The Red Knights were given a shot in the arm today when a leading global investment bank agreed to advise the group on their possible takeover of Manchester United.
Nomura will work closely with the Red Knights, the Manchester United Supporters' Trust and other potential investors to "co-ordinate and formulate the proposal to be put to the Glazer family".
The news came after David Beckham donned a Green and Gold scarf - the fans' symbol of protest against the Americans, who have saddled the club with £700million worth of debt - at the end of his unsuccessful return to Old Trafford with AC Milan last night.
The Nomura team will be led by Guy Dawson and Andrew McNaught, both of whom advised the board of Manchester United plc when the club were sold to the Glazer family in 2005.
Nomura is beginning its role by contacting the many expressions of financial support the Red Knights have received to date.
Beckham did the entire campaign a massive favour by wearing the scarf and, although at first he insisted he only did it because he was a supporter of the club, the 34-year-old later admitted that he understood how significant his actions were.
He said: "I'm aware of the protest, obviously, you can hear it week in, week out at every game you see or listen to. There's always a protest going on and let's hope it gets sorted."
It was an emotional night for Beckham on his return seven years after leaving Old Trafford.
He said: "They are hard to live with on that form, without a doubt. They are a great team and play great football and they deserve to be where they are."
