Soccer: Glazer Says the United Fans Accept Us

Soccer: Glazer Says the United Fans Accept Us Manchester United director Bryan Glazer has told a Tampa radio station that United's fans like him. Which is news to them.

Manchester United fans have finally accepted the Glazers, according to Bryan Glazer, the club's non-executive director and son of the controversial owner Malcolm. 'I think they have [accepted us]. I think they've seen that we haven't turned the place upside down,' Glazer told Tampa sports radio station WDAE in a rare interview. 'There aren't cheerleaders on the sidelines.'

Glazer was speaking in Orlando as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began training ahead of the start of the NFL season in September. Bryan Glazer also said that his father was recovering from his stroke. 'He is better every day,' said Bryan. 'I saw him yesterday, I'm going to see him tomorrow. He's got his family around him.'

Bryan is returning to the UK next week for United board meetings. He took an active role in the transformation of the Buccaneers when the family took over the franchise in 1995, as the team changed colours, badge and stadium before winning a Super Bowl in 2002. But he rarely speaks on the record to the media and this was his first appearance on WDAE in several years.

Glazer's passion for football has not been diminished by the controversy surrounding the takeover of United or the punishing transatlantic schedule that being a non-executive director of the club and executive director of the Buccaneers imposes. 'I have two loves,' he told host Steve Duemig. 'American football and European football.'

Alexandre Gaydamak is believed to be in Istanbul, attempting to conclude a deal to bring Nicolas Anelka to Portsmouth from Fenerbahce, writes Jamie Jackson.A club official is said to have let slip the whereabouts of the millionaire club chairman to the local media and reports in France suggest that a deal is likely, though perhaps not until after the start of the Premiership season. Fenerbahce face a Champions League qualifying tie against Dynamo Kiev and the Turkish side are reluctant to lose the sometime France striker before the second leg, which falls in the week after the opening Premiership games.

Redknapp, speaking after his side's 4 - 0 friendly win at Bournemouth, denied knowledge of the chairman's whereabouts, but admitted that Anelka would be a welcome addition to his squad.

Lee Croft has agreed to join Norwich from Manchester City and is expected to complete his move today. The 21-year-old winger has already discussed personal terms and undergone a medical after the clubs settled on a £700,000 transfer fee.

Rudi Skacel has teamed up again with former Hearts manager George Burley, joining him at Southampton after a £1.6million move from the Tynecastle club. The Czech Republic midfielder scored 16 goals in 35 Scottish Premier League games last season, after arriving at Tynecastle on loan from Marseille. His transfer to Hearts was only completed in the close season, apparently with a view to making a profit by selling him on.

Carlos Alberto Parreira has agreed to coach hosts South Africa in the 2010 World Cup. Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning boss, who resigned from his latest stint in charge of his homeland following a disappointing quarter-final exit in Germany this summer, has signed a four-year deal. Molefi Oliphant, president of the South African FA, said he was 'very excited' by the news.

By Guardian Unlimited © Copyright Guardian Newspapers 2008
Published: 7/29/2006