Riled Manchester United supporters held fire on their mass protests against Malcolm Glazer as Alex Ferguson's side finished their Premiership season by condemning Southampton to the drop.
Since Glazer's interest in buying the club first emerged in October last year, following an 18-month period in which his interest had risen from passive to enthusiastic, the American has found little support at Old Trafford for his approach.
However, after taking his share to 74.81 per cent last week, he is expected go through the 75 per cent barrier today, allowing him to take charge of the club which became a plc in 1991. There would seem to be few obstacles blocking Glazer's route, however unpopular, and supporters have threatened to stage public protests against the ease in which he has been able to grasp full control.
There are fears that the FA Cup final on Saturday might be disrupted, and after no interruptions of any consequence at Southampton yesterday, that would seem an obvious target.
Two supporters at St Mary's did unfurl a banner which read 'you were my life, goodbye Manchester United football club, RIP', and anti-Glazer chants were mixed in with songs chiding the struggling home side.
According to reports, United supporters will give early warning of their intentions, with tomorrow suggested as the date when details of their demonstrations will be made public. Shareholders United vice-chairman Oliver Houston said: "There's an appetite for creating pure pandemonium at the moment. Two people running on the pitch caused problems when Liverpool played Chelsea recently, so imagine what will happen if there are hundreds of people on the pitch in Cardiff."
While sceptics await Glazer's next move, with some feeling his 300p per share offer has over-valued the club, one possible commercial avenue which the 76-year-old might be looking to explore has been declared all but closed to him by Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.
Scudamore believes Glazer would find it "almost impossible" to organise a revolt against the top-flight's highly-prized collective television bargaining deal.
United, under Glazer, will effectively sink £540 million into the red, because of the level of borrowing he has undertaken in order to seize a grip on the club.
That money could become a millstone around United's neck unless they can successfully eat away at the debt, and it seems certain Glazer will start to scrutinise the Premier League's TV bargaining arrangement, which is due for renewal. United currently glean approximately £50 million annually from the collective agreement, but there is a very real prospect of raising that income should they be allowed to independently negotiate.
Glazer would require another 13 clubs to side with him on the issue, one that former chief executive Peter Kenyon once put to a vote at a Premier League meeting, only to suffer a humiliating 19-1 defeat.
Meanwhile, Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has pledged his future to the club by signing a new contract at Stamford Bridge. And yesterday Newcastle declined to comment on reports suggesting they have tabled a bid of up to £20 million for Real Madrid striker Michael Owen.
