Wenger urges fans to give Glazer a chance

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger yesterday urged panicking Manchester United supporters not to crucify Malcolm Glazer before he has even set foot in the door at Old Trafford.

Sat, 14 May, 2005 - 01:00

Hundreds of United supporters congregated outside the ground last night to protest at Glazer’s proposed £790 million takeover of the club, burning season ticket renewal forms and an effigy of the American tycoon.

Glazer has taken his stake in the club to 74.81% over the last 24 hours and officially launched a formal takeover bid that is to be funded by borrowed money. Fans, angry their club is poised to be taken from them, fear Glazer’s involvement will be its death-knell.

But just over a week before Arsenal meet United in the FA Cup final, Wenger said: “I don’t agree that Manchester United will fall apart for the simple fact that if you invest £790 million into something, do you want to destroy that capital? No. Why should he want to destroy the club? Football is at an intermediate stage where we are going from a guy who loved the club and supports it to a completely economic state where people are not linked anymore with their heart and the club.

“Don’t convict the guy who has not made one decision. He could be very good for the club.”

Malcolm Glazer’s son Joel, who is believed to be fronting the takeover bid, issued a statement yesterday claiming the family are “avid” supporters of Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Carlos Queiroz has called on football’s authorities to end the “anarchic” transfer dispute surrounding John Obi Mikel. Manchester United lodged a formal complaint with the Premier League and demanded an investigation into an increasingly bizarre saga that has led to the player accusing Old Trafford officials of bullying him into signing for the club.

The claims have been totally refuted by United, and Mikel’s Norwegian club Lyn Oslo, who insist the transfer was completed amicably by all parties a fortnight ago. United were astonished to see Mikel give a TV interview alleging he did not sign by his own free will.