Glazers: United is not for sale

THE GLAZER family have told protesting Manchester United fans they are wasting their breath calling for the club to be sold.

Speculation has grown since the turn of the year about an offer from the Red Knights group aimed at seizing control of the debt-laden Old Trafford outfit.

The Glazers have maintained silence on the issue up to now, despite the growing presence of the green and gold campaign launched by fans in January.

But the American owners have now finally made their feelings public, dismissing talk of a sale out of hand.

A United statement said: "The board noted recent press speculation regarding a possible bid for Manchester United.

"The owners remain fully committed to their long-term ownership of the club. Manchester United is not for sale and the owners will not entertain any offers."

United protest will fade and die

MANCHESTER UNITED chief executive David Gill believes the green and gold movement will die out at Old Trafford.

United fans are attending games in increasing numbers decked out in the colours to protest against the way the Glazers are running the club.

But Gill insists the supporters will eventually realise the American owners are doing a good job.

The 52-year-old said: "The green and gold campaign and the momentum behind it can get a bit tiring.

"We understand people's desire to protest and I think it is a minority. It's a visible minority in the stadium.

"Would we prefer not to have the green and gold scarve? Yes.

"They have a right to protest. A lot of the fans clearly care about the club and that is a strength.

"But a lot of the other fans want to know that the team is playing attractive football, exciting Manchester United-style football, winning football.

"Who owns it is a bit irrelevant to them.

"I think that the green and gold minority will go away. A lot of people understand what it means but a lot of them don't."

Player review: Welbeck

Danny Welbeck offered fans of two clubs more glimpses of his undoubted talent in a season curtailed by a late knee injury...

Story of the season: Danny got his personal campaign underway in the Carling Cup third-round tie against Wolves in September, and wasted little time opening his goal account, scoring the winner in the 1-0 win. A week and a half later he made his only league start of the season in the 2-2 draw at Sunderland. He followed that by coming off the bench against Bolton in the next league game, and 10 days later he was back in the Carling Cup starting line-up. The fourth-round opponents were Barnsley, and again Welbeck was on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win. Next came another little milestone in his fledgling career – his Champions League debut. Danny won’t remember it too fondly, though, as United lost 1-0 at home to Besiktas, surrendering a proud home record in the process. Further starts came against Tottenham in the Carling Cup, Wolfsburg in the Champions League and Leeds in the FA Cup, as well as a couple of Premier League appearances from the bench. After the arrival of Mame Biram Diouf in January, Sir Alex allowed Danny to become his son Darren’s first acquisition for Preston. The loan move went well, with Danny notching twice in his first three games, but a knee injury in March cut short the loan deal and Danny’s season.

Finest moment: The move that led to his goal against Wolves was a masterpiece of attacking precision. Michael Carrick laid the ball into Welbeck, whose touch off to Michael Owen was returned into his path for a crisp one-two. The young marksman made no mistake with the finish, rifling the ball past Marcus Hahnemann into the right corner of the net.

What’s in store? Possibly another loan spell at Preston, where Ferguson Jnr was mighty impressed with his youthful charge, but Danny has repeatedly expressed his desire to break into regular first-team action. Once recovered from his injury, an important pre-season awaits…