Manchester United's directors are confident the majority of the club's shareholders will back the proposed BSkyB takeover despite facing flak at the annual meeting on Wednesday. There were calls for the resignation of both club chairman Martin Edwards and his plc counterpart Sir Roland Smith, but the board rode the rough waters after unexpectedly declaring an open debate on the takeover.

Board members faced two hours and 20 minutes of questions from some of the 720 shareholders registered to attend the meeting.

Shareholders heard Smith describe the BSkyB bid as "the way ahead for the club". It was the first time the plc chairman, who declared he owns no shares in United, had shown his support for the £623 million bid, but he found himself under attack from opponents of the buy-out.

They accused him of misleading shareholders in a letter advising the action which should be taken after BSkyB's offer. Because the board was recommending acceptance, Sir Roland outlined three ways of accepting the £2.40-a share offer and shareholder Michael Crick told him: "Your behaviour was abysmal."

Sir Roland replied: "I suppose that means a yellow card for me."

A shareholder who demanded Edwards should go, said: "This club was built by the sweat of the people of Manchester. If this deal goes through it will be Sky which makes money in the future and not Manchester United. You tried to sell to Robert Maxwell, then to Michael Knighton, and now Rupert Murdoch. But that is it, three strikes and you are out, Mr Edwards, and you should go."

Edwards answered and responded to another shareholder by saying money would be available for transfers even while the offer was in the hands of the Mergers and Monopolies Commission.

Amid accusations that Sky would strip United of its assets, Sir Roland responded, saying the partnership with the television company would be in the interest of progress.

"Nobody is going to spend £623 million on a company to run it down. Since 1991 this club has travelled successfully in the business world. This year we have made profits of £30 million from a £90 million turnover, and that is a reflection of good management. But £90 million is not big business. We have to look at the next 10 years.

"We haven't won the European Cup for 30 years. Last year we didn't win anything. We have to have resources and to go in with a large communications business would be advantageous. I want us to be one of the top four clubs in Europe and consistently successful, and the key word is consistently. "Look at our opponents in Europe. Milan are owned by a media company, Juventus by Fiat, we have to move on."

After the meeting, chairman Edwards said he was not surprised to find himself targeted by supporters, but added: "What tends to happen at annual meetings is you get a lot of people who come along because they are aggrieved about something. But there is a big majority out there who don't come along and who are in support of the deal. "You tend to get the vociferous ones who want to voice their opinion but that is a fact of life."

Johan Mjallby yesterday insisted he will not crack under the pressure when he is thrown into the cauldron of tomorrow's Old Firm clash.

The Swede checked into Celtic after completing his £1.5 million, four-year move to Parkhead and will be plunged straight in for a debut against Rangers.

Mjallby, however, claims he will not be nervous when the match arrives. "I don't know much about these games and I think it is better that way. I'm not the type of player who gets nervous before games and that won't change.

"Making my debut in this game does not add any pressure because you are always under pressure as a footballer. I see it as a challenge."