Manchester United: Thousands of fans protest against club ownership

Banners saying “we want our club back” and “£1bn stolen”, referring to the amount spent on servicing the debt loaded on to United when the Glazer family bought the club in 2005, were on display at the protest.

United’s current total debt, including £300m in outstanding transfer fees, is in excess of £1bn. In the last financial year they paid £37m in interest on the debt.

The noisy protest arrived at Old Trafford at 16:05 GMT, then made its way under the Munich Tunnel.

The scenes were the kind it was thought Ratcliffe, a self-confessed Manchester United fan brought up in nearby Failsworth, was going to solve when he bought into the club.

But Chris Haymes, of The 1958 group that organised the protest, said Ratcliffe is being tainted by his association with the Glazer family.

“Sir Jim has to make some tough decisions but he seems to be a shield for the Glazers at the moment,” he added.

“It seems to be a real issue. He had one chance to make a good impression and I am not sure that is what he has done.

“This [protest] has nothing to do with football and it hasn’t been for 20 years. The way the Glazers bought the club has been a burden on our backs for 20 years. Jim Ratcliffe has been making people redundant but United also paid £37m to the Glazer debt.

“The solution is the Glazers leave the club. Jim Ratcliffe will never seal his legacy at this club unless he removes the Glazers. It is as simple as that.”