News: Malcolm Glazer is today expected to reveal that he has acquired more than 90 per cent of shares in Manchester United, allowing him to force the remaining investors to sell their holdings to him.
The move will come as a blow to those supporters who had hoped to retain a presence on the share register, using it to pressure Glazer into investing more funds into the club. Once small shareholder interests fall below 10 per cent, stock market rules mean Glazer can compel them all to sell up.
Glazer's bid vehicle, Red Football, is expected to reveal that it controls more than 90 per cent of the club after the first deadline for his £790 million offer this afternoon. By Friday night, Red Football had already amassed an 89.7 per cent holding.
United are also expected to announce record season-ticket sales, with more than 40,000 supporters having either renewed or subscribed for the first time.
* Robbie Savage has revealed he wants to come out of international retirement and end his feud with the Wales manager John Toshack. The 30-year-old midfielder quit the national team in March after Toshack dropped him for the World Cup qualifiers against Austria.
"I know now I shouldn't have reacted as I did," he said. "There's no reason for the continued silence between myself and the manager and I hope he includes me in the next squad."
The 30-year-old Blackburn midfielder could now return for the match against England on September 3rd.
* Azerbaijan have replaced the Brazilian Carlos Alberto, who was sacked as manager of the national team last week, with their Under-21 coach Vagif Sadykov.
The Azeri football association has asked Sadykov to take charge of the team for the remaining three games of the World Cup qualifying campaign against Northern Ireland and Austria in September and Wales in October.
* Robin van Persie is ready to pledge his long-term future to Arsenal. "I can see myself staying at Arsenal for many years," said the Dutchman who signed a four-year contract at Highbury when he joined the club for £2.75 million from Feyenoord last summer.
Guardian Service
