The Glazer family have been working with a PR company to improve their media profile and sell their global vision for Manchester United. After the family’s spokesman resigned at the end of last year, football and company media relations were dealt with by Phil Townsend, the club’s communications director.
The Glazer family have been working with a PR company to improve their media profile and sell their global vision for Manchester United. After the family’s spokesman resigned at the end of last year, football and company media relations were dealt with by Phil Townsend, the club’s communications director.
In January the Glazers took on Jon Tibbs Associates to work with Mr Townsend. Mr Tibbs is a former executive director of Hill & Knowlton, the PR agency, and a sports marketing specialist. ‘Jon’s reputation and professionalism make him the ideal person to help modernise our corporate communications,’ Mr Townsend told the Financial Times. ‘What the club is seeking is a greater understanding of the international profile of Manchester United and what the owners are trying to achieve.’ Many fans might have their own views about that.
The Pink ‘Un takes the view that the move shows that the owners believed that a chapter had been closed after they had paid down £220m in high interest payment-in-kind (PIK) loans in November. However, the PR push is unlikely to propel the Glazers themselves into the spotlight, even if the volume of protest has been dampened by the club’s success this season.
The job of officially explaining strategy is expected to be divided between David Gill, chief executive, and Ed Woodward, who runs the club’s London office. It is interesting that a Manchester club needs a London office.