Manchester United Plc

EDM number 13 in 2005-06, proposed by Roger Godsiff on 17/05/2005.

That this House recognises the fears of traditional Manchester United supporters regarding the take-over of the club by Mr Malcolm Glazer; notes that under previous boards of directors Manchester United was converted into a publicly quoted limited company with a global brand name which enriched previous owners and shareholders; further notes that corporate involvement was actively encouraged and that the football side of the club was used to generate vast profits from other business activities such as the sale of replica kits; further notes that previous owners showed scant regard for the wider interests of football by consistently opposing proposals for a more equal share out of television money and that Manchester United led the successful fight to abolish the share out of home gate receipts with visiting clubs, thereby promoting greater inequality; records that Manchester United supported moves to end the collectively-negotiated television deal which would cause further inequality and uncompetitiveness within the Premier League and supported, within the elite G16 group of European clubs, proposals to set up a European League with no regard for the consequences on domestic football; and reminds the people complaining about the current take-over that under Malcolm Edwards and previous boards of directors Manchester United set out to be just as interested in making profits rather than upholding the glorious traditions of the Busby Babes, Best, Charlton and Law.

This motion has been signed by a total of 11 MPs.