Manchester United chairman Joel Glazer FINALLY apologises to fans for his role in failed European Super League power grab, and insists 'we also realise that we need to better communicate with you' - after 16 years of silence at Old Trafford
* Joel Glazer 'apologises unreservedly' for his role in the European Super League
* The Manchester United chairman wore an open letter to the club's fanbase
* United were heavily criticised for being one of the driving forces in the project
* In a rare public statement, Glazer says he needs to 'get better at communicating'
Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer has admitted they 'got it wrong' in being one of the main driving forces behind the now-collapsed European Super League and has 'apologised unreservedly' to the club's fans over the whole saga.
In a letter penned to United supporters less than 24 hours after the club withdrew from the Super League following fierce backlash, Glazer also admitted that he and members of the board need to 'be better at communicating' with the fanbase.
In what is a rare public address from the 50-year-old, Glazer acknowledged that his role in the £4.6bn scheme 'failed to show enough respect for [football's] deep-rooted traditions' and said he was now 'personally committed to rebuilding trust with our fans'.
Manchester United chief Joel Glazer (right) has apologised to fans for the Super League
Following the announcement of the European Super League on Sunday, Glazer was named as one of the vice-chairman for the competition along with Liverpool owner John Henry and Juventus' Andrea Agnelli.
However, following fan revolt all over Europe, the Premier League's 'Big Six' all withdrew from the project, leaving the breakaway league in tatters.
While Glazer was heavily scrutinised by Gary Neville for his role in the Super League, the United legend took aim at Glazer again on Wednesday, claiming the club's paltry three-line statement that they were withdrawing from the Super League was 'the worst communication' he's ever seen.
The short and blunt statement included no apology to the fans or showed any signs or remorse for joining, leaving fans even more incensed on Wednesday.
Fans have endured a rocky relationship with Glazer, who is hoping to rebuild trust at the club. A banner protesting Glazer before a game is held up by the statue of club legends George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton. United fans were left incensed by the club's role in the European Super League proposals
Now, having following Henry's lead, who fronted up with a grovelling apology on video to supporters on Wednesday, Glazer published a letter to the United fans on the club's official website where he issued a grovelling apology for causing 'unrest' in the last three or so days.
'Over the past few days, we have all witnessed the great passion which football generates, and the deep loyalty our fans have for this great club,' the letter read.
'You made very clear your opposition to the European Super League, and we have listened. We got it wrong, and we want to show that we can put things right.
'Although the wounds are raw and I understand that it will take time for the scars to heal, I am personally committed to rebuilding trust with our fans and learning from the message you delivered with such conviction.
Gary Neville was also infuriated by Manchester United's statement on the Super League
'We continue to believe that European football needs to become more sustainable throughout the pyramid for the long-term. However, we fully accept that the Super League was not the right way to go about it.'
The club has already felt its first casualty from the Super League mess, after it was announced that chief executive Ed Woodward would be stepping down from his role at Old Trafford.
Woodward was a key figure in fiercely controversial plans for the new breakaway league, with his links to US investment bank JP Morgan helping to secure the £4.3billion in financing.
Confirming his decision on Tuesday night, Woodward said: 'I am extremely proud to have served United and it has been an honour to work for the world's greatest football club for the past 16 years.
'The club is well positioned for the future and it will be difficult to walk away at the end of the year.
'I will treasure the memories from my time at Old Trafford, during a period when we won the Europa League, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. I am proud of the regeneration of the club's culture and our return to the Manchester United way of playing.
'We have invested more than £1bn in the squad during my time here and I am particularly delighted with the progress the players have made under the astute leadership of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his coaching team in the last two years.'
Before his exit from the club, Glazer tried to persuade Woodward from resigning but was unsuccessful in his attempts, according to The Times.
The report details that Woodward is understood to have told those closest to him that trying to establish the Super League was one of the biggest mistakes of his career and he regrets it.
Club sources said that Woodward was planning to leave at the end of the year anyway — and is set to remain until then — but the announcement had been brought forward to avoid leaks.
Quote:
JOEL GLAZER'S LETTER IN FULL
To all Manchester United supporters,
Over the past few days, we have all witnessed the great passion which football generates, and the deep loyalty our fans have for this great club.
You made very clear your opposition to the European Super League, and we have listened. We got it wrong, and we want to show that we can put things right.
Although the wounds are raw and I understand that it will take time for the scars to heal, I am personally committed to rebuilding trust with our fans and learning from the message you delivered with such conviction.
We continue to believe that European football needs to become more sustainable throughout the pyramid for the long-term. However, we fully accept that the Super League was not the right way to go about it.
In seeking to create a more stable foundation for the game, we failed to show enough respect for its deep-rooted traditions –promotion, relegation, the pyramid – and for that we are sorry.
This is the world's greatest football club and we apologise unreservedly for the unrest caused during these past few days.
It is important for us to put that right.
Manchester United has a rich heritage and we recognise our responsibility to live up to its great traditions and values.
The pandemic has thrown up so many unique challenges and we are proud of the way Manchester United and its fans from Manchester and around the world have reacted to the enormous pressures during this period.
We also realise that we need to better communicate with you, our fans, because you will always be at the heart of the club.
In the background, you can be sure that we will be taking the necessary steps to rebuild relationships with other stakeholders across the game, with a view to working together on solutions to the long-term challenges facing the football pyramid.
Right now, our priority is to continue to support all of our teams as they push for the strongest possible finish to the season.
In closing, I would like to recognise that it is your support which makes this club so great, and we thank you for that.
With best regards,
Joel Glazer
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