Eric Cantona urges Manchester United fans from across the world to buy shares in club

New campaign from supporters trust wants meaningful ownership stake

Eric Cantona alongside Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson. Cantona signed for United from rivals Leeds for £1.2 million on November 26, 1992. PA

Manchester United's Eric Cantona celebrates scoring a goal against Manchester City on March 20, 1993. Allsport

Manchester United player Eric Cantona lifts the Premier League trophy as United celebrate winning the 1992/93 title after the game against Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford on May 3, 1993. Getty Images

Manchester United player Eric Cantona and manager Alex Ferguson attend an FA disciplinary hearing on February 24, 1995 in London. Cantona was banned for nine months for attacking Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons, who had been using abusive language to the Frenchman, with a two-footed kung-fu type assault, after he had been sent off in a match between the two sides. Getty Images

Manchester United player Eric Cantona celebrates his second goal in a 3-1 Premier League win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford on December 19, 1993 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Manchester United striker Eric Cantona wheels away after scoring the third goal in a 3-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League at Old Trafford on April 17, 1993 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Manchester United players celebrate the penalty scored by Eric Cantona during the FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on May 14, 1994 in London. Manchester United won the match 4-0. Allsport

Eric Cantona of Manchester United challenges Manchester City's Ian Brightwell during a Premier League match at November 10, 1994. United won the match at Old Trafford 5-0. Allsport

Eric Cantona of Manchester United elbows Liverpool's Jason McAteer during a Premiership match at Old Trafford on October 1, 1995. Allsport

Eric Cantona of Manchester United flicks the ball past Liverpool's Neil Ruddock during a Premiership match at Old Trafford on October 1, 1995. Allsport

11 May 1996: Eric Cantona, left, holds aloft the FA Cup alongside Peter Schmeical, Denis Irwin and David May of Manchester United as they celebrate beating Liverpool at Wembley Stadium in London on May 11, 1996. Allsport

12th May 1996; Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and Eric Cantona with the FA Cup and Premiership trophy on their arrival at Manchester's Victoria station on May 12, 1996. Allsport

24 Mar 1996: Eric Cantona of Manchester United celebrates in front of fans at Old Trafford after scoring against Tottenham on March 24, 1996. Allsport

Eric Cantona of Manchester United shields the ball from Juventus' Didier Deschamps during a Champions League match at Old Trafford on November 20, 1996. Shutterstock

Manchester United player Eric Cantona beats Newcastle United's Steve Watson and David Batty during the FA Charity Shield match at Wembley Stadium on August 11, 1996 in London, England. Getty Images

Eric Cantona celebrates scoring in Manchester United's 5-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford on December 21, 1996. Getty Images

9th May1996: Eric Cantona of Manchester United with the Player of The Year award during the Player of the Year awards at The Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, May 9, 1996. Allsport

28 Apr 1996: Eric Cantona of Manchester United heads the ball during a Premiership match against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford in Manchester, England on April 28, 1996. Manchester United won the match 5-0. Allsport

5 May 1996: Eric Cantona of Manchester United lifts the Premiership trophy following a 3-0 win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, England, on May 5, 1996. Allsport

Manchester United goalscorer Eric Cantona celebrates the winning goal with Nicky Butt, Andy Cole and David Beckham during the Premier League match against Coventry City at Old Trafford on April 8, 1996 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Manchester United legend Eric Cantona is encouraging fans to register to buy shares in the club as part of a new campaign working with the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST).

The campaign, which launches on Friday, wants United’s global supporters to sign up for a fan share ownership scheme and register their commitment.

United's Joel Glazer recently said that they will make shares available to fans – shares which have equal voting rights to those owned by the Glazer family. He did this in response to demands from MUST.

Cantona is the first signatory in the campaign and he said “Yes, my friends, I have signed for United again.” Other former Manchester United players are also believed to be in support.

The online campaign at www.SignForUnited.org will reach out to United’s huge global fanbase to ensure the Glazers make good on their promise to “create the biggest fans ownership scheme in world sport”, as Joel declared earlier this month.

Glazer stated: "The club has initiated a direct dialogue with MUST with the aim of identifying a mutually beneficial Fan Share Scheme involving a new class of shares which will each carry the same voting rights as the shares owned by the Glazer family. This would establish a foundation for supporters to build a meaningful ownership stake and create a new spirit of partnership with the club.”

MUST have insisted supporter-owned shares should come with the same voting rights as the shares owned by the Glazer family and be issued in sufficient numbers that United supporters can develop a meaningful ownership stake in the club.

Commenting on the launch of the campaign, MUST chief executive Duncan Drasdo said: “Once again Eric Cantona is leading the attack for United and we as United fans need to follow his example and join the Sign for United campaign. No-one loves the club more than we do, so fans should be at the heart of ownership. This is our chance to take the first step towards that change.”

“Joel Glazer promised to create the biggest supporters share scheme in sport – now is the time to make good on that promise.”

MUST also called for the UK government to allow fans to buy shares in their clubs in the forthcoming football review. MUST also revealed that in a meeting with the government’s fan-led review of football last week, led by Tracey Crouch MP, it made the case for the government to require football club owners to allow fans to buy shares in their clubs as part of a “Football Right to Buy” scheme.

Under the proposals made, club owners would be required to create new shares each year, to be offered to club supporters, allowing fans to grow a meaningful shareholding over time.

Speaking about the right to buy scheme, Drasdo added: “A football club is a cultural and community asset, and the best people to protect these assets for the long-term are the supporters. Under our ‘Football Right to Buy’ scheme, fans would have an opportunity to grow a meaningful ownership stake over time, allowing them to invest in the clubs they love.”