TWATS ON THE BOARD

The this is London website reports that the Glazer brothers have been appointed on the board at United this lunchtime.

Malcolm Glazer's sons, Joel, Avram and Bryan, have been appointed to the board of Manchester United in a major reshuffle of the Old Trafford boardroom

The Glazer family are already effectively in control of the Red Devils after increasing their shareholding in the club to 76% last month and are due to confirm their precise stake next Monday once all replies to their offer of £3 per share have been received.

It was only a matter of time before the Americans excercised their right to take a more hands-on role at United and today's announcement had been anticipated.

It is thought Joel will be his father's main representative at the club although he will be working without long-serving chairman Sir Roy Gardner, who confirmed his resignation this lunchtime.

Gardner's fellow non-executive directors Jim O'Neill and Ian Mutch have also quit, while commercial director Andy Anson has been reinstated after being voted off the board by Glazer at last year's annual general meeting.