'On the north side of the field at Manchester United's Old Trafford, a solemn occasion took place earlier this week. With the backdrop of a typically cold, overcast and gloomy day in northern England, a lifelong supporter of this storied soccer club was having their ashes spread on the perfectly manicured grass just outside the lines of play.
This sort of thing happens on a fairly regular basis at Old Trafford, also known as the ``Theatre of Dreams.''
That's how much Manchester United means in the lives of many people here. Not only does the world's wealthiest and one of its most successful sports franchises reside here, but so does history. For all its modern feel - from its architectural splendor to the mall-like feel of its Mega Store, this place exudes 126 years of triumphs and tragedies.
These are the grounds that were badly damaged by German bombs during World War II; the home of The Busby Babes, winners of three English titles before a plane crash in 1958 shattered the squad with the death of seven players; and the home base where United staged its incredible ``treble'' during the 1998-99 season by winning the English league, FA Cup and European Championship. The passion for this club is handed down from generation to generation, and once a Red Devil, always a Red Devil.
``It's more than football and more than just the club - it's the team our fathers and grandfathers grew up with and died with,'' said 47-year- old Steve Donoghue, a lifelong Manchester United supporter. I'm not sure most Americans can understand what that means to us.''
Following a dramatic Friday afternoon in Manchester, where the Glazers wielded their 28.11 percent share of the club to force out three members of United's board of directors during its annual general meeting of shareholders, there appears to be an openly declared war between the Red Devils' supporters and the Glazers.
The No. 1 sports story in newspapers across Britain on Saturday was the Glazers' stunning attack on United's board of directors. The board reportedly knew for several days the Glazers' intentions and tried to convince the team's majority shareholders, Cubic Expressions owners John Magnier and JP McManus, to use their 28.9 percent stake in United to vote in favor of the three directors' re- election. The Irishmen abstained, allowing the Glazers to have a majority of the votes.
The Glazers also voted down a resolution that would have allowed board members to buy shares in their own company. With that victory, chief executive David Gill, who just weeks before the meeting purchased nearly 36,000 shares in United, likely will find it even more difficult to fend off the Glazers' takeover attempt. And since the Irishmen have never exercised their vote in four years as shareholders, the Glazers are now a clear force to be reckoned with by United supporters and the four remaining directors.
Yes, the Glazers lost their financial backers, J.P. Morgan, because of Friday's hostile move. And the Glazers may not have a seat on the board or a majority of United's shares. But they now control events in Manchester, and people here are digging in their heels for a fight.
``He has few friends or options, but like a wild animal, Glazer is most dangerous when cornered. We must make sure he is put down once and for all,'' said Oliver Houston, press officer for Shareholders United.
And the Glazers did it all from the comfort of their homes in sunny Florida.
That's particularly irritating to United fans, who are used to confronting foes face to face. During Friday's shareholders meeting, an elderly Red Devils supporter stood up and asked for Glazer or his representative to identify himself so he could ``take off me coat and take him outside,'' presumably for a good old-fashioned Manchester punch-out. But all that came was silence. The real knockout blow came about an hour later, when the Glazers flexed their muscle and voted out the trio of directors by proxy.
Despite millions of dollars worth of real estate, it has been widely reported that the Glazers do not have the cash to buy United outright. The Times of London reported the Glazers have already borrowed more than $180 million - just $12 million less than they paid for the Buccaneers in 1995 - from Commerzbank to fund the bulk of the United shares they currently own. The Glazers will now have to find an investment bank that does not oppose hostile takeover bids, or they will have to raise money by selling assets. That could mean the sale of the Bucs, but the few responses the Glazers have made through their public relations teams have said that is not an option.
What the Glazers will do next is uncertain. That has United supporters nervous, angry and fearful for the future of their club.
The not-for-profit group Shareholders United vows to take the fight to the Glazers by taking its stake in the club of between 1 and 2 percent of the shares to more than 7 percent by rallying commitments from individual shareholders who have a combined strength of about 17 percent of the club. But whether those commitments will appear in time to thwart the Glazers' next move seems doubtful after this week's events. Still, most supporters say they will not surrender their club to anyone, including the Glazers.'