Malcolm Glazer's three sons - Joel, Avi and Bryan - have held talks in London with representatives from the Premier League and Football Association.
Sports Minister Richard Caborn and Manchester United chief executive David Gill also attended the meetings.

The three sons are all on the Old Trafford board following the takeover by their father, who now owns 98%.

All parties wanted clarification on plans, and they spent 90 minutes with FA chiefs at Soho Square.

FA chairman Geoff Thompson, chief executive Brian Barwick and executive director David Davies were present at the meeting with the Glazers.

The Glazers had voluntarily scheduled the get-together to introduce themselves to the governing body before proceeding onto further meetings with the Premier League and Caborn.

Barwick is understood to have adopted a firm line with the Glazers, reminding them of United's status in English football and the responsibilities which they now have to the future of the club and the game.

However, the FA chief executive is believed to have been impressed by the response which he received from Joel Glazer and the meeting is said to have been constructive.

The American billionnaire has passed the point when he can de-list United from the stock exchange and compulsorily purchase the five million shares he does not own.

It has been speculated that he might try to re-negotiate United's television deal - separately from the rest of the Premiership - but there has been no word from the family on what their intentions are.

Glazer has yet to issue a deadline for the sale of the shares not under his control.

The £15m required by Red Football, the group owned by Glazer which is handling the takeover, to complete those transactions will remain in trust until a deadline is set.

Glazer's takeover has been deeply unpopular with large sections of the United support, and has also raised alarms in the corridors of football power.