Red Knights leader confident over United takeover bid

The Red Knights’ high-profile bid to takeover Manchester United has a significant chance of succeeding, according to Keith Harris, the man fronting the wealthy consortium.

Harris, an expect in footballing financial matters and chairman for city bank Seymour Pierce, has put together the Red Knights group of investors, who are all keen on owning a stake in the Premier League champions.

It has been reported that pledges of over one billion pounds have been made and the Red Knights are set to lodge a formal offer to oust the Glazer family.

The Glazers insist the club is not for sale but United fans have launched a series of protests aimed at forcing the unpopular Americans out and Harris remains optimistic a deal will be done.

Asked why he thought the takeover attempt would succeed, Harris told the News of the World: “Because they have to service the debt and that costs 43 million pounds per year.

“They need the profits to pay the interest, to deal with reinvestment in the squad and if they think that all those things can’t be assured from revenue then they must be scratching their heads thinking ‘How are we going to handle this?’.

“Whereas a lot of the opposition to the Glazers was factionalised (in 2005) and some of it was manifested in a thug-like behaviour, with the balaclavas and that kind of thing, others tried to be more constructive. This time round the world’s a very different place.

“One imagines the Glazers’ businesses in America are struggling, the banks can’t lend like they used to and United is under competitive challenge.

“You put all those into the mix and it might not be this season, but let’s say the Glazers have to meet an interest bill and they haven’t got the cashflow through the business, then there’s only one asset they can sell and that’s amongst the players.”

United manager Alex Ferguson last week distanced himself from a report claiming he supported the Red Knights, but Harris insists there is no need for the Scot to get involved at this stage,

“We need a collective, unified voice to make this happen. Sir Alex Ferguson doesn’t need to speak out and I don’t even think it’s desirable actually because he should be absolutely secure in the knowledge that if there was a deal put together he would automatically be prepared to be expected and invited to be a part of it,” he said.

“He doesn’t need to go and muddy the waters. People should understand that the purpose of any takeover is to give loyal supporters part ownership of the club and give them a voice.”