FUTURE OF MANCHESTER UNITED (NO. 2)

Early day motion 1782, tabled 21 October 2004 by Tony Lloyd (Labour). Signed by 38 members.

That this House shares the concerns of Manchester United supporters as expressed by groups like Shareholders United and the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association about the dangers of potential takeover activities for the club; recognises that such activity, especially when prolonged, is destabilising; believes that any takeover designed to transform the club into a private company would be against the interests of supporters; considers that profit increases in ticket and merchandise prices in order to increase shareholder return would conflict with the club's wider obligations; believes that football clubs differ from trading companies and owe real accountability to their supporters; calls on the football authorities to vet would-be owners against a fit and proper person test and their commitment to the wider interests of the game; asks the Department of Trade and Industry to take steps to regulate any takeover on public interest grounds; and demands that those planning aggressive share purchase campaigns should issue a public prospectus outlining the objectives of any takeover and the means by which those objectives would be met.

Signatures by party: Labour 30, Labour/Co-operative 4, Liberal Democrat 4.