Manchester United are losing money because they don’t have a scheme where fans can sell their season tickets back to the club, it has been claimed. The Glazers are already facing multiple problems at Old Trafford. And, as the season has gone on, the Red Devils are struggling to fill out their grand stadium.
The issues just keep on stacking up for United.
Performances on the field have been poor this season, with the club facing a huge challenge to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
United still don’t know who their next manager will be, with Mauricio Pochettino, Erik ten Hag and Luis Enrique just some of the names in the frame to replace Ralf Rangnick.
And the club have been hit financially, too. Fierce rivals Manchester City recently overtook them on revenue for the first time since their lucrative takeover back in the summer of 2008.
Recently, it was announced that United would be freezing season ticket prices once again.
They’ve also told holders that they’ll lose their passes unless they attend a minimum of 10 home matches per season.
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United have struggled to fill Old Trafford amid their dire campaign under both Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer so far.
And football finance expert Kieran Maguire has now claimed United are ‘losing money’ because they don’t have a scheme in place that allows fans to sell their tickets back to the club.
“I think a fan reselling mechanism is common at many clubs,” he told Football Insider.
“It makes sense for all concerned. The fan gets their share back and the club generates more revenue at a higher price.
“If it is a day fan, they are more likely to spend more money on merchandise and catering.
“I think there are legitimate reasons for people not being able to attend. The Premier League has got to take some responsibility because of scheduling.
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“Fans are effectively expected to keep Friday to Monday free because TV dictates kick-off times.
“United are losing out on some money. But for a club that prides themselves on the ability to sell out, it looks a bit uncomfortable to see empty seats.
“If you want to transfer your seat to someone else, they aren’t bothered who occupies it.”
While the Glazers are polarizing figures at United, they’re not planning to walk away any time soon.
They survived after the European Super League debacle and have pledged to rebuild relations with fans in the wake of that saga.
But United remain a club in crisis and whether they can overcome their current plight this season remains to be seen.
Talisman Bruno Fernandes, meanwhile, has insisted he and his team-mates are aware problems haven’t been good enough this season.
And he’s urged everybody at the club to improve, saying: “I think we have been doing well.
“There is still a lot to improve on and I think everyone is aware of that, because we know that we can do much better.
“Obviously, since I [Rangnick] came, we have had a lot of good results, but still some results that, when we look back, we think that we could have more points in the league.
“I think he has brought his own way to play, the mentality that he has, the way that he thinks is better for us and that is it.
“After that, every player has to give the best of themselves, to help the team to be better.”
Fernandes then added: “I am really happy with my time at the club.
“I have always said, not winning a title for this club is like a nightmare because it is something I want.
“I want to do it for me, but also because I think the club deserves it, the fans deserve it, and a club like this should not be so long without winning a trophy.
“Two weeks ago, we had two chances and now we have one chance to win a trophy.
“We have to fight for that and fight for our place in the Premier League, to finish in the best place we can.”
www.express.co.uk
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism