegations in public, let’s hear them.”
It is the latest development in what could turn into an increasingly nasty battle for ownership of the Old Trafford club should Glazer decide to formalise his £800million bid plans.
The 76-year-old American is currently carrying out due diligence after being granted limited access to club accounts, and will then consult with bankers JP Morgan and NM Rothschild before making his next move.
It is widely anticipated he will lodge a bid over the next couple of weeks, which will turn ‘hostile’ unless there are substantial alterations from the proposals Red Devils’ chief executive David Gill described as “aggressive and damaging.”
Meanwhile, Tim Howard has claimed it would be “cowardice” to abandon his battle to reclaim the number one goalkeeping position at Manchester United.
The American has not made a Premiership appearance since the September 11 draw against Bolton, losing his place following a blunder in the following week’s Champions League clash with Lyon.
Though Howard has kept six clean sheets in his eight cup outings since, he was heavily criticised for Damien Duff’s bizarre Carling Cup semi-final winner at Old Trafford last month.
First-team rival Roy Carroll was handed the starting berth for the FA Cup fourth-round win over Middlesbrough.
Even if the 25-year-old US international reclaims his place in the last-16 encounter against Everton at Goodison Park this weekend, Howard knows he will be back on the bench for next Wednesday’s eagerly-anticipated visit of Serie A giants AC Milan.
The situation represents a substantial downturn in fortunes for a man earmarked as the most plausible successor to Peter Schmeichel after a series of inspirational performances immediately after his arrival from Major League Soccer in 2003.
But Howard is refusing to get downcast and insists that he is still confident of forcing his way back into Alex Ferguson’s first choice line-up.
“I am frustrated that I am not playing,” he admitted.
“If you are not playing and you are enjoying it, there is something wrong with you.
“I suppose it would be easy to leave but that would be cowardice.”
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