Glazer poised to complete United ownership

Malcolm Glazer will assume total control at Manchester United tomorrow – but the American has been warned the widespread anger at his £790m takeover has not gone away.

Glazer’s Red Football group needs to have secured just another 0.3% of United shares by tomorrow's 3pm deadline to force through a compulsory purchase of remaining stock and seal 100% ownership.

Even Glazer’s fiercest critics now accept such a situation is inevitable, with the latest position being confirmed either late tomorrow evening or early Tuesday morning.

Although there has been talk of legal action and documents being lodged with the Office of Fair Trading in an effort to block the bid, they would appear to be no more than moves aimed at disrupting Glazer’s plans rather than realistically stopping them altogether.

Instead, major fans’ groups Shareholders United and the Independent Manchester United Supporters’ Association will continue to target club merchandise and sponsors products as a way of undermining Glazer’s complicated business plan.

“This is a difficult time for everyone who has Manchester United’s interests at heart,” admitted SU vice-chairman Sean Bones.

“But I want to assure all supporters we will not be going away. If anything, we are more determined than we have ever been because as each detail emerges about this man and his family, it becomes more apparent just what a danger he represents to the club.”

The creation of breakaway club FC United last week confirmed the strength of some supporters’ opposition to Glazer’s involvement, while tentative discussion has already taken place over likely action at Old Trafford this season.

Although no firm decisions have been taken, it appears inevitable a major demonstration will be held to coincide with United’s first home game of the new campaign – either a Champions League qualifier on August 10 or the Premiership encounter with Aston Villa 10 days’ later.

And, amid reports the Glazer family will fly to the Far East next month to link up with United’s high-profile four-match tour and meet manager Sir Alex Ferguson, there are also sure to be calls for supporters in Japan, China and Hong Kong join the anti-Glazer bandwagon.

“Shareholders United has members in 85 countries and many of our supporters in the Far East are already aware of the arguments and issues involved here,” said Bones.

“If Malcolm Glazer was silly enough to get himself presented on the pitch at one of our pre-season games, we would expect the reception to be equally as bad as the one he would get if he did the same thing at Old Trafford.”

Whether there is much chance of such solidarity is debatable given over 1,000 fans queued overnight to secure tickets for the opening game of United’s tour against a Hong Kong XI on July 23.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed new signing Park Ji-Sung will miss the first two weeks of United’s pre-season training schedule.

Park returned to South Korea on Friday after passing his Red Devils medical. But his £4m transfer cannot be completed until a work permit has been secured.

As an experienced international, the red tape is certain to be forced through but because he has not played 75% of his country’s matches over the past two years, the 24-year-old will have to wait a few days longer than originally anticipated.

Although he will miss next week’s trip to the Algarve, Park will be back in Manchester on July 8 and ready to head back to Asia to begin his bid for a first-team spot.

“There is pressure on me but I got confidence when I was playing at PSV and I believe I can do well in Manchester too,” he said, adding that he was not expecting to become as big a star as David Beckham, whose appearances in the Far East regularly result in him being mobbed.

“Maybe if I was as handsome as he is I could be like that,” he smiled.

“But I am always trying to be a better player, so I don’t think it is impossible to become a player like Beckham.”