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There are a fair few bombs dropped throughout the interview.
Amid a number of financial confessions made on Monday, Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has revealed that ticket prices will go up next season.
The Failsworth-born billionaire sat down with club legend and fellow businessman Gary Neville for a lengthy interview on The Overlap, during which the two discussed everything from his first year in charge to Erik ten Hag, fan frustration, the Glazer family, the new stadium and more.
However, the biggest takeaway that supporters will no doubt be most concerned with is how things are going to directly impact them and their pockets, with Ratcliffe confirming that ticket prices will be going up heading into next year.
You can see how he dealt with the question by Neville down below.
Jim Ratcliffe’s full interview with Gart Neville on The Overlap.
As you can see, although he answers the questions very quickly and plainly, there’s still no indication as to what fans can expect to be paying for season tickets and single matchday admission.
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Although Ratcliffe insists they will only jump up “a little bit, yes, but not a lot”, he couldn’t clarify what that amount will be and, more importantly, it wasn’t made clear if this was an increase on the existing number or the £66 limited fee that was introduced back in November after concessions were stripped.
That being said, given the “big picture” revelations regarding the club’s finances Ratcliffe mentions throughout the rest of the interview, you would assume it will be on top of that figure.
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Undoubtedly the most alarming quote for fans to hear during the entire sit-down comes from 72-year-old disclosing that “**Manchester United** would have run out of money at the end of this year”, around Christmas or even November time.
Neville’s only response is to ask “Do you know how bad that is?”, assuring that he doesn’t doubt they are indeed the facts on the balance sheet given his knowledge of the club, before describing the present circumstances as “horrific.”
It is this reason, among many others related to the long-standing Glazer stewardship and what Neville labelled as nothing less than “neglect” that led United fans to hold yet another large-scale protest before the game against Arsenal on Sunday – a demonstration which saw thousands take over the streets.
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Other notable comments from the discussion included Ratcliffe admitting that “mistakes” were made when it came to keeping ten Hag on after the FA Cup victory, the costly situation with Dan Ashworth – which he put down to a matter of “chemistry” – and the club’s continued issues with recruitment.
While the former right-back did credit his fellow entrepreneur for at least coming forward to do the interview and communicating these realities to the Old Trafford faithful, if you’re a Red, we’ll warn you it isn’t exactly a light-hearted listen.
Better yet, let us know your honest opinion of Jim Ratcliffe, INEOS and the decision they’ve made thus far down in the comments.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — The Overlap (screenshot via YouTube)
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Manchester City Women part ways with manager Gareth Taylor just FIVE days before cup final Danny Jones Danny Jones Gareth Taylor sacked by Man City
In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Manchester City have sacked their women’s team manager Gareth Taylor less than a week before a crucial cup final.
Taylor has been in charge of the Man City Women first team since May 2020, having only just signed a new three-year contract last March, however, it now looks as though there’s been a big sea change at the Joie Stadium.
Having been with the club for the best part of eight years, first as a player (1998-2001) and then as a coach, it’s the end of an era not just for City but for him personally too.
Announced on Monday, 10 March, the club revealed that they have “parted ways” with the retired Welsh forward-turned-manager, adding that ex-head coach Nick Cushing will be replacing him on an interim basis for the rest of the season.
BREAKING: Manchester City Women part ways with Gareth Taylor, as Nick Cushing replaces head coach on an interim basis 🚨 pic.twitter.com/qAdNdGSDxE
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 10, 2025
Writing in a lengthy statement, the club said: “Taylor has a long-standing association with Manchester City, having been both a player and having undertaken various roles within the boys’ academy prior to joining MCWFC in 2020.
“He led our women’s team to FA Cup and League Cup success in 2020 and 2022 respectively, before narrowly missing out on last season’s WSL title on goal difference alone.”
MCWFC Managing Director, Charlotte O’Neill, added: “Manchester City prides itself on competing at the top of the WSL and on its outstanding record of qualifying for European competition.
“Unfortunately, results this season have so far not reached this high standard. With six games of the WSL campaign remaining, we believe that a change of management will breathe fresh life into our bid to ensure qualification for the 2025/26 UEFA Women’s Champions League.”
“We would like to place on record our thanks to Gareth for all of his efforts during his many years at City. Our FA Cup and League Cup triumphs will remain special moments in the history of this football club. We wish him all the best for the future.”
Supporters have been posting their opinions on the news across social media:
Kelly, now him 🤦
— Mason_Do Lindo (@MasonDoLindor) March 10, 2025
Gareth Taylor leaving city pic.twitter.com/9aDq8HIKkz
— Libs 🎀 (@hempogoal) March 10, 2025
They’ve sacked Gareth Taylor BEFORE we meet them FOUR times????? What a way to try and new manager bounce it.
— Meg (@meggaherne) March 10, 2025
Although not everyone will be totally surprised to see him go – especially after making his frustration at Chloe Kelly’s own departure from the club to title rivals Arsenal rather publicly known in a recent press conference – the timing is nevertheless curious.
With Man City set to face WSL top dogs Chelsea in the Women’s League Cup final this Saturday, not to mention another three crucial knockout ties on the horizon in the next few weeks, sacking a manager seems like a rather bold step by the Blues.
It’s also worth noting that Taylor led them to win the trophy in 2022 and the FA Women’s Cup just two years before that.
For context, their next six games include the final, a two-legged Champions League quarter (also against the East London giants) and a Manchester derby FA Women’s Cup semi.
Even with the league fixtures, there are no small games, as the saying goes.
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As for Gareth Taylor himself, we’ll have to wait to see if the now ex-Women’s manager shares any kind of response in the coming days and weeks but it’s fair to say the decision has been made at a crucial time.
The club currently sit fourth in the table and a full 12 points off the league leaders What do you make of it, City fans – right call or would you have liked him to stay?
As for the men’s team, there could be another interesting development in regards to the backroom staff and a potential new assistant coach:
Gareth Taylor might be sacked but another former player might be coming back.
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — Manchester City (screenshot via YouTube)
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Watch Gary Neville join The Reytons and ‘play bass’ on stage in Manchester Danny Jones Danny Jones Gary Neville joins The Reytons on stage in Manchester Aviva Studios
Remember when we kind of thought Gary Neville was joining The Reytons on tour? Well, turns out he sort of has – at least for one night, anyway.
The former footballer turned pundit and entrepreneur seems to crop up absolutely everywhere these days, be that in Greater Manchester or otherwise, and we know that he’s proven to be a bit of a jack of all trades since his playing days came to an end.
However, we never thought we’d put Gary Neville and ‘playing bass’ in the same sentence, let alone on stage with one of the fastest-rising Northern bands around, but Rotherham’s very own Reytons have turned that seemingly random combination of words into a reality.
Playing the incredible Aviva Studios venue on Saturday, 8 March, the Manc crowd were in for a treat when the Man United legend and ex-England defender popped up on stage, guitar in hand.
As you can see, not only did G Nev join for the cult favourite anthem ‘Low Life’ but he made quite the entrance and pyros blasted from the front of the stage.
For anyone needing a bit more context, this all came about following a humorous stunt back in September of last year where the band made it look like the Manc might be standing in as replacement bassist after full-time member Lee Holland broke his arm.
The 50-year-old filmed a skit of him going through a fake audition process as other candidates were ignored and he ended up being selected.
It was pretty funny, to be fair, especially when the final punchline was that he had absolutely no idea how to play bass.
Still didn’t stop him from going ahead and doing a whole photo shoot though, did it? Now they’ve gone even further and brought him out in front of a massive hometown crowd.
Credit: Graham Noble
Speaking on the cameo, frontman Jonny Yerrell thanked Neville for his support, telling the crowd: “He is honestly one of the most down-to-earth and nicest people we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.”
Yerrell also went on to highlight their Grassroots Foundation initiative, explaining how they provided full football kits to 50 different grassroots teams in 2024, as well as applauding the Reytons fan base and the wider music community for rallying behind young mum Sophie White in a truly touching tale.
The 22-year-old Rotheram native, who has seen widespread support across Yorkshire, is currently battling a brain tumour; with that in mind, the band raffled off the stage sign from their flagship sell-out performance at Clifton Park performance.
With Sophie in attendance, Jonny announced to gig-goers that over £10,000 had been raised in just two days to help her undergo potentially life-saving treatment in Germany, which finally starts this week (Monday, 10 March 2025). Incredible stuff.
If there’s one thing we love more than a band with a sense of humour and who don’t mind a stunt or two, it’s the kind that does important stuff for their region like this.
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And, as Jonny puts it, this is just the start; “We’re planning to do even more this year!”, he says, so don’t expect this to be the last time you hear about these Northern trailblazers doing something brilliant.
Who knows, maybe we’ll see Gary Neville joining The Reytons for their headline set at Tramlines Festival this summer too?
After all, we’ve seen similar before…
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Featured Images — The Reytons/Graham Noble (supplied)
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