Triesman - Fans could run club

Lord Triesman believes a fan-run club could work in England, as the Red Knights battle for control at Manchester United.

The supporter-led campaign is aimed at dethroning the Glazer family at Old Trafford, with mounting concern on the terraces that debts are spiralling out of control.

Football Association chairman Triesman does not question the Glazers' ability to handle the financial situation at United, but admits they would be foolish to ignore the fans.

He feels those who pay their hard earned money into the club's coffers should be regarded as more than merely customers.

With that in mind, he feels a fan-owned club could be the way forward - with Spanish giants such as Barcelona proving such a scheme can be successful.

Triesman said: "There are some good fan-run clubs and there have been in England too, there have been some clubs in difficulties where the fans have been the decisive factor such as York City and Bournemouth.

"Broadly speaking we are organised around companies and company law and I think that is a reality of our circumstance.

"But I don't think that fact alters the way in which fans look at their club and the way it is treasured in a way that not all that many social institutions are."

Triesman said supporters have a right to be concerned about their club's ownership and act accordingly.

He said: "All fans are concerned about the well-being of their clubs.

"I am really not saying Manchester United cannot deal with its overall financial arrangements but of course fans do take a view about whether their club is all right.

"I know perfectly well when I thought Robert Maxwell was going to take over Tottenham I was deeply concerned. I'm not making that point frivolously, people love their clubs and certainly want them to be in good shape.

"If they have been very successful they want them to continue to be very successful so they are interested in where the funds are.

"As it happens I think United are a huge business capable of generating very, very big resources.

"It would be disappointing in any club if fans were not interested in the whole thing."