Man Utd fans stage colourful Old Trafford protest against Glazers

Thousands of Manchester United fans gathered outside Old Trafford to protest against the Glazer family's ownership of the club on Saturday.

It's been a truly incredible week in the world of football, with a proposed breakaway Super League - fronted by 12 major European clubs, including the Premier League's 'big six' - collapsing within 72 hours of its announcement after mass condemnation from supporters, players and pundits alike.

Mass protests had already taken place at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge, Tottenham's self named stadium and Arsenal's Emirates Stadium over the past couple of days - as well as at Anfield ahead of Liverpool's clash with Newcastle - but it was the turn of Manchester United's supporters on Saturday afternoon; angry with the continued ownership of the Glazers, who were fully in support of breaking free of the UEFA endorsed Champions League.

A vast number of supporters gathered by the Trinity Statue, hanging banners and scarves calling for the Glazers to leave the club. Many were in the green and gold colours that have become synonymous with fans protesting against their ownership since they bought the club in 2005.

The organised protest, which was announced on Friday to allow police to co-ordinate and deploy necessary resources, follows an incident at United's Carrington training ground on Thursday, when fans gained access to restricted areas in order to protest against the Glazers.

Supporters were able to speak directly with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick and Nemanja Matic, all of whom listened to what they had to say before they were escorted off the premises.

That prompted Joel Glazer to enter unchartered territory that afternoon, releasing a statement to United's fans on the club website where we apologised for signing up to the Super League.

"You made very clear your opposition to the European Super League, and we have listened," Glazer, who is co-chairman, said. "We got it wrong, and we want to show that we can put things right.

"Although the wounds are raw and I understand that it will take time for the scars to heal, I am personally committed to rebuilding trust with our fans and learning from the message you delivered with such conviction.

"This is the world’s greatest football club and we apologise unreservedly for the unrest caused during these past few days. It is important for us to put that right."

If that wasn't enough, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has already tendered his resignation after months of tension with the club's fans - though his departure is thought to because he did not back the idea of breaking away to form a Super League, rather than being a part of the scheme. He will leave the club officially at the end of 2021.