Source: Daily_Mail
Manchester United should be taken over by fans according to Keith Harris
Renowned football finance expert Keith Harris is working with disgruntled Manchester United fans to try and broker a takeover of the club that would end the mounting debt problems imposed by the Glazer family.[LNB]Harris, a United fan who has been involved in several takeovers involving Premier League clubs, claims to have spoken to several interested parties as he attempts to put together a takeover proposal to put to the Glazers.[LNB]The executive chairman of investment bank Seymour Pierce began working on the project after being contacted by members of the Manchester United Supporters Trust.[LNB] Unpopular: Many United supporters have voiced their concern over the Glazer family[LNB]'Yes, we have been approached,' Harris told the BBC's Football Focus.[LNB]'We can lend our weight to doing something for the good of United and for the goodof football - none of the takeovers that I have been involved in have involved any debt.[LNB]Harris: Has called for a takeover at Manchester United[LNB]'They've been takeovers by people who've wanted to be involved for reasons other than money.'[LNB]Harris declined to name any of the people who have approached him, identifying them only as 'The Red Knights'.[LNB]'A number of people have been to see me and I've had long chats with them,' he said.[LNB]'I know there are one or two people in senior positions in the financial services that have access to capital.[LNB]'We don't know if the Glazers can be made to listen, but there is serious intent on the part of people who have support in their hearts. The time feels right.'[LNB]United hold debts of more than £700million - debts which are growing - as a result of the Glazers highly-leveraged takeover of the club in 2005.[LNB]While nothing new, the debts have recently re-emerged as a hot-button topic among supporters after the full extent of the growing problems were revealed when the club issued £500million worth of bonds in a re-financing effort.[LNB]Harris shares the anger of his fellow United supporters.[LNB]'(The Glazers) are playing with an icon of football, one of the most respected brands in the world, and it is in danger,' he said.[LNB]'Seventy-five pence of every pound (fans) are spending is now going to the Glazers either for themselves or to pay debts.[LNB]'If these rumblings become a revolution and (fans) stop going - as difficult as it is for them not to go - and the pounds stop coming in, there is real peril.'[LNB] Heading for Wembley: United reached the Carling Cup final this week with victory over Manchester City[LNB]When asked for a comment by Football Focus, United issued a statement denying there are problems, stating that the club is 'the most profitable football club in the world'.[LNB]A spokesman for the Glazer family told the programme they have no interest in selling But Harris believes they could be persuaded if the price was right.[LNB]'It depends on the Glazers' attitude but we've got to think that their businesses in America haven't done well - nobody's businesses in America have done well - and they're probably highly geared to those businesses.[LNB]'If this is an opportunity for them to take money and go then you have to think they would listen to that.'[LNB] Ferguson orders United fans to stop 'paedophile' taunts aimed at WengerWayne Rooney could play for Real Madrid - Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger salutes in-form Manchester United striker MANCHESTER UNITED FC
