Manchester United bidder explains unique app ownership model and outlines what fans would have say in
Thomas Zilliacus has revealed that Manchester United fans could have a say on decisions about club dividends should he win the takeover race.
The Finnish businessman told the Manchester Evening News on Friday that his bid is “on the same level” as those from Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and announced on Saturday morning that he had increased his offer.
His bid, made through XXI Century Capital - an investment firm owned by his holding company, proposes that he buys 50 per cent of United while club supporters own the other half, with fans being able to vote on many key decisions through an app.
READ MORE: Thomas Zilliacus insists United bid is 'on same level' as Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe
Head of social media entity novaM Group, Zilliacus has rich experience in the mobile industry having held senior positions with Nokia, where he became Corporate Communications Global Head in 1980 before leading the company’s move into Asia from 1986 until 1993.
Among other ventures, he founded and leads Mobile FutureWorks, an investment firm which aids the growth of mobile and digital media and whose board contains former CEOs of the likes of Ericsson and Nokia Mobile Phones as well as the ex-Minister of Communications of Finland.
Zilliacus told MEN Sport that his team are already drafting up detailed plans of what the app for United fan investors could look like and what kinds of decisions supporters would be able to have a say in.
The 69-year-old outlined that United fans would be able to vote on broad issues and “the bigger and general principles of the club”, including player transfer philosophy - for example, should the Reds target younger prospects or established international stars.
However, the