Glazers defended by Fergie

Man Utd boss has no complaints with owners

Last updated: 29th July 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Glazers defended by Fergie

The Glazers: Backed by Ferguson

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Sir Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to the Glazer family and insisted criticism of the Manchester United owners is unfair.

While United are the number one football club in the world on the Forbes Rich List with an estimated value of £1.18billion, the debt is over £700million.

The Glazers are unpopular with a large section of United supporters and have come under fire from the Green and Gold protest movement.

However, Ferguson has launched a stout defence of the Americans, who took full control at Old Trafford in 2005.

He says the Glazer family have looked after the club as well as can be realistically expected, and have always backed him in the transfer market.

"The debt has come through by the club being bought out by an owner. You know full well that when a business is bought it's usually bought with debt," said Ferguson.

"Because it's a football club it seems to attract a more negative reporting from the media and from the fans.

"But Manchester United football club, when it went plc, it was always going to be bought. It was inevitable.

"So when a particular family like the Glazers have bought it, it's unfair they come in for criticism because anybody could have bought it.

"I have to say they've done their job well. They support myself, the manager, they've supported the players. I've never been refused when I've asked for money for a player.

"So what can I do other than carry on the way we're doing it and the way I'm allowed to carry on, I've no complaints."

Staying on

Ferguson also declared in an interview with CNN that he intends to carry on at the helm for as long as he remains healthy.

At 68, he is heading into his 24th season at Old Trafford where he has won 11 Premier League titles and two European Cups.

The short-term aim is to wrest the crown back from Chelsea after they pipped his side at the post last season.

He said: "A lot of factors come into most important things. I'm at the right club, it's a fantastic club, it demands a challenge all the time.

"Every day, every year there's the challenge of being at the top and that helps me. I think you need good natural energy and I've been blessed with that.

"I'm very fortunate about that so I'll keep going as long as my health keeps going. The same applies to every person. I'm 68 and so far my health's been standing up.

"If I have my health I can carry on. There will be a point when I do quit but I have absolutely no idea when that is.

"I tried that a few years ago and it was an absolute disaster. Agony. My wife made me change my mind and she was dead right.

"I think she was soon fed up with me in the house. Now when the time comes I think the club should be okay."

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Comments (21)

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Shane Jones (Chelsea fan) says...

Football as a business has never looked better. It`s just a pity so many underachievers are put up with in the business and the mate system that is proving itself as thoroughly decrepit is not changing any time soon. Egos are more important than pride it seems

Posted 13:50 29th July 2010

Ashley Knott (Manchester United fan) says...

Staggering. You have to start to question whether Fergie is becoming a PR Puppet to these people. Every United fan knows we need investment. Van Der Sar has 1 season left, Giggs, Scholes and Neville cant play 50-60 games a season and Ferdinands injury problems are ongoing etc etc etc. 4000 season tickets on general sale too. Lost for words

Posted 12:57 29th July 2010

John Scott (Manchester United fan) says...

Absoute rubbish from Fergie regards the Glazers.They are the worst thing to happen to Man U.What happened to the £80m recieved for Ronaldo.No signings despite at least 3 players being in their last season.My respect for Fergie went when he accepted the knighthood.-Jack.

Posted 12:52 29th July 2010

Dennis Platt (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

If I was paid as much as Fergie is by the Glaziers then I would also think they were wonderful people. Fact is, if United have the £80million from the sale of Ronaldo why don''t they prove it? A simple statement from their accountants would do.

Posted 12:45 29th July 2010

Mike Robson (Manchester United fan) says...

If they truly do back your fergie, why are we slowly being overtaken, with the lack of investment into the team. Its not your money SAF, why are you bothered about spending the "inflated prices" if the Glazers are willing to back you?? The best players, at the end of the day, play the best football, so it is inevitable you have to pay top prices! Get over it and stump up some big money!

Posted 12:22 29th July 2010

Robert Davis (Manchester United fan) says...

Well if....... Sir Alex thinks the clubs in good hands thats enought for me.!! Lets wait and see if Glazers give Sir Alex the money for one or two Roy Keane / Robson play makers. Sale of Ronnie and 3 new home shirts of over the last few years should pay for it ..... just About, or have Glazers spent there money on another project ?????

Posted 12:22 29th July 2010

Jimmy Henchmen (Manchester United fan) says...

It will be a massive shock to the system when Sir Alex has to retire as boss. I don''t know that the club will ever be the same, but I pray the right replacement is found for the long term and not some self-centred coach ie Mourinho who will bring success in the short term but is too career motivated to stay for a long time and will move on and leave the club in a delicate situation.

Posted 12:17 29th July 2010

Chris North (Manchester United fan) says...

I can''t believe we are hearing this again!Really, ferguson must be dillusional to think we have a "capable squad" - we have been grossly overachieving for the last 3 years. I look at our midfield, and compared to a lampard or a gerrard, we have fletcher (who is good, but realistically not that talented), carrick (had a bad season but falls in the same category) and hardgreaves (would be good if he ever played. Our squad needs desperately a flair player and a compliment to rooney.hernandez looks good, but when every top team, such as manchester city,chelsea, and real madrid can instantly replace quality with more quality on the bench....i am a worried manchester fan. Our players now are simply lacking - if ferguson thinks gibson, cleverley and smalling are our like for like backups, he should really look around the market, and strengthen with more international players.....then we can see if this Glazer debt problem really has some substance.

Posted 12:04 29th July 2010

Nick Baker (Manchester United fan) says...

I''m one of the few United fans who actually believes there is some money there. I don''t think there''s a lot, we don''t have a spare 50 mill for a top player, but I think there will be some more faces before the end of the transfer window. Man City, Chelsea, Real and to a lesser extent Barca have paid over the odds for players who are not world beaters. Fergie won''t do that - berba aside!! - if funds are tight. I think he''s been told that he must spend wisely is all. If it takes 30 million to secure Milner on the strength of a reasonable season and a poor World Cup then I say keep the money!! OK we may not win much for a year or two but - Cleverly, Gibson, Hernandez, Macheda, Nani, the da Silvas, Evans, Smalling, Obertan, Welbeck, Diouf and Rooney - yes Rooney, just turned 24. Show me a club that can better that 12 youngsters and I''ll show you a club that can dominate. Giggs, Scholes and Neville will stay on as coaches - show me more experience. God, I remember when Leeds won the league in ''92, and we were 26 years without the league. Now look at us, and we''re moaning? Get a grip, you fairweather fans!

Posted 12:03 29th July 2010

Glen Siddall (Manchester United fan) says...

A legend Fergie maybe but he couldn''t be further from the fan''s if he tried at the moment.

Posted 11:44 29th July 2010

P Reynolds (Manchester United fan) says...

Long may SAF continue as our manager. Whatever our opinion is of the Glazers; we fans should remember the fantastic achievments of SAF . Our mantra is BELIEVE! and I believe we will win the PL title this season with SAF at the helm!

Posted 11:24 29th July 2010

David C (Manchester United fan) says...

i have a lot of respect for Sir Alex Ferguson but come on you cant pull the wool over the eyes of everyone the glaszer are in trouble in america alot of there bussiness have closed we where debt free now all we can afford to buy is chris smalling i have given my season ticket up becouse i dont want the Glazser to pocket it and i''m not the only one

Posted 11:17 29th July 2010

Shameer Sookun (Manchester United fan) says...

the boss of football is right, i back him all the way, he knows his stuff

Posted 10:55 29th July 2010

Mike . (Manchester United fan) says...

Yes great owners Fergie, taking a very profitable business and lumping it with nearly a Billion punds worth of debt. Stop feathering your own nest, quit with the lies before they destroy the club you help built and your legacy. Sir Matt must be turning in his grave! "Debt is the road to ruin". (David Gill August 2004)

Posted 10:49 29th July 2010

Stewart Anderson (Manchester United fan) says...

Go for it Sir Alex. With out doubt the best football manager in the world. And a Scot too!

Posted 10:46 29th July 2010

Kevin Hilton (Manchester United fan) says...

One of two things is wrong at our club, either the Glazers won''t release funds for tranfers or Fergie won''t spend. If there were no quality players available, fair enough, but there is some quality out there. I think he''s going to lose the terraces. More rubbish from Fergie! If he thinks this is the best squad we can put together right now he''s lost it! We need 3 or 4 quality players to compete at the highest level. You cannot sell players for £80M and expect not to pay over the odds for replacements. This is football.

Posted 10:28 29th July 2010

Paul P (Manchester United fan) says...

Hang your head in shame Fergie !

Posted 10:23 29th July 2010

Dan Dunleavy says...

Nice one Fergie!

Posted 10:05 29th July 2010

Ajegunma Adewunmi (Manchester United fan) says...

yeah well i see sense in what ferguson has said......but we need players eg torres,schweinteinger and suarez.... they will really help.

Posted 09:59 29th July 2010

Zubair Patel (Manchester United fan) says...

Never slate your boss in public.

Posted 09:52 29th July 2010
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