Either the economic downturn or the Green and Gold protest against the Glazer's ownership of Premier
League club Manchester United may have hit season ticket sales.

 Chief executive David Gill confirmed
that the club failed to reach their target. Gill insisted that despite falling short of their goal of 54,000
season ticket sales by more than 2,000 it was still "pretty good" in the current economic climate and
insisted the club is in good financial shape. Fans' group the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST)
have urged supporters to boycott the club in the hope of persuading the American owners, the Glazer
family, to sell the club. Asked about the season-ticket protest, Gill said: "I'll be clear on that. Last year our
target was 54,000 season tickets, we've sold 51,800, which is pretty good in the current climate. We've
sold more season tickets than the capacity of most Premier League grounds. Our executive seat sales
are on track as compared with last year in a different market. I think the bare facts are that the club is in
good financial shape. The ticket sales have held up. We sold out for Newcastle and West Ham but we
are not complacent and we've got to keep working to make sure that we fill the ground for every game
and we'll do that by playing great football, attractive football, exciting football that brings fans in." The
protest against United's owners surrounds the debts they took on to buy the club. These now stand at
more than £700 million - including a £500 million bond scheme, and £202 million in payment in kind (PIK)
loans. BBC's Panorama claimed earlier this summer the Glazers' shopping mall empire in America was
facing problems but Gill would not be drawn on that, stating instead the club was very successful
financially and were comfortable with the position. Gill added: "I'm not going to comment on that
[Panorama]. We've had another very successful year off the pitch when we announced our results for
June 2010 they were excellent, generating cash. We have put in place a long-term financial structure for
the club with the bond, obviously that's serviced on a regular basis. So no I don't think it impacts us at all.
So I think we've got to be comfortable."{jcomments on}

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