Perhaps, a rarity across football particularly in the modern era has seen club owners and high-ranking officials hide in the shadows, neither come out and address a fanbase, or take the heat when under intense scrutiny, particularly at a club the size of Manchester United.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, if anything, has been a polarising figure in his first 12 months in charge of the sporting project at Old Trafford, but he has, at least, provided supporters with something they have not had in two decades. Communication from the top.
A flurry of significant statements and insights across the past week gave fans, for the most part, the blunt reality of the club’s current state and, if viewed on the surface, would not have issued much hope that Man United will return to some form of glory in the somewhat near future.
Ratcliffe openly discussed a range of topics in interviews notably with BBC Sport and on The Overlap with Gary Neville, and whilst his willingness to face the pressure is applaudable, he, or the new management team he has led the construction of cannot avoid the responsibility they must take for a frankly shabby first year.
Marred by notable errors and questionable decision-making, INEOS’ promise to deliver improved performance and return the club back to the peak of European football has hit heavy turbulence, to say the least.
Despite this, the minority stakeholder was able to provide long-term hope and optimism for Man United fans all around the world. Aspirations to become the most profitable club in three to five years, a huge emphasis on player recruitment to support Ruben Amorim and a spectacular plan for the future with the recent announcement of a brand new 100,000-seater stadium now in the works, it all sounds exciting, but what can we take away from a fascinating week of insight.
Ratcliffe admits mistakes have been made
Ratcliffe was honest when pressed on the two most publicised and scrutinised decisions his new leadership structure has made during their tenure thus far. The indecision surrounding the security of Erik ten Hag’s job following the shock FA Cup final triumph against Manchester City and the **Dan Ashworth**saga after an eight-month pursuit have both led to heavy criticism from all angles.
It all became confusing after the Red Devils secured a 13th FA Cup title in May last year. Noise immediately accelerated around what to do with the Dutch manager after having delivered a second trophy in as many seasons despite having endured a disastrous campaign in the **Premier League**and in Europe.
An uncertain time became more so when reports of INEOS’ discussions with other managers emerged, Thomas Tuchel, and even Amorim at the time, it seemed to become more likely that change in the dugout was incoming.
Instead, Ratcliffe and the new management cohort decided to stick with Ten Hag. A shock decision that did not seem probable, or even sensible considering the rumours. Having backed him last summer with over £200m, the poor performances and results continued, and it became clearer the first big decision had gone wrong.
A blunt admission that an error had been made, with Ratcliffe even submitting regret to keep the Dutchman, though it did not come without defence. The billionaire detailed that it was too early to make such a huge choice to change head coach due to the short amount of time Chief Executive Officer, Omar Berrada, and Technical Director, Jason Wilcox had been in their respective roles alongside Ratcliffe and INEOS Director of Sport, Sir Dave Brailsford.
This tied seamlessly into their second misjudgement, with the acquisition of former Newcastle United and **Brighton**Sporting Director Ashworth going pear-shaped just months after his arrival at Old Trafford.
The news seemed unthinkable considering the time Ratcliffe and co took to pursue Ashworth, adding onto the fact the patience they had to show after a five-month period of gardening leave before the Englishman officially started in July 2024.
A newly assembled structure looked complete, and ready to deliver support to Ten Hag, and then Amorim before Ashworth abruptly departed the club in December, whilst the problem was described as “chemistry”, or a lack thereof.
Ratcliffe predictably remained coy about further details, surrounding with which prominent figures, and on what specific subjects, though he appeared more comfortable in this decision after management recognised the error relatively early on, and his willingness to make unpopular decisions if it is “the right thing to do”, which became a prominent theme in his communication.
It, meanwhile, moved onto a topic that has dominated all news surrounding Man United in recent weeks, a desperate financial demise that as described “would have seen the club out of cash by the end of 2025.”
A damning verdict on a club that still brought in the fourth-highest revenue in world football last season.
This having led to savage decisions, in attempts to alleviate the situation caused anger across the fanbase, particularly down to the fact the club have had to compensate £15m to remove both Ten Hag and Ashworth, with management now looking to repair the damage they created.
Horror details of a financial decline
A 20-year build-up of frustration across the board within the Old Trafford faithful has unfortunately carried on under the new stewardship of INEOS, where complete mismanagement and negligence under the Glazer Family has seen financials and the clubs' riches evaporate, requiring desperate action.
Once completely debt-free, the Glazers’ controversially leveraged buyout in 2005 sparked a downward spiral financially that has left the club within the constraints of Financial Fair Play and Profit and Sustainability rules, particularly in recent seasons.
Brutal decisions have been deemed necessary as a result in the first 12 months under INEOS; taking £40,000 away from the Association of Former Manchester United Players each year, continuous job cuts, and more recently removing free food away from staff – Ratcliffe has come into the firing line to say the least.
Such a number of cut-throat decision-making in close proximity has raised questions – which again, Ratcliffe did not shy away from answering – though the Brit when pressured by Neville, particularly on the matter of the funding to former players, was left rather tongue-tied.
A damning response to the most basic of alternatives by the former Man United skipper, of which nobody even came close to suggesting, left even Neville stunned for words.
Ratcliffe came to a quick admission that a different decision could of and should have been made whilst not ruling out reinstating the association. It came across the billionaire realised quickly the severity of some of the decisions made in that moment, and how they could impact some of the core principles of what was traditionally a working-class club, even if the minority-owner has taken on a juggernaut.
Though, with his explanation or attempt at one that followed, some of the numbers and figures that were openly exposed by Ratcliffe were a brutal reality check of where the club are at.
Just to name a few; £330m lost over the past four years, lost money continuously in the last seven – in which period, increasing the clubs operating cost and player salary bill both by £100m, whilst only increasing revenue by £100m. It was a disastrous recipe of spending more money than the club earnt.
If that was not damning enough, try this. Man United were set to run out of cash by the end of the year – complete insanity.
The INEOS-led cohort have also felt required to increase ticket prices, which at the time received an outrage from fans, due to what some would say extortionate cost, though Ratcliffe again addressed the issue head-on stating that the increase only impacted 500 out of 75,000 tickets.
This is not to say what Ratcliffe, and the new management team are doing is right, or in some cases acceptable, but at the minimum an explanation has been provided. There has been communication, which should be welcomed by fans.
Ratcliffe was keen to address the future, and with all the negativity and uncertainty surrounding the club momentarily, the long-term aim remains unwavering – to become the most profitable club in the world.
Set out to do so in three-to-five years' time, it seems an impossible task, though it shows ambition is back amongst the club hierarchy, which should provide optimism for the future.
Perhaps the most noticeable takeaway from Ratcliffe’s communication, was his firm support for Amorim. There was no shaking the flurry of praise the Portuguese head coach received, despite a turbulent first four months.
The belief in the ‘remarkable job’ Amorim is doing may have come across as shocking if you look at the current Premier League table, though Ratcliffe detailing the work he has done with ‘half a squad’ and a poor one at that would have been reassuring for the Man United boss, though not for some of those players.
Leadership have full confidence in Amorim, especially now that the full management team is now in place for the first time since the takeover, Ratcliffe detailed a strong synergy and determination to back the Portuguese in the next few windows to help return Man United to success.
Convinced that positive signs are beginning to show, this following the 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford, there seemed to be a total belief from Ratcliffe in the manager, now with supporters showing that faith in recent weeks, it could prove to be the start of a rewarding journey.