Alex Ferguson’s “load of rubbish” denial that he is supportive of the Red Knights’ bid to buy Manchester United should be viewed against the positive piece Hugh McIlvanney wrote about those behind the would-be takeover in the Sunday Times two weekends ago.
As well as being a fellow Scot, McIlvanney ghosted Fergie’s autobiography, so unless they’ve had a Roy Keane/Eamon Dunphy-type falling out it’s fair to suggest that the journalist has a fairly accurate insight into what the Knighted one might be thinking.
Indeed, when McIlvanney was presented with a ‘lifetime achievement’ accolade at last week’s British Sports Journalism Awards, SAF sent a video message of congratulations, saying “I can’t think of anyone who uses words better than Hugh.”
While the columnist reckons Ferguson’s ‘close friend’, banker and former United director Jim O’Neill and his co-investors have United’s best interests at heart (ie, getting rid of ‘Glazer & Sons’ and their debt-laden business plan), Dunphy is more sceptical, telling Bill O’Herlihy “there aren’t any philanthropists working at Goldman Sachs, at least not to my knowledge.”
The prospect of a merry band of multi-millionaire ‘fans’ pooling together and purchasing the club for £1.25bn (with the help of ‘ordinary’ fans) obviously appeals to the 130,000-strong Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, and the countless casual followers of the Red Devils’ fortunes throughout the world.
See The Munster Express newspaper for full story.
