Monday 5 September 2016 18:45, UK
Manchester United have moved the grandchildren of former manager Sir Matt Busby out of the directors' box and into another part of Old Trafford.
Busby, the club's second-most decorated manager after Sir Alex Ferguson, and his family have had seats in the directors' box since his retirement in 1969.
Those seats were handed to his children Sandy and Sheena following Busby's death in 1994, and then to his grandchildren following their deaths during the 2014-15 season.
Press Association Sport understands the club made those seats available to them for one more year and then offered six (three apiece) complimentary season tickets in the Warwick Suite of the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand instead.
The Manchester Evening News reported that a plaque bearing the Busby name has also been removed from the directors' box seats, which was met with an angry response from a number of supporters, many of whom signed an online petition to have the plaque reinstated.
Press Association Sport understands the four plates bearing the name Busby have been given to the family at their request. However, it is understood United will have a new plaque made for the seat which Busby sat in, similar to those which were created to mark the achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton.
Amanda Eustace, one of Busby's granddaughters, told the Manchester Evening News: "My dad always said it was a privilege to have those box tickets.
"We have been extremely grateful to United for what they have given us over the past years. We do still have season tickets, which is absolutely fantastic."
A Manchester United statement said: "The club continues to provide tickets and hospitality for the descendants of Sir Matt but with the passing of his children that hospitality will continue in the Warwick Suite."
Busby revived the Red Devils after the devastating 1958 Munich air disaster, in which he was seriously hurt and some 23 people were killed, including eight United players, steering the club to their first European Cup success a decade later.
He also won the league title five times and the FA Cup twice and, when he retired, the club gave him seats in the directors' box, where a plaque was placed to mark his achievements and a bronze statue of Busby was erected outside Old Trafford in 1996. One of the roads to the stadium is named after him.
