Sir Alex Ferguson has asked Manchester United supporters to call a halt to their protests against the club's owners, the Glazer family. "One situation clouds the new season and that is the continued opposition to the Glazer family," Ferguson told United Review, the match programme for tomorrow's match against Newcastle.

"I have no problem with the green and gold campaign. Fans are entitled to protest as they see fit. But not to the detriment of the team.

"The fact is that the Glazer family own Manchester United and until such time as they decide they want to sell, they will stay as owners regardless of the opposition. So it comes down to the extent of the protest. What I don't want to see is Manchester United mired in so much controversy that it deflects our purpose of winning matches.

"Whenever we have had success it has been a collective effort with everyone united – management, players and fans. How many times have I commented in the past about the need to pull together?

"There is no doubt that players respond and relish support. We have had some great European nights at Old Trafford and I wouldn't like to see anything develop that would diminish that kind of backing.

"I see that one of the protest groups has come up with a slogan along the lines of 'New Season, Same Goal'. I know what they have in mind but I just wish they meant that once again we will all be united, busting a gut to win something big; in that sense it is not a bad slogan."