Fergie tells Glazer to back off

Alex Ferguson has waded into the great Manchester United takeover debate by telling Malcolm Glazer he is not wanted at Old Trafford.

When rumours of Glazer’s planned approach for the club first surfaced, his advisors let it be known Ferguson’s position was not under threat.

Since then, the 76-year-old American has seen his plans thwarted by the club’s supporters, chief executive David Gill, and even more importantly – after he had instigated the removal of three board members at last week’s annual general meeting – bankers JP Morgan, who have withdrawn their backing.

Glazer is still believed to be touting round looking to raise the funds to complete a hostile £800million bid, but with Ferguson, who celebrates his 1000th game as manager against Lyon on Tuesday, now voicing his opposition, the American’s United dream looks doomed.

“When the plc started, there were grave doubts about it – I had them myself,” said Ferguson in the second part of an exclusive interview with the club website, www.manutd.com

“But there is definitely a better balance to it now. I think the supporters have come round to that.

“There is a stronger rapport between the club and the fans than there has ever been.

“I have always tried to be the bridge between the club and the fans and I have tried support the fans in a lot of their pleas and causes.

“Sometimes we can get too emotional as a club with things that are happening but we are both of a common denominator; we don’t want the club to be in anyone else’s hands. That is the way that the club stands with that. I support that.”

While Ferguson does not have a seat on the United board and his row with major shareholder John Magnier over record-breaking racehorse Rock of Gibraltar did cause the club embarrassment, after 18 years at the helm, the Scot’s opinions carry enormous weight.

Given the amount of debt any Glazer bid would incur, it seems almost unthinkable any bank would back the billionaire owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers knowing he could not carry Ferguson with him and the Glaswegian’s declaration could turn out to be one of the most significant he has ever made.

The arguments surrounding the club emphasise just how far it has come during Ferguson’s reign, which began in October 1986 with a 2-0 defeat to Oxford at the Manor Ground.

Since then, the Scot has delivered an incredible eight Premier League titles, five FA Cups, a League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and, most famously of all, the Champions League trophy in 1999.