Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus has claimed that he has made a bid to buy Manchester United.
The 69-year-old is the former chairman of Finnish football club HJK Helsinki, while he is the ex-owner of ice hockey team Helsingin Jokerit.
The businessman, who is also the founder of the Mobile FutureWorks Group, has revealed that he would put up half of the money to purchase the club from the Glazers, with the other half involving the club's supporters.
The fans, under the plan, would be given the opportunity to be involved in major decisions.
"Any sport club ultimately should belong to its fans," said Zilliacus in a statement. "The current development, where billionaire sheiks and oligarchs take over clubs and control them as their personal playgrounds is not a healthy trend. The current market value of the club is just under 3.9 billion USD.
© Reuters
"That means that if every one of the fans of the club would join in buying the club, the total sum per fan would amount to less than 6 dollars. My bid is built on equality with the fans.
"My group will finance half of the sum needed to take over the club, and will ask the fans, through a new company that is being set up for this specific purpose, to participate for the other half. If every fan joins it means less than 3 dollars per fan.
"Each fan who joins will have access to an app which the fan, from anywhere in the world, can use to participate and cast his vote when deciding on footballing matters relating to the club. No decisions will be taken that are not supported by a majority of the fan base.
"Manchester United should not only be the best football club in the world, it should also be the leading club in the world in working to stop abuse, racism and hate speech in social media and on sports grounds.
© Reuters
"Should we be successful in our bid we will ensure that Manchester United, the best football club in the world, will operate on a foundation of respect, equality, dignity, diversity, racial harmony and democracy, and with its global fan base included and involved in all decisions."
US investment company Elliott Management have allegedly made an offer to buy a minority stake in the club.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe have reportedly been granted extensions to submit their takeover bids, having missed Wednesday's initial 9pm deadline.
The Glazer family are still believed to be considering keeping hold of Man United, with the current owners open to pulling the plug on a sale, even at this late stage of proceedings.
