On the 4th June 2021, following the foreseeable fan fury at the announcement of the European Super League, it’s comically quick collapse, and multiple collective fan protests at Old Trafford; Manchester United owner Joel Glazer engaged in open discourse with the fans and fan representatives for the first time since he helped buy the club sixteen years ago.
The fans forum meeting was organised in order for pressing issues that have been festering like a maggot infested wound, regarding the club’s organisation, treatment of fans, the facilities and other factors to be discussed, arguably a decade or even more later than it should have occurred.
Whilst everything remained formal and respectful for the most part throughout the dialogue, alongside some genuinely good issues being raised and acknowledged should they be addressed, there was a rather large helping of what feels like faux emotive language and relatability from Joel Glazer, in an attempt to soften his image to United fans.
We’ll start with the positives, those being the introduction of 1,500 barrier seats in the North-eastern Quadrant, which has been something lobbied for in order to help increase the atmosphere at Old Trafford. A new ticketing system which has been devised with the input of Manchester United fans and MUST (Manchester United Supporters Trust) will be rolled out soon, and potential discussions for season ticket holders voting rights in major decisions e.g. leaving the Premier League.
Whilst some of those proposals are good steps in the right direction that’s about it. They’re steps, but for the most part, specifically regarding the season ticket holders voting rights suggestion, they are simply just proposals, promises of discussions, nothing more as of yet.
Other upgrades, improvements and proposals were mentioned such as a re-painting of the exterior of Old Trafford alongside new floodlights for both Carrington and Old Trafford. However, there was no proposal to fix the roof that’s been leaking for about a decade, no proposal to address the frankly abominable and unequal conditions regarding the facilities for the Manchester United Women’s team, and no true sense of legitimacy regarding the supposed good intent of the board to put right their wrongs of the past sixteen years and make a genuine connection with the fans.
The different stratosphere of privilege, and lack of understanding the Glazer’s have always been suspected to have regarding the fans became even more prevalent in this speech, ironically as he was trying to demonstrate relatability and positivity.
The American businessman reminisced and discussed the collective heartache of him and the fans when the team loses, along with the euphoric joy of seeing Manchester United win. Moments after he then commented on how the club offers supposedly “affordable” tickets, and has managed to keep ticket prices “in line and not out of reach for fans”, after having not raised ticket prices in over ten years.
This comment immediately highlights the still very apparent disconnect, lack of recognition and empathy for many Manchester United fans financial situation and the communities from which the fan base stems from. This club was founded by workers, this club is supported and passionately followed by workers, and £60 matchday tickets, alongside minimum (for adults) £500 season tickets, is simply extortionate, and far from being “in line and not out of reach for fans”. It doesn’t matter whether you have or haven’t raised ticket prices in the last 10 years, because for the mass majority of Manchester United fans, the lifeblood of this club we love so dearly, those prices were extortionate ten years ago and they still are now.
Whilst there have been positive talks, suggestions of progress and potential for the slightest reparation of a relationship between the fans and Joel Glazer on the surface of these comments, there is still plenty of reason to be sceptical given their track record, their recent involvement within the Super League, and even comments within this forum itself.