GLAZERS TARGETED AGAIN

Last updated : 22 August 2006 By Ed

This from The Guardian:

Malcolm Glazer's family are expected to review security arrangements after supporters attempted to confront them at a city-centre hotel after Sunday's game against Fulham. Riot police were called to disperse what is understood to have been a pre-planned, yet unsuccessful, attempt to attack Manchester United's owners by a 30-strong group five hours after the match at Old Trafford.

The incident occurred at the Victoria and Albert hotel close to Granada's studios after news had spread that Glazer's sons, Bryan and Avi, might have had rooms booked there. The police confirmed yesterday that hotel staff had rung 999 because of a threat of violence and that a fire alarm had been set off.

The hotel's guests had to be evacuated, with the supporters deliberately trying to force the Glazers out of what they thought were their rooms. Several police vans attended along with a fire crew, but it is not thought the Glazers were there at the time.

United are aware of the incident but have decided not to make any public comment. The Glazers have their own bodyguards and it is understood their security arrangements include making block bookings under different names at several hotels before the matches when they fly in from Florida.

The family also insists on travelling in cars with blacked-out windows, although Bryan Glazer stated earlier in the summer that they had now been "accepted" by United's fans.

That claim looks, at best, to be misguided, the latest incident proving that the hostility is as deep as it has ever been. Anti-Glazer graffiti has been daubed over Old Trafford and the people responsible for the latest security scare are believed to be affiliated to the so-called Manchester Education Committee, an unofficial fans' group that has let it be known it will resort to violence in its attempt to drive the Glazers out of the club.