sport news Richard Arnold told Manchester United's latest fans' forum that fans will ... trends now
The 'integral' role of supporters to the success of Manchester United will be stressed to new prospective owners and investors, Richard Arnold has said.
The Glazers are seeking to bring to an end their highly-controversial 18-year ownership of United after they put the club up for sale last year by welcoming new prospective outright buyers and investors.
The Raine Group - who oversaw the sale of Chelsea, eventually sold to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital for £2.25bn - is conducting the search for a buyer. It is reportedly hoped that this will be arranged before the end of the season.
Richard Arnold has stressed that supporters will remain an 'integral' part of the club's structure moving forward - even under new ownership
Arnold, Manchester United's chief executive, told the fans' forum last month that his commitment to the increase in fan engagement since the breakdown of the planned Super League breakaway will not waiver under new ownership.
'What’s clear is that fans will be integral to the success of Manchester United under any ownership model, and we see this body as an important part of the club’s governance structure irrespective of what happens with the strategic review.
'Certainly, we will be advising any prospective new investors on the value of the fan engagement processes we have built in recent years, and recommending that they continue to be strengthened,' he said.
Arnold has sought to improve supporter engagement relations since the breakdown of the Super League plot
United have strived to improve fan engagement following the breakdown of the planned Super League project which involved all of the Premier League's 'top six' clubs.
That led to widespread protests, even while the United Kingdom was still in the midst of a Covid lockdown that stretched into the early spring.
United's home fixture with Liverpool that season had to be postponed owing to around 100 or so supporters breaking into the stadium and accessing the pitch.
Measures brought in since then have included the creation of a Fan Advisory Board, extensions to the fans' advisory board and a fan share scheme - which has failed to
