THUGS FOR HIRE

Last updated : 12 October 2005 By Editor

And if you've the front of Malcolm Glazer, you'll even try to get the taxpayer to foot the bill. From the Evening News:

Manchester United have paid a huge bill to the police for protecting the Glazer brothers. It follows a behind-the-scenes row between the club and Greater Manchester Police over the brothers' controversial visit to Old Trafford in June.

United bosses are believed to have told the force that Avi, Bryan and Joel Glazer - sons of Malcolm Glazer, the American tycoon who bought the club for £790m - were not going to the ground as planned.

A police squad which had been on duty at Old Trafford to protect them from anti-Glazer protesters, was stood down. But senior officers were left fuming after being told that there had been a change of heart and that the brothers had in fact arrived.

The police squad was then quickly called back as 500 protesters made their way to the ground.

Following a five-hour stand-off, the brothers were taken away from Old Trafford in police vans flanked by officers. They had been prevented from leaving the ground by fans who placed barricades across Sir Matt Busby Way.

A senior police source has told the M.E.N. that the bill for policing, believed to be for thousands of pounds, has now been paid to GMP by United. The club was billed for the time the officers spent on United property both during the day and when they were re-called during the evening.

They were also charged for the extra police officers brought in for the protests at the first few home games of the season.

All the extra bills have been paid, along with the usual bills for policing at Old Trafford on match days. Police feared serious disorder inside the ground from some fans once the season started, but they have not materialised.

United spokesman Phil Townsend admitted there had been "an exchange of views" but added: "We have a pretty good relationship with the police. We work with them 30 times a year." He said any bills from the police would have been paid promptly.

One police source told the M.E.N: "The bill has been paid. There were issues about communication at the time. They told us the Glazers weren't coming and then changed their minds. It caused a few problems for us."

It is thought United believe they acted correctly over the affair.