Eric Cantona backs Manchester United share scheme launched by supporters trust
The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) has launched a new campaign to begin the process for fans to become supporter shareholders in the club as part of a fan ownership scheme by current owners.
The first signatory to the new campaign is none other than Eric Cantona who announced: “Yes, my friends, I have signed for United again.”
The online campaign will reach out to United’s huge global fanbase to ensure the Glazers make good on their promise to “create the biggest fans ownership scheme in world sport”, as Joel Glazer promised earlier this month.
MUST firmly believes supporter-owned shares should come with the same voting rights as the shares owned by the Glazer family and be issued in sufficient numbers that United supporters can develop “a meaningful ownership stake in the club, with a meaningful say over how the club is run.”
A spokesperson for MUST said: “Once again Eric Cantona is leading the attack for United and we as United fans need to follow his example – and join the Sign for United campaign.
No-one loves the club more than we do so fans should be at the heart of ownership. This is our chance to take the first step towards that change.
“Joel Glazer promised to create the biggest supporters share scheme in sport – now is the time to make good on that promise.”
The fan engagement campaign, launched with digital screens around Manchester is being supported by premium DOOH operator Ocean Outdoor.
Alongside the launch of “Sign for United”, MUST also reveals that in a meeting with the Government’s Fan-Led Review of football last week, led by Tracey Crouch MP, it made the case for the government to require football club owners to allow fans to buy shares in their clubs as part of a “Football Right to Buy” scheme.
Under the proposals made, club owners would be required to create new shares each year, to be offered to club supporters, allowing fans to grow a meaningful shareholding over time.
Speaking about the Football Right to Buy scheme, MUST added: “A football club is a cultural and community asset, and the best people to protect these assets for the long-term are the supporters. Under our ‘Football Right to Buy’ scheme, fans would have an opportunity to grow a meaningful ownership stake over time, allowing them to invest in the clubs they love.”
The campaign follows unprecedented protests by fans who invaded Old Trafford after the club’s involvement in the European Super League, which forced the postponement of their Premier League clash with Liverpool.
In response, Glazer spoke to supporters in a recent fan’s forum confirming that a Fan Share Scheme would be established.
