sport news Manchester United news: Fan group warn Apollo off buying the club citing ... trends now
A Manchester United fan group have written an open letter to the US private equity firm looking to buy shares in the club, warning them against a purchase.
Apollo have been in talks with the Red Devils owners, the Glazer family, over the prospect of buying a minority stake in the club.
Although sections of the Glazer family have been keen to sell their amid growing frustrations and protests from fans, co-owners Avram and Joe Glazer are unlikely to sell their shares and want to retain the day-to-day control of the Old Trafford outfit.
But despite the prospect of the Glazers, who have proven hugely unpopular among the United fanbase since their 2005 takeover, selling the club, United fans group BoycottGlazers have insisted the prospect of Apollo buying shares is not a welcome one.
The supporters group have written an open letter to the firm on Twitter urging them they are not welcome, citing links with the disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as well as links to fraud.
They also accuse the bid of 'trying to kill' a potential takeover from Sir Jim Ratcliffe who as Britain's richest man and a self-confessed United supporter has admitted he would be interested in buying United and is likely to be a much more popular owner for fans.
The open letter says: 'It has come to the attention of Manchester United supporters that your management group wishes to invest in our football club as the behest of the owners. Let us be blunt: much like reviled Glazer family, you are not welcome in Manchester. Do not invest.
Manchester United supporters have long been against the ownership of the Glazer family
'Thanks to boycotts and protests, the Glazer ownership is now in its death throes. You will find no profit, no return on your investment, no lucrative carve up. For as long as the Glazer family owns our football club we will not only sustain but also increase our initiatives, and continue to depress the club's revenue streams that prop up the hateful absentee owners. Supporters will no longer allow the club to be a piggy bank for unscrupulous owners, or an asset stripping exercise for notorious equity firms.
'We say 'notorious' because it has come to light that Apollo's founder Leon Black has a chequered past with disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including financial aid that sustained his sexual predation lifestyle, not to mention allegations of rape and sexual assault by Black himself. We note too that your firm has had some rather unfortunate scandals regarding fraud.
'We say this genuinely and respectfully: for the sake of your company, your subsidiaries, your assets, do not go near our club.
'If you do, the biggest sports club supporter base in the world will do everything in our power to tarnish your reputation & and ensure it is synonymous with everything you hoped the world had forgotten.'
Leon Black left the Apollo group last year, with the equity firm in talks over buying
