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Last updated : 10 February 2005 By editor

The Mirror reports:

‘Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium could be renamed if US tycoon Malcolm Glazer buys the club. The businessman may sell the rights to the 95-year-old arena's title to recoup some of the cost of his £800million takeover battle.

‘And he would have no shortage of prospective buyers with big corporations queueing up to have their company logos plastered all over one of the world's best-known football stadiums.

‘Mark Longden of the Manchester United Independent Supporters Association said: "It would be horrible, disgusting. People would not go there. There would be more folk outside protesting than watching the games. I will not be going near the place anyway if Glazer takes over. But many more will stay away if Old Trafford is taken away from us."

‘Glazer is known to be considering the move, despite the hostility. He will have to borrow £300million to make his controversial takeover bid successful. Selling the stadium name could make him £100million.

‘Oliver Houston, vice chairman of fans' pressure group, Shareholders United, said: "Our message to Manchester United is to close the book on Glazer. He wants to know where the money is coming from within the club. Well it comes from us, the fans. If he takes over there won't be any coming in because we will not buy the merchandise and we will not go to the matches."

‘Other clubs who have sold the naming rights to their grounds to maximise commercial revenue include Leicester, now at the Walkers Stadium, and York, who changed from Bootham Crescent to the KitKat Crescent.’