Man UTD Bid Ends Premier League Deal
The Premier League has ended an agreement with London-based PR firm Hanover Communications due to a conflict of interest with Manchester United’s potential new owners, according to The Athletic.
Following the soft deadline for initial proposals to buy United on Friday 17th February passing, the Prmier League have acted quickly after learning of a bid from the Qatari Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
Hanover Communications is also currently working with Al Thani, signalling a clear issue for the Premier League.
Hanover issued a press release on Friday night confirming that Sheikh Jassim had submitted a bid for 100%of Manchester United and was determined to ‘return the club to its former glories’.
But the Premier League, which applies an Owners’ and Directors’ Test to would-be buyers, has also paid for Hanover’s services.
Hanover has previously assisted with a public services brief for England’s top flight, but while it has not been involved in any regulatory work, Premier League chiefs were wary of any suggestions that their actions could be affected by the partnership.
Hanover is understood to have alerted the Premier League to its involvement with the Sheikh Jassim bid ahead of that becoming public on Friday evening.
Ties were cut following subsequent conversations, with the split described as ‘amicable’.
