Manchester United supporters’ group The 1958 have launched a scathing review of the first 12 months under minority ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS, describing the time as “a year of shame and disgrace”.
Ratcliffe, a self-proclaimed childhood Manchester United fan, initially bought a 27.7% stake in the club. The British billionaire has increased its stake to 28.94% earlier this month with a £79.3m injection, but has been repeatedly criticized for taking a serious approach to cost-cutting.
In total 250 non-players sacked over the summer, those who survived the cull were stripped of various privileges – including this year’s Christmas party – and even legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson had his a lucrative ambassadorial role abort.
Ratcliffe caused another wave of reaction after allegedly canceling United’s long-standing payments to a charity that supports the club’s former players. That proved to be the last straw before The 1958 made a strong statement.
“Sir Jim’s cost-cutting strategy is nothing short of an affront to the working-class foundations on which our club is built,” a group of supporters said on X. “It’s a wise and pound-mad approach. Hitting those who need it most and can least afford it, who have no voice, is an act of cowardice and shows a complete lack of understanding.”
In 1958 he also had problems with: “Increasing prices for fans going to the game. Abolishing concessions for children and pensioners. Club staff are losing their jobs at all levels saving peanuts. [Dan] Ashworth debacle costing millions. Ticket sales services affected by the cuts (paying at guests). The morale of the club and the hopes of the fans are doomed. Warden bonuses are removed and numbers are reduced.
“You’ve seen the lines well (more on that another time). Donations to a charity that supports former United players have been stopped without any notice. Nothing but complete contempt for the fans and the very fabric of what our club is built on.”
Manchester United are stuck in 14th place at the wrong end Premier League table. Still, a lot like former club player Cristiano RonaldoIn 1958, he did not blame current manager Ruben Amorim for the team’s downfall.
As with any attack on UnitedHierarchy, the focus soon turned to the club’s majority shareholders: “An investor with a strong conviction would address the real issues affecting the club. The Glazers. Their mismanagement of the club for over 20 years. Their crushing debt that has been placed on the club and the millions of pounds that the club every year he pays as interest.”
The 1958 added: “Now we have the worst of both worlds. A top-down attack with the Glazers winning from the club and a bottom-up attack with the ‘local lad from Failsworth’ attacking those who can least afford it and have no voice.
“This cannot continue! We will not allow this to continue!”
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