Source: Team_Talk
No restrictions on spending - Gill
David Gill has described Manchester United's 'green and gold' faction as "a minority" and assured fans Sir Alex Ferguson has money to spend.[LNB] Manchester United chief executive David Gill says there are no restrictions on Sir Alex Ferguson in the transfer market.[LNB]The club endured a troubled season off the pitch with many supporters joining the green and gold campaign criticising the approach of the Glazers, who own the club.[LNB]United sold Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid for £80million last summer but spent only around a quarter of that on the likes of Antonio Valencia and Gabriel Obertan, failing to satisfy the supporters' thirst for a big-name signing.[LNB]Gill though, speaking in an interview with The Independent, described that green and gold campaign as "a minority", and says Ferguson does have plenty of cash to spend.[LNB]The chief executive said: "The money is there. People say Alex is saying that because he has to. Anyone who knows Alex Ferguson knows he wouldn't say that if he didn't mean what he said. The money is definitely there. The results for the quarter ending 31 March (released today) will show the figures are about £95million cash."[LNB]Many people see United as second-class citizens now in the transfer market behind the likes of neighbours City and Real Madrid.[LNB]But Gill added: "We are not in a situation whereby Alex is restricted in what he wants to do with the club and his modus operandi as a manager. We have never said: 'You can't do that, we have to pay interest (on the debt).'[LNB]" I can look you in the eye and say that. He would say exactly the same thing. People don't believe it. We never said to him: "You can't go for that player because he's too much."[LNB]Regarding the green and gold protest, Gill said: "That campaign and the momentum behind that can get a bit tiring.[LNB]"We understand people's desire to protest and I think it is a minority. It's a visible minority in the stadium.[LNB]"Would we prefer not to have them [green and gold scarves]? Yes. They have a right to protest. A lot of the fans clearly care about the club and that is a strength.[LNB]"But a lot of the other fans want to know that the team is playing attractive football, exciting Manchester United-style football, winning football. Who owns it is a bit irrelevant to them.[LNB]"I think that [the green and gold] minority will go away. A lot of people understand what it means but a lot of them don't."[LNB]Gill also moved to discredit the Red Knights group that are aiming to takeover the club, saying their ambitions are doomed to failure.[LNB]"It [the Red Knights plan] is not an easy model when you get all those people to sign up," he said.[LNB]"There are different levels of investment. To then say, 'we are going to involve the fans'? It is not easy.[LNB]"I have experienced running a football club and I do firmly believe that short, sharp decision-making is what is needed. Whether you are buying a player or whatever, you need to get on and do it.[LNB]"Also the people involved [with the Red Knights] clearly have an ego about them and when people have that sort of money they want to be involved in decision-making.[LNB]"They are not going to do it just for seats in the boardroom and they are going to want to protect their investment. That's quite an interesting challenge."
