Glazer reveals Man Utd plans

Manchester United's new owners have pledged to "keep the club successful" after their first meetings with the game's leading figures.
The three sons of billionnaire Malcolm Glazer - all now on the United board - met representatives from the Premier League and Football Association.

Sports Minister Richard Caborn and Manchester United chief executive David Gill also attended the meeting.

"I hope they are reassured by our experience in sport," said Joel Glazer.

Malcolm Glazer, who owns US football team Tampa Bay Buccaneers, owns 98% of the Old Trafford club.

He has passed the thresholds where he can de-list United from the stock exchange and compulsorily purchase the five million shares not yet under his control.

But his takeover has angered many fans who fear he will raise ticket prices to pay off the large debt borrowed in order to mount the £790m deal.

And the game's governing bodies were concerned that the family might try to re-negotiate United's television deal separately from the rest of the Premiership.

Joel Glazer said: "We have had some really positive meetings. We are delighted to have met the game's leading administrators and the Sports Minister so early in our time at United and we are grateful to them all for making the time to see us.

"There's been a lot in the UK press about us in the last 18 months and this has been an invaluable chance to tell the men who run the game what the truth is."

FA chief executive Brian Barwick said: "This was the first opportunity we have had to meet with the new owners of Manchester United and we are pleased to have been able to sit down with them.

"It's important that the FA understands the objectives and future plans they have for a club of the stature of United.

"We enjoyed a very constructive meeting in which the Manchester United officials addressed the many important questions we had to ask them."

The FA, the Premier League and Caborn all wanted clarification on the Glazers' plans for United, and the parties spent 90 minutes in talks at the FA headquarters in Soho Square.

Geoff Thompson, FA chairman, and executive director David Davies , accompanied Brian Barwick at the talks, which were voluntarily scheduled by the Glazers.

Barwick is understood to have adopted a firm line with the Glazers, reminding them of United's status in English football and the responsibilities which they now have to the future of the club and the game.

However, the FA chief executive is believed to have been impressed by the response which he received from Joel Glazer and the meeting is said to have been constructive.

Caborn said: "In Government we need to harness the power of football, help in our work on the social inclusion agenda and I am delighted with the positive response the directors gave.

"I welcome the fact that the directors have been open with the football authorities and the Government about their plans.

"There has been a considerable amount of concern among organised fans groups and our discussion reflected that.

"But there is no shortage of enthusiasm for the task ahead. I am reassured of the conversation on collective selling of Premier League TV rights and their experience in sport in the US."