Fans demand refund if Glazer bid succeeds

Manchester United supporters yesterday demanded the option of having their season ticket money refunded by the club if Malcolm Glazer's takeover bid is successful.

Manchester United supporters yesterday demanded the option of having their season ticket money refunded by the club if Malcolm Glazer's takeover bid is successful.

With feelings running high after Glazer submitted his latest set of proposals to the board on Thursday evening, fans say they intend to use every means possible to stave off the American's bid. They want assurances from the club's chief executive, David Gill, that cash paid out for season tickets - some of which are due to rise by 24 per cent - will be returned on request should Glazer's £800m move succeed.

"Whilst we remain confident and determined to see off the threat posed by Malcolm Glazer, if, by some chance, he is successful, it will be after we have already renewed our season tickets," said Jules Spencer, the chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters Association. "We are not prepared to give that man a penny of our money. We are therefore asking the club to demonstrate their commitment to supporters by allowing us, in the event of a change of ownership, to withdraw our season tickets with a full refund."

The United board are not expected to respond to Glazer's proposals until the end of next week at the earliest. It is believed the American's proposals are only slightly different from the ones he submitted in February prior to due diligence, since when United announced a sizeable drop in half-year profits, although Glazer's offer of 300 pence per share still remains.

After peaking at 281p yesterday morning, United's share price dropped to 270p by midday reflecting City scepticism that the bid would actually succeed.

* Brian McClair is to take over as the head of United's academy next year. The former Scotland international, who made 468 appearances over 11 years as a player for United, will replace the long-serving Les Kershaw, who is to retire at the end of next season.