Utd are a plc. The fans would have to raise about £1bn to buy the 51%. It will never happen.
Maybe read it?
While point 3 provides immediate protection, the way to provide long-term protection for English clubs is by adopting the German 50+1 rule on supporter ownership of clubs.
Between 2000 and 2020, we saw huge growth in supporter ownership of clubs in the UK through the establishment of Supporters Direct, a body set up to promote democratically-controlled, not-for-profit supporters’ trusts. We now need to build on those foundations.
While we can’t move to a German model overnight, we call on the Government and the game’s authorities to adopt it as the long-term direction and create a legislative framework to support it. Where clubs shares are being sold, either by shareholders or through new share issues, the legislation should require vendors to make shares available on a first refusal basis to recognised, democratically-controlled supporters’ trusts. This rule would apply until trusts own 51% of club shares. The effect would mean that any prospective owner would need the consent of the supporters.
The Government should consider other tax and financial incentives to help trusts build up the shareholding.