The Glazer family – majority owners of Manchester United – stepped away from making what would have been a hugely controversial bid for a stake in Manchester Originals, Mail Sport understands.
Earlier on Monday, RPSG Group, owners of the IPL’s richest club, won the latest auction and subsequently took 71 per cent of the Old Trafford franchise to become the first external investor to own a majority share in a Hundred outfit.
However, it can now be disclosed that the Glazers, whose tenure at the other Old Trafford has triggered unrest, underachievement and widespread fan protest, had expressed a keen interest before being warned against a move by those close to the process.
The optics of such a bid – and the prospect of an immediate fan backlash – were made clear to the Florida-based group, whose debt-burdening, leveraged buyout of United continues to spark anger two decades on.
Indeed, United fans often chant in protest at the Glazers at matches and the likelihood of such a move triggering further issues was made clear.
Instead, the Americans switched their interest to London Spirit in the ongoing auctions of Hundred franchises, but on Friday a Silicon Valley coalition paid £145m for a 49 per cent stake in the Lord’s-based outfit.
Man United’s co-chairmen Avram (left) and Joel Glazer’s tenure has triggered unrest
Manchester Originals’ men side have twice been beaten in the final of The Hundred
United fans, who often chant in protest at the Glazers at matches, make their feelings clear
RPSG, owned by billionaire businessman Sanjiv Goenka, landed the 49 per cent being offered plus an additional 21 per cent stake from ground owners Lancashire for £75m, which made the Originals the highest-valued franchise outside London.
The winning group own Lucknow Super Giants and had also lost in the auction for a stake in London Spirit on Friday, but were permitted to go back into the process should another franchise be of interest.
They are thought to have seen off the owners of fellow IPL franchises Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore, to land Manchester.Stakes in Leeds, Nottingham and Southampton will also go under the hammer this week.
