That this House recognises the fears of traditional Manchester United supporters regarding the take-over of the club by Mr Malcolm Glazer; notes that under previous boards of directors Manchester United was converted into a publicly quoted limited company with a global brand name which enriched previous owners and shareholders; further notes that corporate involvement was actively encouraged and that the football side of the club was used to generate vast profits from other business activities such as the sale of replica kits; further notes that previous owners showed scant regard for the wider interests of football by consistently opposing proposals for a more equal share out of television money and that Manchester United led the successful fight to abolish the share out of home gate receipts with visiting clubs, thereby promoting greater inequality; records that Manchester United supported moves to end the collectively-negotiated television deal which would cause further inequality and uncompetitiveness within the Premier League and supported, within the elite G16 group of European clubs, proposals to set up a European League with no regard for the consequences on domestic football; and reminds the people complaining about the current take-over that under Malcolm Edwards and previous boards of directors Manchester United set out to be just as interested in making profits rather than upholding the glorious traditions of the Busby Babes, Best, Charlton and Law.

That this House recognises the fears of traditional Manchester United supporters regarding the take-over of the club by Mr Malcolm Glazer; notes that under previous boards of directors Manchester United was converted into a publicly quoted limited company with a global brand name which enriched previous owners and shareholders; further...

That this House notes the renewed attempt to take over Manchester United PLC by Malcolm Glazer and his company Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football franchise; recognises that senior players, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand, have spoken out against the bid; recalls that the overwhelming majority of Manchester United supporters oppose the bid; believes that any takeover designed to transform the club into a private company would be against the interests of supporters and football; considers that profit increases in ticket and merchandise prices in order to increase shareholder return would conflict with the club's wider obligations; accepts that football clubs differ from other trading companies in owing real accountability to their customers, the supporters; calls upon the Premier League and the football authorities to use the powers that they have to ensure that full information about the benefits and disbenefits of this bid to football in general and Manchester United in particular be placed in the public domain; is aware that bankers, N M Rothschild, are backing this bid; calls on them to issue a statement explaining how they intend to measure support for this takeover from football supporters in line with statements that that is their intention; and reiterates its request to the Department of Trade and Industry to take steps to regulate any takeover on public interest grounds.

That this House notes the renewed attempt to take over Manchester United PLC by Malcolm Glazer and his company Tampa Bay Buccaneers American football franchise; recognises that senior players, Ryan Giggs and Rio Ferdinand, have spoken out against the bid; recalls that the overwhelming majority of Manchester United supporters oppose...