'United fans took their protest against Malcolm Glazer's planned takeover to the club's major sponsors this afternoon - and warned the American not to waste his time inspecting the Red Devils' accounts. Supporters learned last night Glazer had been granted 'limited' due diligence even though the United board remain totally opposed to the American's £800million bid plans.
Although most accept chief executive David Gill had little option but to let Glazer advance his takeover quest in the interests of shareholders, they remain totally opposed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner and are threatening civil war if he eventually does take charge.
After a noisy demonstration outside Old Trafford on Wednesday, a 300-strong group launched peaceful `flash protests' in Manchester city centre this lunchtime, disrupting business at Nike, Vodafone, Ladbrokes, all major United sponsors, plus bankers NM Rothschild, who are advising Glazer over his bid.
'We have no particular axe to grind with any of United's commercial partners but this is the kind of thing that will happen in order to get them to put pressure on the club,' said Jules Spencer, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association. 'Our message to Malcolm Glazer is that there is no point him even bothering to look at United's accounts because they will only tell him what current revenues are. If he gained control of Manchester United, the income would look vastly different because we would urge all fans not to buy any product from which the club could make money.'
While Glazer might dismiss the statement as bluster, it provides further confirmation of supporters' determination to keep him out and could help persuade bankers JP Morgan not to back a bid that appeared to have a very large hole blown in it last night.'