David Gill

UNITED chief executive David Gill believes the club have taken all the necessary steps to ensure a minute's silence in memory of the Munich disaster is respected by everyone next weekend.

There have been fears that the silence, before Sunday' Manchester derby at Old Trafford, will be disrupted by some City fans, but Gill is confident that will not be the case.

He said: "In football there is always trepidation and it's a very tribal game.

"That's why we've worked on the communication and the explanations so we can honour it appropriately and respect it.

"If you look back and see that 23 people lost their lives, of which eight were footballers in their early 20s by and large...

"It's a true tragedy for football so if you're a football fan, as the fans coming through the gate will be, you should reflect on that and make sure that you behave appropriately."

One of the those killed was former City keeper Frank Swift who was working as a sports reporter at the time, and Gill pointed out the whole of Manchester was affected.

He added: "We've been working closely with City and discussed it with them. Frank Swift was one of their greatest goalkeepers and we've talked to them about the plans for the day.

"They're aware of what we're doing, for example with the kit, and they're doing something special with their kit as well. We'll be giving a memento to every fan, both United and City.

"There are 3,000 City fans going through the gate on the day and we're involving some of their former players on the day.

"We're working to ensure they remember that it wasn't just Manchester United, it was the city of Manchester that was affected and it was the world of football that was affected.

"We hope and believe that the minute's silence will be observed appropriately."

The centrepiece of the commemorations will be the unveiling of a free, permanent exhibition of the Busby Babes in the South Stand tunnel - to be renamed Munich Tunnel - on Wednesday.

A memorial service will be conducted by the club chaplain to coincide with the time of crash at 3.04pm.

On Sunday, United players will wear a 1950s-style kit, free from sponsorship and numbered one to 11. City are also planning to wear a special strip.

Gill added: "As Manchester United, we've always tried to reflect on it and make sure that we deal with things appropriately and compassionately.

"We've always done that and in terms of what we've got planned for February 6 and February 10, we've spoken to the people involved.

"We've spoken to Bobby Charlton directly, and to people who know the club's history intimately.

"What we wanted to achieve was, on the day itself, to have an appropriate memorial service which will be led by our club chaplain and that will be followed by Eamonn Holmes doing the second part of that which will be more of a tribute, a reflection. That's the service on the day to which the survivors, victims and families will be invited.

"There will be people from the world of football invited and there will also be our supporters there."