Manchester United has made a surprising last-minute intervention in the presidential elections of the International Olympic Committee by throwing their support behind Lord Sebastian Coe in his offer on the most powerful job in sport.
COE is one of the seven contenders who are looking for the departing IOC president Thomas Bach, where the elections take place on Thursday in the Greek port city of Pylos.
The World Athletics President is seen as one of the three leading candidates for the role, together with IOC vice president Juan Antonio Samaranch JNR of Spain; And several Olympic swimming champion Kirsty Coventry, the Minister of Sport of Zimbabwe.
Coventry, 41, is considered the favorite replacement of Bach.
On the eve of the vote, Premier League Giants Man United offered their support to COE.
In a letter to COE, Man United Chief Executive Omar Berrada was praised the 68-year-old has been an 'unparalleled leader in the worldwide sport'.
Berrada also emphasized the role of COE in the development of Man United's plans for a new £ 2 billion stadium, which was unveiled last week.
COE had the task of holding up a task force that supervised the project as part of a mass regeneration of the Old Trafford area of Manchester.
“Just as you supported us so beautifully as chairman of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, I want you to know that everyone at Manchester United supports your campaign to become the next president of the International Olympic Committee,” Berrada wrote.
'You have demonstrated your impeccable references as an unparalleled leader in global sport, and we were lucky to take advantage of those invaluable skills while you drove and formed, our ambitious vision for a new stadium and the regeneration of Trafford Park.
“There is no doubt that if you are chosen, you will be a very innovative and effective leader of the Olympic family, and we wish you every success in the elections of tomorrow during the 144th IOC session in Greece.”
COE is the most famous of the candidates, like a double Olympic champion on the Blue-Riband 1500 meters in 1980 and 1984.
His role as chairman of the Olympic Games in London 2012 had led man United to turn to him to support their stadium plans, which emphasized the regeneration of East London as part of the competitions.
COE stands as a reform candidate, promises more transparency and supports the rights of women in the transgender -row in sport.
As President of World Athletics, a position he has held for ten years, he has also taken a strong position against Russia.
Mail Sport understands that the current regime in Lausanne wants 'someone else except COE' for the elections, with 109 members of the IOC who turn off their preferences on Thursday.
COE is seen as too unreliable and too much of a Maverick through the former film ships of Germany.
It was argued that Bach was irritated by World Athletics 'Blindding them' by offering price fee of $ 50,000 (£ 39,000) to follow gold medal winners at the Olympic Games in Paris last year.
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