It was a bad day for those with shares in Manchester United. The brand has been through a lot over the last couple of weeks but the fluctuation of the share price on the New York Stock Exchange over the last couple of months has risen and fallen based entirely on what people expect to happen with the takeover.
There have been days when a rise in share price has hinted a sale is close to being confirmed, notably when Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s Nine Two Foundation was registered as a UK enterprise by Companies House.
But the sight of the stock plummeting in value on Tuesday will crank up fears in a frustrated fanbase that after 10 months of deadlines being missed, extended and imagined, of briefing and counter briefing but little progress, the Glazers are now firmly leaning towards staying.
The club’s value dropped by more than £500million, with shares closing down 18.2% on Tuesday, having dropped 21% at one stage.