For all the faults with Ineos, and Manchester United fans can understandably list many, it is an undeniable fact that they are better than the Glazers, but there are worries that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already gone against his one pledge.
The Glazers drove the club into the ground with their apathy, taking money out of Man Utd without ever investing a single penny into it.
Furthermore, the ignorance of a sporting plan, and instead trying to maximise the historic success they inherited via commercialisation, is punishing the club now.
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe was confirmed as co-owner of Man Utd, he remarked with his usual candour that he was going to “put football first”, a statement that fans are struggling to accept right now.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (R) and Avram Glazer owner of Manchester United during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on April 21, 2024
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s pledge
It came as music to the ears of Man Utd fans when Ratcliffe said he was going to put football first, and the success on the pitch will drive commercial revenue in a virtuous cycle.
Years of chasing sponsorships and money had led the club to a place where they entered a vicious cycle, something which United are struggling to get out of this summer.
However, with only one signing sealed so far and no major outgoings either, the fans are getting a bit uneasy as United return for pre-season training.
The club recently hosted a fan forum where a supporter asked them about Eric Cantona and Nemanja Matic’s comments accusing the club of being ‘overly commercialised’, going directly against Ratcliffe’s pledge to “put football first”.
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United responded: “Success on the pitch is the club’s overwhelming priority. To achieve that, we need the club to be commercially successful to generate revenues we can invest in players.”
Ineos have inherited Man Utd in a no-win situation
The club’s sporting plans since Ineos arrived have been a marked improvement over whatever was going on under the Glazers.
Having said that, the fans are completely correct in accusing the club of still being overly commercialised when the first-team squad is flown around the globe at the end of the season for two games.
Add to that a pre-season tour in the USA instead of closer to home, and the worry gets exacerbated.
However, Ineos’ perspective is understandable too, since they inherited the club in a no-win situation.
For years, the club prioritised commercial success, but the revenues gained from it were either squandered without a plan or gifted to the Glazers as dividends.
Now, the club need to prioritise commercial success because their financial situation doesn’t leave them with any other choice.
Purely focusing on sporting success is a privilege that a club in United’s financial situation simply can’t afford right now. Striking the balance is necessary, but to compare the operations right now to what used to happen under the Glazers is disingenuous.