After weeks of speculation it has been confirmed today that a bid will be made to buy Manchester United by a group of wealthy and influential fans known as the Red Knights. The group of city financiers met in London yesterday to discuss a proposal to put to the current owners, the Glazer Family.

Manchester United fans globally have been joining in the protests against the Glazer Family, encouraged by the Manchester United Supporters Trust. The Glazers were impelled to outline their business model and it became apparent that the total debt of loans secured on their shares, including hedge funds loans with high interest, is now £716 million.

Jim O’Neill, a chief economist with Goldman Sachs, is leading the Red Knights and has asked for the backing of Manchester United fans. Representatives of the Supporters Trust met with the Red Knights yesterday and the first step for fans to take if they wish to support the bid is to enlist with the Supporters Trust using an online website for free membership.

Membership of the Trust now tops 50,000 and the green and gold colours of the Trust are being increasingly seen worn by fans. Keith Harris, a stockbroker has taken a leading role in putting the bid together with O’Neill. However the Glazers are still insisting, “Manchester United is not for sale. It’s business as usual”.

The campaign to get rid of the Glazers though, seems to be steamrollering and it will be difficult for them to function with such outright hostility from the fans. For more on this story go to the guardian.co.uk. Do you want to see Manchester United in the hands of the Red Knights and if so, how do you think the clubs fortunes can be improved?