Man United fans stage fresh protests against the Glazers ahead of their clash with Brentford… as they call for a ‘full sale only’ with Sir Jim Ratcliffe considering buying a minority stake in the Red Devils

Manchester United fans have staged more protests against the Glazers’ ownership of the club ahead of their Premier League clash with Brentford. 

The Red Devils have made their worst start to a season in 34 years following their defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford last weekend – their fourth league defeat already this term. 

Supporters have been left furious after the Glazers’ refusal to accept offers in excess of £5bn from the two interested parties, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe now considering buying a minority stake in the club, which would leave the Americans in control.

As talks of a potential takeover continues to stall, The 1958, a group who have led the campaign against the Glazers, gathered in numbers to protest outside Old Trafford before the 3pm kick-off against Brentford. 

A number of banners were out on display, one reading ‘full sale only’ and another claiming the club’s history, dignity and integrity have been ‘stolen’.

Supporters have been left furious after the Glazers’ refusal to accept offers in excess of £5bn

Fans came in numbers with banners outside Old Trafford ahead of the clash with Brentford 

Supporters also chanted ‘We love United, hate Glazers’ and ‘we want Glazers out’. 

Last November, United announced that the Glazers were willing to sell the club as part of a plan to identify ‘strategic alternatives’.

It had been hoped new owners would be in place for the summer transfer window after a deadline for final bids was set for the end of April. 

Though the Glazer family are widely disliked among United supporters, there is a split on how best to try and remove them.

Bids from Qatar and Ratcliffe have failed to be accepted with Ratcliffe now understood to be considering holding a minority stake thereby allowing the Glazers to stay in control.

It is understood that one of the options being looked at is the purchase of around 25 per cent of United’s shares.

That would likely bring in a figure close to £1.5bn for the Glazers, who paid £800m for the club in 2005 before plunging that debt onto United’s books.

While well short of a £6bn valuation, it could potentially provide much needed funds to revamp a decaying Old Trafford, although a rebuild would not be possible. It may also hand an injection of cash into a transfer kitty for manager Erik ten Hag although it would remain to be seen how such cash would be spent.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is considering holding a minority stake thereby allowing The Glazers to stay 

The 58 have stopped short of demanding a boycott of matches. It is unclear how successful that would be and protests at games also run the risk of turning violent, something organisers wish to avoid.

This past week they also called a boycott on meetings with the Glazer family.

Joel Glazer set up a fans’ advisory board after protests at Old Trafford, claiming it would help them hear supporters’ concerns.

But after a dismal start to the season on and off the pitch amidst fears The Glazers are not serious about selling the club, influential fans’ group The 1958 have issued an appeal to all United supporters to halt any dialogue with the owners.

In a statement, they claimed the advisory board which meets four times a year had been established as a ‘tool for manipulation and deception.”

The 58 have stopped short of demanding a boycott of matches. It is unclear how successful that would be and protests at games also run the risk of turning violent, something organisers wish to avoid.

The next United fans’ forum is due to take place on October 10. United trumpet the body as evidence that the owners are open to listening to supporters.

‘The objective is to increase fan input into the club’s decision-making processes and ensure that the fans’ perspective is heard at the highest levels of the club,’ United explain on their own website.