Manchester United deny they have been forced to take action over weak season ticket renewal figures

EXCLUSIVE

By Wayne Veysey | Chief correspondent

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Manchester United today denied that they have been forced to take measures to combat under-par executive season tickets renewals.

Despite rumours that there has been a poor uptake of executive facilities, which include 8,000 seats and up to 1,500 corporate hospitality places, the club insist they are happy with the renewals in a sector that is crucial to the club's revenue.

Nevertheless, Goal.com UK understands there have been three crisis meetings at Old Trafford to discuss take-up of executive season tickets.

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Sources say renewals have “hit the floor” and staff have been told to ring executive supporters, principally made up of small business owners and corporate clients, urging them to reconsider their decision not to extend for another year.

Yet United, who say it is club policy not to reveal exact numbers, claim that figures are holding up well compared to 12 months ago.

“Executive season ticket renewals are at the same level as this time last year and slightly up on two years ago,” a United spokesperson told Goal.com UK.

“Everything is where we would expect it to be on executive renewals and for general season ticket renewals. We are very happy with the way things are going. Anybody who is trying to say there has been a poor uptake is lying.”

In total, the club have 54,000 season ticket holders in the 76,000-capacity stadium.

United have been trying to push up advance sales, warning fans that season tickets will be passed on unless they make a payment.

A club email was sent to executive members shortly before the renewal deadline of May 31 warning them that their ticket would be released to the seasonal hospitality waiting list if they did not extend their facility for the 2010-11 season.

Goal.com UK understands that only 18,000 season tickets had been sold five days before the 13 June deadline for rank-and-file fans, which could be seen as evidence that the orchestrated campaign of resistance against the Glazers has started to have some effect.

United claim there is a long waiting list of fans willing to take up any slack after the Glazer family froze prices this summer and remain confident of a full Old Trafford next season, despite calls by the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) not to renew season tickets while the Glazers are in charge.

Some fans were pacified by three consecutive Premier League titles from 2007 to 2009 and the 2008 Champions League triumph but unrest has intensified following failure to reinvest the £80 million generated by the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in new players.

MUST, the driving force behind the Green and Gold campaign that made such an impact at Old Trafford last season, stepped up their colour-coded rebellion against the Glazers today by launching a limited edition Green and Gold shirt.

Five thousand have been printed and, at £19.99, will retail for half of the official United shirt. All profits from sales will go to the British Heart Foundation.

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