The upper echelons of MU are undergoing significant changes with personnel adjustments as Sir Jim Ratcliffe prepares to take over decision-making authority for football operations at MU. However, will the presence of Jim Ratcliffe truly lead to a transformation for MU?
MU has not won the Premier League for the past 10 years, since the last time they lifted the Premier League trophy in the 2012/13 season. The “Red Devils” haven’t come close to achieving that feat, finishing in second place twice, trailing the league leaders by 19 and 12 points. There have been loud protests from many fans witnessing Manchester United appear lackluster in the race for the Premier League title. However, around 70,000 spectators who regularly attend matches at Old Trafford continue to offer their wholehearted support to the “Red Devils,” especially during the years when MU was under the ownership of the Glazer family.
Every match is a sell-out. Coach Erik Ten Hag is still cheered on by the fans, passionately supported, just like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jose Mourinho, Louis van Gaal, and David Moyes. However, it does not overshadow the reality that there are disappointed fans, even disgruntled ones when comparing the current MU to the MU under the era of Sir Alex Ferguson. Therefore, the news that billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s company INEOS is finalizing the purchase of a 25% stake in MU has brought expectations of a change in direction or at least the beginning of something new for the team.
“It’s the destruction of MU,” said Edward Freeman, former commercial director of MU, bitterly commenting on the Glazer era that has lasted for 18 years. “It’s a disaster. They have destroyed the team.” November 2023 is considered an important month in the modern history of MU, as Sir Jim Ratcliffe is preparing to complete the purchase of a 25% stake in the team for £1.3 billion. Through this, Ratcliffe, with a personal fortune of nearly £30 billion, will take over control of MU’s football operations.
With Jim Ratcliffe poised to take over decision-making in football, MU has immediately dismissed Richard Arnold, who became CEO of MU in February 2022 after Ed Woodward resigned. Patrick Stewart, a general adviser to MU, has been appointed interim CEO to replace Richard Arnold.
In addition to Richard Arnold, several other directors of MU are expected to lose their jobs in the near future, including football director John Murtough and technical director Darren Fletcher. These are steps to pave the way for Ratcliffe to control football operations at MU with his £1.3 billion investment. Many fans are hopeful for the fresh start that Ratcliffe promises to bring to MU.
However, this expectation could be disappointing, as the Glazers still retain control. Chris Blackhurst, author of the recent book “The World’s Biggest Cash Machine: Manchester United, the Glazers And The Struggle for Football’s Soul,” said, “I am very skeptical about the level of freedom Ratcliffe will be allowed. Who will be responsible if I own 100% of a business and someone contributes 25%? 75% is more than 25%. And if MU wants to buy a player for £100 million, £75 million will come from the Glazers. It’s simple economics.”
According to Blackhurst, MU has fallen behind at many levels and needs a comprehensive overhaul rather than relying solely on the agreement with Ratcliffe. “Ratcliffe owns two football clubs, Lausanne and Nice, and has achieved initial success. But with a deal like this, there’s a lot of PR trickery. History shows that the Glazer family doesn’t have partnerships. They run the business with their own style and brutality. Ratcliffe’s shareholding in MU is a minority, and it’s hard to believe that it can work wonders like waving a magic wand to change everything instantly,” Blackhurst emphasized.
