Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made his position clear (Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United shareholder in part In his dealings with club employees, Sir Jim Ratcliffe has shown no mercy, and his position has been made apparent in emails that have been leaked.
This is not the first time the part-owner has been blunt in his appraisal of the playing situation at Manchester United, as evidenced by his email regarding the condition of the club’s facilities.
Ratcliffe, who owns slightly more than 25% of the company, has visited on several occasions since the announcement of his investment in the middle of the season and its subsequent ratification in February. After finishing the London Marathon, the billionaire—who also happens to be a United supporter—even made a quick trip to Wembley to watch the end of the FA Cup semi-final between United and Coventry City.
However, it became apparent this week that he is not at all pleased with the condition of the team’s renowned stadium. He claimed standards “would not come close” to those at chemical company INEOS, where he serves as chairman, and mentioned meeting a “disgrace” during a facilities tour in communications that were leaked.
It happens after cost-cutting measures ahead of the FA Cup final infuriated some employees. According to additional leaked emails, employees would have to cover their own transportation costs to and from Wembley for the highlight match against Manchester City, something they were exempt from in 2023.
The email from April stated, according to The Times, “In recognition of your ongoing support this season, we will organise a colleague trip to Wembley for the final on 25 May.” “The trip will be a little different this year. You will still receive a complimentary ticket to the game from us. However, lunch will not be provided, and we will ask you to contribute to the cost of coach travel.
You are all aware of the need for us to use club funds wisely, with an emphasis on results and performance, even though we recognize that this is a departure from past travels.
“We hope that this year’s trip balances the opportunity for you to go to Wembley to support our players while also ensuring we can invest as much as possible into the club over the coming months to achieve our goal of returning Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football.”
Ratcliffe’s summer in charge of football operations is going to be very busy. His most recent leaked correspondence, though, suggests there are more areas where he would like the club to straighten things out.
“I enjoyed my tour of a few of the facilities. I’m afraid a high level of disarray struck me in numerous places. Specifically, the U18 and U21 dressing rooms weren’t much better, and the IT department was, to put it mildly, a disgrace “, he wrote.
“As a chemical company, INEOS, these standards would not even approach what we would expect. Manchester United is a top-tier sports team. It may seem insignificant, but an organization cannot succeed without standards and discipline.
“I would appreciate it if we could all go forward with maintaining the appropriate housekeeping standards. If new players, parents of young players, visitors, and the media perceive that we don’t care enough to maintain order, it will reflect badly on the club.
United have a big few weeks ahead in the league and cup ( Image: Getty Images)
Regarding matters on the field, manager Erik ten Hag declared that he had a meeting with Ratcliffe prior to the summer transfer window. Although there have already been some talks, United has not yet decided which European competition, if any, they will participate in next term.
Prior to Monday’s match against Crystal Palace, Ten Hag told Sky Sports, “First meetings are good.” “Now that summer is approaching, we must move quickly.”
“The moment you walk into a window is crucial. We aim to advance our team and establish strategies to prevent the injuries that have plagued us this year.”
