18 Jun 2022 22:22:52
So Mr Arnold's talk with the fans touched on needing investment and investors to maybe help improve facilities and get the cash to do so.

This is not far off what I was told a while ago that the glazers are looking for investors but I was never told if it was for the club or not.

Maybe my American freinds do have some information from time to time.

1.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 00:38:10
Hi Big V
Yes it was telling about the need for new investors needed. The Glazers may be asset rich but cash poor. They bought us on the never never after all. With the overall value of United coming down, need to invest in squad and infrastructure, and not least fan backlash continuing, surely there has to be a pinch point soon where selling is a better option. We can only hope. There won’t be any extensive rebuild or new stadium until we have new owners.

2.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 01:10:20
They wouldn't need investors to help imorove the facilities if they stopped taking money put the club and used it to upgrade a dieing stadium.

3.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 01:59:57
If that's what he said then I Think that's just platitudinous rubbish. They have two ways to raise money, either by selling stock or getting a loan - assuming they aren't going to put some money into the club themselves. Investors want a pay back. The question, as always. is what's the price.

The club already has a net debt of $600m. The mooted ground improvements are apparently around c$250m. Unless they can generate a positive cash flow through revenues or player sales that money will have to be borrowed. And then there's player acquisitions. If we don't have anyone we can sell to raise funds, then that too will have to be financed by loans or stage payments.

The stock price of $11.45 values the club at $1.87bn. Raising capital through the markets either by selling their own existing shares or issuing some more would probably have to be done around that price, which is less than half of the valuation the Glazers purportedly put on the club a year or two ago. In order to raise say $500m in the markets the Glazers are going to have to dilute their interest significantly, and maybe give up some control. All of which must be a bitter pill and I don't see it happening. They might as well just sell the club.

Yes, the club needs investment. Without it, debt will probably continue to rise, especially if we do not start to experience success on the field. I think we're in a Catch-22. The club can't really afford to do what's needed - which may be why our transfer business is going to be difficult to conduct - but if it doesn't do what's needed it risks further diminution of the brand value.

All I can say is EtH better be a damn good manager because I think he's going to have to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear after a transfer window that is quite likely to disappoint.

4.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 07:20:14
Years have financial neglect have had a lasting effect on the club, I think only now we are actually seeing that Man United aren’t this cash rich untouchable club that we all naturally perceive. I think things are probably coming to a head, and if we don’t have the window we hope I can see it been another long season. Sorry to be negative, but the squad we have is not good enough and that’s a clear fact. We need minimum 6 players in this window in my opinion.

Time to dig out the green and yellow flares again……

And just on the subject of the stadium, surely a 10 year sponsorship deal covers the bulk of the upgrade?

5.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 08:17:10
Totally agree with the posts above. I mentioned few days ago regarding the share price which has plummeted to half what it was 12 months ago. I also noted the ridiculous debt which is at an all-time high. If you take the above two factors, and couple them with an aging and neglected stadium and a poor playing squad with the highest wage bill of any club in the PL, then we begin to see the massive and overwhelming mess we're in.
This is going to take a very good buyer with deep pockets and plenty of time to sort out.

6.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 09:11:47
I have been posting about these problems since the leveraged buyout and on here about it for circa 12 years. The financial position the leaches have put us in is a disgrace. Nice summation by the way Shawthing. Things will not dramatically improve until we have new owners and the debt is cleared.

Talked on here a few times about debt and been derided, then told it’s manageable, despite the fact I am able to understand it better than most on here.

This has been coming, the spiral downward, watching dividends be paid out regardless, Ronaldo’s £80m plugging the hole in the accounting loss, to be replaced by Wigans cheap winger who ended up as a full back. Some of us were screaming about the owners then, the no value nonsense that SAF spouted.

Neglect is a word used by AAA and he is not wrong. A few of us went to OT in the early 70’s and saw a vibrant but crumbling stadium that saw the decline to 74. Right now we are treading water, in nearly 20 years the leaching owners have never put one cent of their own money into the club or it’s stadium. We have watched the decline of the club, the stadium in particular, yet still some come on here and pretend the owners are not an issue. They are a major issue. I have said many times, this model is leaving us with a debt which makes it much harder to borrow to improve the stadium. The debt could have been paid when selling shares off, instead it was trousered, all above board, but gone outside the club.

We need new owners desperately and start again from there.

7.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 09:21:14
It was simply an announcement to the fans not to jeopardise any commercial sponsorship deals with their protests or boycott.

8.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 10:16:45
Im maybe clutching at straws but the one chink of light is as we ve seen with Chelsea recently is there do seem to be buyers out there -of course no sign of the Glazers selling but I think we are getting closer.

The ground, the trainign facilities and squad investment is going to take a minimum 500 mill . i did say minimum. do the Glazers have the stomach for that seeing as we are unlikely to trouble the top 4 for a few seasoons never mind the PL or CL trophies . I doubt it .

On top of all that if you think the cost of living crisis, fuel etc etc is bad here its just as bad if not worse in USA right now. I still think overall we are a more atractive option to buyers than Chelsea were -taking our commercial power, history, global fanbase etc etc.

9.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 11:21:29
I also find it incredible that the Chief Exec of a major company is having such an open chat with unknown people at his local pub. That doesn’t seem professional to me.

10.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 12:01:25
Jeez can't do right for doing wrong.
Engage with the fans be humble. Or stay aloof don't mix with fans?
Redman I'm sure you know that he did not divulge any strategic or sensitive / private info.
Really I am not surprised that he can do no right. He is only in the job 5 minutes.

11.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 12:56:29
Ken

Would you be happy if your CEO was sat in the pub slagging off what had gone on, telling the world we need investment to progress, just to try to show he was down with the boys? Yes have a private off the record chat is part of life but to have it to a group in a pub where someone could film it doesn’t seem a good approach.

12.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 13:18:52
Well said Red Man ???.

13.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 14:11:40
Red Man, it was meant to be off the record, except one of the clowns was secretly recording it.

14.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 14:29:42
Slagging off? Have you listened to the full recording redman or are you doing a shappy and guessing and filling in blanks based on your bias assumptions?

15.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 15:16:35
I think its a breath of fresh air what he did,

Fans pay a lot of money to support the club and a little interaction is good.

He didn't give to much away, and he answered the questions being asked

He could have been stale and not talked to them, the he would be getting blasted for not caring about the fans.

Hats off to him in my opinion

Shame the glazers don't engage.

16.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 15:19:13
Red Man, as you rightly say, these days, anyone could be recording the conversation. So, it really shouldn't have happened and it shows unprofessionalism on Arnold's part, though, I have to say, he came across as being quite honest, but who knows!

The worrying thing is that he knows that investment in squad, ground, training facilities are required. But, nothing seems to happen as our owners lack the funds or the enthusiasm to do any of these.

17.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 15:24:24
I thought it was refreshing to see him willing to engage with the fans. He seemed to be fairly honest without giving lots away.

Give him a chance, hopefully he can help fix things.

18.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 15:25:11
This no is why fans rightly aren’t engaged too much in the detail. Most have no understanding on how finances work and even fewer on how to run football clubs. Albeit I’d label that last bit on those in charge at Utd too.

Our owners may have well as bought the club with a credit card though and as Ed had pointed out on numerous occasions are not involved in the running of the club. This is the price that annoys me the most. Disinterested ownership only results on one thing - the slow decline the club which we are witnessing first hand.

19.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 15:33:54
For those slagging him off he actually met them in the pub as a selection of the 1958 were going to protest outside his house (why i don't know)

It wasnt as if fans just turned up and noticed he was there and started bombarding him.

20.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 15:38:03
Have you listened to the full recording redman?

21.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 15:41:00
AaA
Why do you think it's a worry that one of our top execs knows investment is required I would have thought that is a good thing.
Very odd that you think that's a worry.

22.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 15:43:33
Refreshing.

Can’t remember the last time I saw/ heard anyone with any clout in the club speak with such sincerity, honesty and passion.

He cares. Which is far more than most who run the club, unfortunately.

23.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 15:53:58
These fans turned up at his house and he decided to take them for a drink to talk to them. Quite refreshing to be honest. I don't think anything was said that he wouldn't say on the record, just poor form from the lad who taped it.

From the outside we often get the impression that they're all bumbling idiots, but he came across very genuine and knows the monumental task in front of him.

Some great posts above. The Galzers must have an exit plan in place for when they want to sell, who knows when that is. Hopefully the plan is to repair some of the damage on and off the pitch over the next few years. Get us back regularly into the Champions League and then they sell. Wishful thinking maybe.

24.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 17:40:27
Ken

The recording I heard stopped at what seemed short of a normal ending. Someone saying we have wasted a Billion and look at what is at the training ground, then saying we are basically in a corner when it comes to capital spending doesn’t seem to be something that should be aired like that. Major companies have press calls to reassure the finances are sound, I have been involved and know how sensitive they are about getting the exact right and positive message out there. News like that is actually pretty obvious looking at the accounts but hearing it that way may spook shareholders.

25.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 17:53:48
I may have this completely wrong but surely if the share price keeps going down could the Glazers not be forced into selling as the club devalues every day and we know there only interested in money.

26.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 18:13:00
Red man there is a 12 minuite one i think it was, the one i watched anyway.

Maybe the one you watched hasn't been shown the way it was intended.

Give the full video a watch.

27.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 18:40:50
Give the full thing a listen.
A man of your experience should not be just jumping to conclusions and assumptions.
But let's be honest you will jump on any little piece of gossip tittle tattle or negative piece of media that relates to your opinion.
We all hope they will sell they have not been successful here for years despite backing their managers with over a billion pound.
Perhaps they will look to sell soon there will be interested parties I wonder how much debt we will be in then.

28.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 19:41:23
Jesus……there’s some forceful opinions on these threads. Everyone’s entitled to their say whether it’s based on fact, fiction, or just pure fantasy. At the end of the day, folk will believe what they want to anyway.

Show respect to all.

29.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 21:35:23
There is no disrespect firemanC at all.
I was the same with ole as redman is with the owners. He was also the same with ole as it happens and we both took pelters on here for best part of 3 years.

30.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 21:53:13
Red Man, we can't complain about an ownership that's distant and doesn't entertain fan interaction, then slate the CEO when he does.

The issue now being, because of the clown recording the conversation, that they will revert to type. People like that eejit are why we can't have nice things.

31.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 22:16:46
Nou

There are ways of communicating and getting your point over. That wasn’t it.

32.) 19 Jun 2022
19 Jun 2022 22:21:11
Let’s be honest, any “fan” who thinks its a good idea to sink a few pints and then go to someone’s house to protest on a Sunday / Fathers Day does not represent me!

33.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 07:29:08
It's going to help with transfers that, first Woodward then Arnold getting fans protesting outside your home address where your wife and kids might be.

34.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 07:46:12
It’s really weird and quite sad at best, extremely sinister behaviour at worst. Arnold’s a better man than me - no way I would have engaged them in a beer.

Ultimately it’s a game - I know all some people have is their football club, and I feel sorry for Them if that’s the case, but this type of obsession can never be healthy.

35.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 07:56:18
Ken, please read my post. I said, it is worrying that he knows the club and facilities need investment BUT the owners will not invest as they lack enthusiasm and interest in the club.
It is good to know that Arnold cares and realises the problems. But all that is nothing unless the owners engage with the fans and act. But that's not going to happen.
I would love to see an interview on MUTV involving Glazers, Arnold, and a selected fan group asking questions and getting replies without any censorship. Then, we can get a meaningful interview.

36.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 08:14:45
He said the money is there for players the manager wants.

I’d give him the window and judge him on his word.

No point over analysing an opportunistic move to prevent his house being protested. I’m sure he didn’t know he was being recorded, so let time tell if he’s full of it.

Let’s see if the Galzers provide investment for the training and stadium facilities too.

37.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 08:27:44
I agree Eric, says a lot about the man that his reaction was to go and buy them and share a beer with them.
It would not have been my first thought that's for sure.

38.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 08:34:21
No point in waiting folk have their mind made up utd Road.

39.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 09:23:50
Red Man, it was either that or they go to his house. I thought he took the sting out of it this way, and handled it well. He also didn't embarrass himself or the club, by mouthing off about stuff or saying something controversial, just to try and impress these clowns.

40.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 09:51:14
Should'nt have happened, totally unprofessional and embarrassing, and typical of the complete shambles the club has been for a long time now.

41.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 10:00:11
Anyone know where I could see the full 12 min video? I just saw loads of clips.

{Ed014's Note - you sure you’re not mixing it up with the fact it was reported he met about 12 fans.

42.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 10:25:19
Bilko,

So what should he have done? I totally disagree that it’s embarrassing, have you watched it?

43.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 11:29:52
Bilko, would you want those loons turning up at your house? He could have called the police, and people would have portrayed it as an overreaction and an example of how removed the leadership is from the fan base. Dealt with in an adult manner imo. By one of the parties at least.

44.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 12:00:59
Afternoon. Been on a stag do this weekend and saw some headlines of the video being leaked. Just watched it this morning.

Now I maybe sceptical here or maybe it's the weekend still having an affect on me but early on in the video it looks to me like he has a glance at the phone which suggests he's aware of being recorded.

I thought he spoke very well actually and it was clearly an organised drink and discussion with the group rather than just spouting off to some fellas in a pub. He said what fans wanted to here, he avoided hammering the glazers directly and he tried to suggest not hitting the sponsors as it's not their fault so clearly in conscious about ruining those links.

He didn't try to stop the protests and he tried to explain how he's trying to make things better and what he wants to achieve.

I thought it was all ok personally.

45.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 12:31:31
That's right bilbo sake him.
My oh my.

46.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 14:14:19
You think that's the sort of thing that happens with the CEO at a well run club. No problem with meeting with fans but there's a time and a place and a way to do it.


If he was worried about them coming to his house he should have called the police, muppets have no business harassing people at their home, there are plenty of alternative options if they want to protest .

47.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 15:51:24
You will find plenty of stories of what CEOs have got up to or Prime ministers or King's and plenty of people in power have done in the recent past that really are disgraceful.

The guy has gone and met with some people irate at his business and bought them a drink, heard their views and expressed his. That is all. It is ridiculous to suggest he has done anything wrong.

By doing it in an informal setting without media guys briefing him he is getting an honest opinion of the fans that as the custodian of Man Utd he serves. It will be more honest than a media team setting up a fan event where the players involved will be sanitised.

He wasn't p. ed, he hasn't bought shame on the club, he was in total control and gave his opinion on topics.

Sometimes some people are going to have everything spun, any narrative involving any exec a Man Utd is going to be negative until we start winning by a lot of people. There isn't any rational thinking or unbiased assessment regarding owners and our execs right now, merely how can this be spin to support our narrative that these people do not want what is best for United.

48.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 16:02:55
Bilko, I think he showed a sense of being in touch with the fan base. Most fans are hardworking people and something as trivial as him giving the time of day and buying a round or two (I’m sure he doesn’t have to put them on the slate) is refreshing imo. We have owners who don’t give a damn about the fans, we had a arrogant tool in Woodward and for the first time in 10 years someone at a high level within the club has had a decent chat with some fans. I don’t see the issues.

49.) 20 Jun 2022
20 Jun 2022 18:14:29
Bilko, if he'd called the police, the media would have been full of it for the next lot of days, spinning an anti-Utd narrative of fans 'attacking' our CEO. Just the sort of distraction they'd love before pre-season starts. From what I've read and from talking to fans of other teams as well, it would appear most think he came out of it well.