£200 million sponsorship blow undermines Glazer message as United prepare for protests

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Joel Glazer released another letter to Manchester United supporters on Friday, pledging to increase communication with fans.

Glazer even suggested he is willing to meet the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust, and made a very loose pledge about introducing a chance for fans to buy shares – although did not expand on how, or if his family would actually sell any.

While Glazer’s letter may have been designed to engage fans, it would seem to have another meaning. United are panicked.

Just 24 hours later it emerged via The Guardian that The Hut Group (THG) had pulled out of a £200 million sponsorship deal to replace AON as the club’s training sponsors.

This was due to begin in July, and it leaves United scrambling to find another equally good deal.

United fans have launched a boycott of the club’s sponsors, with the ‘Not A Penny More’ campaign, and have been leaving negative reviews of the firms associated with United across various online platforms.

The real reason for Glazer’s letter?

The Guardian repored that THG communicated their decision to pull out of the deal with United on Friday morning. Hours later, Glazer sent his letter to MUST, posted via the club website.

This was clearly designed to try and quell the unrest among the fanbase, but it appears to be far too late for that.

United appear to be taking no chances for Thursday’s re-arranged game against Liverpool.

Steel barriers were pictured being put up outside Old Trafford, to block off access routes which saw fans gain access to the stadium ahead of the previously schedule game, which was called off.

Whether or not Thursday’s game goes ahead, and it looks like United are taking the threat of cancellation from fans seriously this time, it appears the Glazers are on the ropes.

When sponsors start pulling out, that is when life starts to get really tough for the club commercially, and pressure piles on, especially in a period in which the club has not been able to have any fans at grounds for over a year.

10,000 Supporters will be permitted to attend the game with Fulham later this month. There is a chance, that United fans will vote with their feet and none will attend. That would be a powerful statement.

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