Gill braced for more ‘green and gold’

MANCHESTER UNITED’S chief executive David Gill admits he does not think the ‘green and gold’ protests are going to be abandoned in the coming season.

A meeting is due to be held later this week between members of the Red Knights consortium aiming to gain control at Old Trafford, even though the Glazer family have made it perfectly clear they are not interested in a sale.

The group is hoping to piggy-back on the momentum gained by the highly-visual green and gold campaign, which has attracted the support of the majority of match-going fans.

And while Gill does not think a sale to the Red Knights is either likely or a good idea, he accepts the green and gold will be back next season.

“I don’t think they will go away,” Gill said. “There is a protest movement there and a lot of people feel exercised by it and very passionate about it. That is one of the strengths of Manchester United.

“There were some comments last week that I was belittling the protest. That could not be further from the truth. We understand it and it will be there.”

Nevertheless, Gill would prefer to stare out of the directors’ box at a sea of red and white scarves rather than the colours of Newton Heath, particularly as the idea of a large group of people controlling affairs at United appears, to him, unworkable.

“My experience of being at this club for 13 years and being involved in business before that, [suggests that] having a whole group of people running Manchester United would be difficult,” he said.

Gill was speaking as United welcomed Aon on board as four-year shirt sponsorship at the club.

Aon, whose headquarters are in Chicago, have a four-year deal with the partnership coming to fruition yesterday after being announced a year ago.

“We want them to know we are here to support a great club, their club,” chief executive Greg Case said.

“Our focal point is around the club. This is the number one sport, number one brand.” he added.