05 Jun 2026 19:55:39
Listening to Berada's interview by Andy Mitten, it's clear he gets it. None of us know what the future has in store but we can rest assured that the new management team is working hard and professionally towards the right goals, in particular footballing excellence in keeping with the traditions of the club along with fiscal responsibility. This is not an executive team that's going to shrink away from hard decisions, as painful as they may be/already have been. It's all in pursuit of the necessary investments both to win trophies, improve the facilities and the fan experience.
The management team can't magic away the debt. That's down to the owners. The best they can do is produce profits/+ve cash flow to help reduce it. It was interesting to note a report in Bloomberg that some of the Glazer family are investigating how they can reduce or sell their stakes.
Why would they have any desire to remain as shareholders if the club is not appreciating in value and/or not paying dividends? Joel and Avram have Board roles so it's a different proposition for them. They won't want the family holdings diluted to the extent that they lose control. So you would think it would be a total sell out or nothing at all. They're already down to 49% overall, 69% of the voting stock.
Meanwhile the transfer window opens in 10 days, not before the World Cup, which is going to take 6 weeks this time around. It's hard to see how too many major transfers are going to be completed before top players start coming home. I guess we're going to be mired in a lot of speculation, most of it repetitious clickbait, until then.
06 Jun 2026 00:23:31
I think you may be a little naive there, buddy. Don't drink the cool aid.
The Glazers are going to make billions more by holding until after the stadium is built, and the club has bled as dry as possible. They will not be letting go until at least then. It would take a ridiculous offer.
European league will come at some point, Utd will only grow in value, and the fans have shown they will put up with anything.
What has Barada done that has been good? We are losing primary choices for players to rivals and other clubs. He has made more money off fans at the stadium. Might bring out an extra kit next year. Mitten will get a nice interview and some exclusives for putting out a soft glow up for Barada. That is all it was.
06 Jun 2026 02:24:02
They will be dead before a new stadium is built. Unless they get investors to come in, there is no chance a spade will be dug in the ground in the next 10 years.
06 Jun 2026 07:36:32
New name
"The best they can do is produce profits/+ve cash flow to help reduce it."
The Glazers are not reducing the debt though. Profit would let them pay dividends to themselves, potentially increasing the Net Worth of the business marginally. The debt is just sitting there. Stop kidding yourself. This is only about what the Glazers want to take out. Very likely the leeches have set Ratcliffe and hence Berrada an objective to be profitable so they can keep taking dividends.
It must have been tough for them in recent times to manage the upkeep of the mansions and yachts they have bought on the back of a northern working people's football club without precious millions in dividends. They even had to sell shares to keep going.
Do you think taking millions in dividends helps us?
06 Jun 2026 13:05:49
I'm no fan of the Glazers, and haven't been since day one. I've not had a nice thing to say about them. The LBO was an abomination and should never have been allowed. Their appointment and retention of Woodward was a disaster for the club. I'm no fan of Ratcliffe either.
The only naivete here is being shown by those who think investors should not be in it to make money, and resent them when they do. United is a public company. Why would I, you, or an institutional investor buy shares without the hope that they would appreciate in value and/or pay dividends? Any other reason is a vanity, whether it's one share or the whole club.
What I'm concerned about as a fan is the quality of the executives, who, as I wrote, have limited control over the level of debt, but have the responsibility for the product on the pitch. If Berada and his team get us back to competing seriously for and winning titles, and, preferably, playing exciting football on the way, it will not concern me one jot if the owners make out like banshees. As of now it's not Berada's fault if our lack of profitability and existing debt prevents us from spending £100m+ on individual players.
07 Jun 2026 00:22:43
Spot on, newname.
As a fan, I am really only concerned with how the team performs on a football pitch.
Two caveats, though...... I find it offensive and upsetting when loyal members of staff, who have worked at the club (sometimes for many years), are sacked whilst huge dividends are paid out and under performing players still get mega salaries.
Secondly, I hate that us working class fans are being asked ever increasing amounts for tickets to matches, and being priced out of attending.