United fans to turn up heat on Vodafone

MANCHESTER UNITED fans have vowed to step up the pressure on Vodafone after the mobile phone company refused to reconsider their shirt sponsorship deal with Malcolm Glazer’s new Old Trafford hierarchy.

Fans still angry with the American billionaire’s takeover picketed the company’s annual general meeting in London yesterday, distributing leaflets asking the shareholders to ‘Hang Up on Glazer’.

However, their pleas fell on deaf ears yesterday with the Vodafone chairman Lord MacLaurin and chief marketing officer Peter Bamford both dismissing their demands.

“As the chairman has commented we review our sponsorships on a regular basis.

“We get involved in sponsorships because we believe they are a benefit to us,” Bamford told shareholders.

“We see no reason why our sponsorship of Manchester United will stop benefiting us.

“The number of cancellations due to the takeover at Manchester United is very, very small and it has been a tiny loss.”

However, Oliver Houston, vice-chairman of the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, promised to step up the campaign against the mobile phone operator with protests being launched around the country as the new Premiership season approached.