Gary Neville has admitted he does not understand why Manchester United would raise season ticket prices if the Glazer family are not planning on being owners of the club by the start of next season.
The club was put up for sale in November after the board announced it was to “explore strategic alternatives” and last week received at least two official bids - one from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and another from Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Over the weekend, reports emerged that US hedge fund firm Elliott Investment Management, former owners of AC Milan, had also entered the race, although they're not interested in a full takeover. Some have suggested that this leaves the door open for the Glazers to stay.
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The Manchester Evening News recently reported that Avram and Joel Glazer were exploring the possibility of buying out the shares of their siblings. Meanwhile, others theorise that the current owners are undergoing a takeover process to drive up the siblings’ share price ahead of a potential sale to Elliott Investment Management.
Neville says this is the option no United fans want to see unfold and that the feeling is that the Glazer era must come to an end in the near future. Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast, he said: "I think what scares Man United fans most is the feeling this Man United ownership are running this process to drive a massive price up.
"To try to somehow establish a level which means two of them can stay in and the rest of the family that want out can be bought out by an American fund who wouldn't mind owning a minority or significant share but not the entirety of the share. That's the biggest concern.
"The whole emphasis at this moment in time from Man United fans is that this has to be the end of the Glazer ownership.” Meanwhile, Neville was bemused by United’s announcement that adult season tickets would increase by five per cent next season, the club stating that the cost of staging matches has increased by 40 per cent over the past five years.
The ex-United defender said this could be an ominous sign for the near-entirety of the fanbase which wants to see the Glazers go. Neville tweeted: “The increase in ticket prices at United is very odd!
“Why would a seller that’s leaving before the next season start to introduce something that has brought them more hate and they won’t benefit from!
"Any new buyer would most likely freeze the price in year one to stay on side with fans. It does beg the question whether they are really going! I have my doubts with actions like this one!”
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