They discuss legacy but try to steal our history

TRUE Manchester United supporters have had enough of the Glazers. Thousands of fans will be at Old Trafford today to show the strength of feeling against the American owners. The message is clear — for them to get out of our club.

We don’t accept Joel Glazer’s mealy-mouthed apology over the European Super League scheme, and they need to sell-up. Instead, we want proper fan involvement similar to the 50+1 model in Germany.

I’ve supported United for half a century and been privileged to know club legends through my work for the Manchester Munich

Memorial Foundation ( MMMF), which honours the heroes who died in the 1958 air crash.

I can see the irony that while senior figures at United have been discussing ‘legacy’ and ‘heritage’ with me, other conversations were going on behind the scenes looking to steal our history.

We’ve had Joel Glazer saying sorry about misjudging the mood and claiming they appreciate the traditions of the club. Sorry, they don’t. Otherwise, they would have spent the last 16 years engaging with supporters and finding out what Manchester United is about. But they aren’t interested in that.

Think about Sir Matt Busby, a pioneer for English football whose work established United’s name for decades. Was that worth throwing away for this franchise nonsense, exhibition games akin to t he Harlem Globetrotters?

There are some great individuals working at Manchester United, but under these owners the fans don’t

really count. The owners aren’t bothered about someone like me, who started following the club when Denis Law was a player and understands what it means. They’d prefer a ‘customer’ at Old Trafford with a GoPro camera on their head and a big bagful of merchandise at their feet.

We all know what football has become — a global enterprise in which owners see clubs as a commodity without understanding what beats in the hearts of fans. Supporting a team is the one constant in your life. Friends, husbands, wives come and go, but your football club doesn’t. The Glazers talk about rebuilding relationships with the fans, but I’m not sure they were ever there for many people.

The Super League was a tipping point. Manchester United supporters desire and deserve control over the club they love rather than money- men having all the power. That’s what today’s protest is about.