Gill defended the board's decision not to open a dialogue with groups such as the Manchester United Supporters Trust because their primary goal was to oust the Glazer family from Old Trafford. MUST and other fans groups are angry that some of United's profits are used to service the club's half a billion pound debt.
Gill insisted that the board took full account of the concerns of supporters, with whom they held three to four meetings each year, but told a House of Commons Select Committee inquiry into football governance: "We are not going to engage in structured dialogue with organisations like that. I don't think it's appropriate. They are at war with the owners."
Gill defended the foreign ownership - the Glazers are American - of Barclays Premier League clubs.
"Passport is not an issue," he said. "You can have very bad English owners, very bad British owners."
He also backed the Glazers' refusal to communicate directly with United fans, claiming they had delegated himself and manager Sir Alex Ferguson to do so.
Source: PA
Source: PA