http://andersred.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/the-red-issue-forum-letter-to-sir-alex.html
This letter was written by long standing United fans who post on the Red Issue Main Forum, I didn't have any part in writing it but would be happy to sign it.
I post it here in the hope that it receives a wider audience, especially today of all days when the Glazers again show their true colours with an IPO that enriches themselves and leaves the club in debt.
Dear Sir Alex,
As lifelong Manchester United fans, we are disappointed and concerned by quotes attributed to you in a recent interview. Many of us are the same fans who protested to denounce Cubic Expression back in 2005. These are the same fans who had previously offered you their unwavering support during your private dispute over Rock of Gibraltar's breeding rights, despite Cubic Expression raising some very pertinent questions. In the spirit of fairness, we would like to invite you to clarify these comments by responding to a brief summary of our concerns:
1. You suggested that ‘the majority of real fans will look at it [Glazer ownership] and see that it’s not affecting the team’. Can you clarify what constitutes a real fan?
2. With thousands of fans leaving the club in protest over the Glazer regime, do you consider these time-served reds to be less than real fans?
3. Have you personally met with any of the dissenters to determine how deep their commitment and affection for United may be?
4. What are your thoughts on an atmosphere which gets markedly worse each season as more and more local, traditional fans are marginalised and alienated from the club?
5. You are also quoted in the interview as claiming ‘I’m absolutely comfortable with the Glazers situation. They’ve been great’. You are clearly aware of the opposition from the United fan base - does that not make you uncomfortable in any way?
6. What, in your view, would constitute poor owners?
7. You have repeatedly claimed to have been backed financially whenever you have requested transfer funds. Is this your only consideration when determining what represents great ownership?
8. You continued the interview by saying that, ‘the salaries, agent fees – is just getting ridiculous now’. Whilst we agree in tone, it does represent a sea change in attitude from pre Glazer transfers. Agent fees in both the Ferdinand and Rooney transfers were criticised at the time for being excessive, so why does the club now refuse to meet market conditions for the top players?
9. Do you believe Jorge Mendes’s £2.6m cut of the Bébé transfer, a full 35% of the total fee paid, represented good value?
10. With more than £250k leaving the club each day to service the Glazer debt, totalling over £500m since the takeover, is it so reprehensible for us to question your constant references to ‘value’?
Given your personal background and previous support for fan involvement we hope you take the trouble to respond to our deep concerns about both the club’s situation and the wording of the interview quoted.
Signed
Concerned Manchester United Fans
Do you fear MUFC directions under Glazers
posted on 31/7/12
Stretford_Ender85 (U10955)
Question for you from VC
comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 1 minute ago
Muud
Can you please ask SE-85 to explain whty he means by the Glazers bluff?
posted on 31/7/12
It's not Glazer's bluff. It's Fergie's bluff.
The point being that he has the power to do something and make a stand. He is an amazing position of power, more so than any manager in the world. He is basically unsackable.
He could come out and criticize the debt and threaten to walk and then they'd have to sit up and take note but he doesn't do it and it doesn't look like he ever will. I did say it was very unlikely. In his position, none of us would probably do it either.
I don't blame fergie in any of this though. He's just caught up in a mess that the Glazers caused. But if he came out against the owners, he'd be even more of a god in my eyes and many other reds too.
posted on 31/7/12
Correct me if im wrong but the glazers have a mortgage on the club(debt). This gets paid off over a collection of years..debt timeline lenghtens due to interest...in the longrun if the debt is managed correctly this must run hand in Hand with success/money over the said period. Makes sense to invest into the club. Given that this floatation is valued at 220 mil for 10%..does this represent a massive increase in the overall value of the club? It does to me. It seems crazy not to pump the money raised, into servicing the debt..unless of course they have a long term plan.
We need these businessmen out of the club..weather it is now or down the line. Ultimately these parasites will sell utd at a massive profit..
Glazers out!!
posted on 31/7/12
He could come out and criticize the debt and threaten to walk and then they'd have to sit up and take note but he doesn't do it and it doesn't look like he ever will.
................
Why would he do this? He has said he is very happy working with them.
My guess is, you want him to do this to prove your theory right, that he has been a yes man.
posted on 31/7/12
Glazers out!!
...........................
While this is a grat sentiment, and will please a lot of people, what would be your stance if we then get owners who are worse, and who interfere in team matters.
posted on 31/7/12
Alot of very well put and well thought out points in that letter, but why it`s addressed to Sir Alex i do not know! He`s an employee, albeit a long standing and extremely influential one, the same as everyone else apart from the glazer family!
What can he do? Threaten to quit? He`s off in the next five years maximum anyway.
posted on 31/7/12
Vidichin
just trying to explain that the glazers have a plan. Im not anti Glazer at all the pardon my sarcasm. Once the model is set up the debt could be managed quite attainably . I would much rather a Glazer than a dictator.
Realistically the Americans are clever but they are harming the natural fibre of the club...who will own what part or percent of the club come the inevitable re selling again to maximize profit on their investment. This is business sure..but the more Manchester united /glazers delve into this way of servicing debt ..the more the fans will feel alienated.
posted on 31/7/12
Oh and lets hope that letter swishes on the way into fergies bin.
posted on 31/7/12
This should have happened a long time ago. The true test of those blinkered fans is this really, how can you support fergie and then hate the glazers? If they are so sure they know whats right, then they should have an opinion in line with fergie.
You know i think fergie understands what any level headed human knows; the club is owned by them and they run it as they see fit. He can either leave or stay and do his best. He certainly does not think he can change the ownership. Neither does his retiring benefit the club and more importantly him. Thre young man has a stand named after him...
posted on 31/7/12
My thoughts are; what the hell has the Rock Of Gibraltar stuff got to do with it? If fans are leaving the club then they are indeed less than real fans, what’s the point of determining the commitment and affection of dissenters?, where’s is the proof that any supposed change in atmosphere is due to so called traditional fans leaving?, what is a traditional fan?, his recent statement demonstrates that he is uncomfortable with some United fans and yet comfortable with the Glazers!, and why does the writer feet it appropriate to play the Guilt Card in trying to gain a response?
In my opinion this is a very poor statement which, by the way it’s written, appears to originate from a rather uneducated and non-credible source; I’d expect my 12 year old daughter to do better!!!