Manchester United Lose Two Directors - 22/10/2006

David Gill has been left looking isolated as chief executive of Manchester United after the club announced the imminent departure of both its finance and commercial directors. Nick Humby and Andy Anson are along with Mr Gill the only board members outside the Glazer family. Mr Gill said in a statement, 'I am very disappointed to lose Nick and Andy', later telling MUTV that 'we'd prefer it didn't happen.' Mr Anson was voted off the plc board by the Glazers prior to the takeover in retaliation for the failure of the board in place at the time to open their accounts to the Buccaneers' owner. Both Mr Anson and Mr Humby accepted offers to remain in place after the sale. Mr Anson, who has been on the board for the past two years, helped secure the club's record £56.5m sponsorship deal with American bank AIG. The Manchester United Supporters' Trust, previously Shareholders United, said that it was demanding further explanations for the directors' departures. Sean Bones of the trust said, 'For any company the resignations of both the financial director and commercial director on the same day would generally be interpreted as bad news.'