Gary Neville SLAMS the Glazer family for 'unprofessional' handling of Man United takeover

Gary Neville has ripped into the Glazer family for handling Manchester United's takeover process 'unprofessionally'.

The Red Devils have been searching for a new owner for months now and seemed as though they were closing in on a potential announcement earlier this month.

Reports suggested that Sir Jim Ratcliffe had been identified as the preferred bidder to buy the club from the Glazer family, but has not received the green light to commence the takeover.

And, as United's fans continue to be left in the dark over the matter, former right-back Neville has voiced his displeasure with the situation on social media.

Taking to his Twitter page on Wednesday morning, Neville wrote: 'Plainly obvious the Glazer family aren’t going to announce anything on the ownership until the season is closed!

'They’ve been spinning it out unprofessionally for weeks and months now. They know fan protests would have been more significant than they already have if matches were still being played and the end result of the sale process is unpopular.

'Basically any family members staying in would be deemed unacceptable by all fans. Is this why they’re holding off?'.

Having announced during the World Cup that they were seeking fresh revenue streams, be that an investment in the club or an outright sale, much speculation has surrounded United and the potential next owners.

For months, it has appeared a battle between two candidates - British billionaire Ratcliffe and Qatari former banker Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani.

It is understood that Ratcliffe's £5bn bid is the Glazers' preferred option, with the American owners themselves remaining at the club as minority shareholders.

It is said that complications have emerged throughout the bidding process which has dragged on for the entirety of this year owing to Joel and Avram Glazer's desire to remain at the club.

Earlier this month, Neville called on the Glazer family to 'remove themselves' from Manchester United, as potential buyers awaited a verdict over their takeover bids.

Speaking on CBS Sports, Neville was asked about who his preference would be out of the potential takeover options, to which he said: 'I've not heard the pledges that have been made by any of the bids.

'At the moment, there's the Jim Ratcliffe bid, the Qatari bid and a number of US investment funds. I don't want private equity into an English football club, I'll be really clear.

'I don't think it works. I think football is about emotion. Believe it or not, in Manchester, I have a partnership with a US private equity fund and in other sectors of life, I love international investment.'