Man Utd fans upset by price claim

GLAZER'S REPORTED PLANS Ticket prices to rise by 54% over five years Champions League tickets to go up by up to 25% Man Utd to play match in Tampa each year, raising £2m Transfer budget capped at £25m per season for next five years Matchday turnover to rise by 61%, 13% increase in media turnover and 76% increase in merchandising Shirt sponsorship to be worth £10.8m a season by 2010 Turnover to increase to £246m by 2010 Full story from BBC News: Glazer 'plans ticket price rises'

Fans' group Shareholders United have hit out at claims Manchester United fans face huge rises in ticket prices after Malcolm Glazer's takeover.

Reports say the average ticket will go from £30 to £46 over five years.

"How is he going to fill an expanded stadium when fans are leaving in droves?" SU chair Nick Towle asked BBC Radio Five Live.

"They are so disillusioned with the massive increases it will just turn more and more fans off."

Andy Mitten, editor of fanzine United We Stand, added on Five Live: "Some of the games have barely sold out in recent years.

"Are home games on a Tuesday night against Charlton or Portsmouth going to sell out with the extra ticket price? I'm not convinced."

United supporters will also be alarmed at suggestions that manager Sir Alex Ferguson is to be limited to a transfer fund of £25m a season for the next five years.

"The transfer budget has been very subtly expressed as a cap. It could be £25m, it could be a pound," added Towle.

"The drive for commercialisation is becoming too much for most fans," added Towle.

Glazer's already set the ball rolling for him to start recouping his debt From UW Have your say on 606

"It's really beginning to create a big problem, and that's just before fans stop buying the products and merchandise, which will also increase in price.

"Our campaign to urge fans to exercise their consumer choice and just not buy the products of the club or the products of the company and the products of the sponsors is going to grow and grow."

A spokesman for Mr Glazer's business told the BBC nothing was finalised.

"Things are still up in the air. Plans have not been finalised," said the spokesman, who represents Mr Glazer's son Joel.

The spokesman also dismissed speculation that Sir Bobby Charlton will be axed from the United board.