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‘Fan’s don’t want to hear it’ – Jim Ratcliffe gives verdict on Glazers that will leave Man Utd supporters fuming


SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has launched a staunch defence of the under-fire Glazer family – calling them “the nicest people on the planet”.

Since taking over the club in a leveraged buyout 20 years ago, the Glazer family have become some of the most hated people in football.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has delivered a verdict on the Glazers Man Utd fans won’t likeCredit: Getty
Ratcliffe actually praised the much-maligned majority owners of the club as ‘decent people’Credit: PA:Empics Sport

Recent accounts revealed Man Utd have debts of more than £1billion, including £300million in transfer fees owed to other clubs, compared to the club being debt free before their arrival.

A lack of investment off the pitch and radio silence from them about the direction of the club have not seen them win over anyone else either.

But minority shareholder Ratcliffe, who brought a 27.7 per cent share in the club in December 2023 before taking control in February, has defended his co-owners a number of times.

And in an interview with The Times, Ratcliffe once again refused to criticise the club’s majority owners.

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He said: “To be fair to the Glazers, they’re really good on the commercial side.

“The people who advise me say the fans don’t want to hear it. So I’ve got to be cautious.

“I get a lot of criticism if I support the Glazers, but the fact is they’re really decent people.

“They’re East Coast, you know — that old East Coast America, they’re very polite, they’re very civilized, they’re the nicest people on the planet.

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“I mean, there isn’t a bad bone in Joel Glazer’s body.”

Ratcliffe continued by instead planting the blame at who used to be in charge of the day-to-day running of the club – Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe explains his plans for the new Man Utd Stadium

The British billionaire said: “I mean, I wouldn’t have tolerated Ed Woodward, or Richard Arnold.

“Richard was a rugby man, he didn’t even understand football. Ed didn’t have the credentials to manage the club.

“He was a merchant banker, an accountant. He wasn’t the chief executive.

“The management of Manchester United have been given a huge amount of rope.

“The owners just managed the club and left the football side alone and they’ve made a lot of very poor decisions over 12 years, stupid things.

“They made a complete cock-up of it, shocking really. They couldn’t see where they were headed.

“The first management group, they thought they understood and wanted to get involved in buying footballers but they didn’t have the knowledge to buy footballers, you know, so they went in the marketplace, spraying money around and it was just random, wasn’t it?”

Ratcliffe, 70, also admitted he would consider walking away from Man Utd if he was subjected to the same level of abuse as the Glazers have been.

However, he also admitted he has not seen them since his buy in more than 12 months ago.

He said: “They’ve retreated into the shadows a bit now, so I’m getting all the bloody stick.

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“We bought in and I haven’t seen them since. It’s, ‘Thank you, Jim, you’re doing a really good job.’ At the moment, I don’t have security, I don’t have to walk around like that.

“But it would defeat the object, wouldn’t it? You couldn’t tolerate it at that level, it just wouldn’t be fun.”

Ratcliffe blamed Ed Woodward and Richard Arnold for the mess the club are inCredit: Reuters

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first year at Man Utd

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 – and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since…

December 2023 – Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford

January 2024 – Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington 

January 2024 – Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO 

February 2024 – Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed 

February 2024 – Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added

March 2024 – Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” in bizarre move

March 2024 – Matt Johnson appointed head of women’s football

March 2024 – Ratcliffe announces plans to build “Wembley of the North” to replace Old Trafford

March 2024 – Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 – down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December

April 2024 – Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled 

April 2024 – John Murtough quits as football director 

April 2024 – Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton 

May 2024 – Ratcliffe turns Carrington “toxic” after sending email to employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanliness

May 2024 – Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof

May 2024 – Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish 

May 2024 – Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy 

May 2024 – Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket

May 2024 – Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed

May 2024 – Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result

June 2024 – Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground 

June 2024 – Ratcliffe introduces strict “back to work” policy forcing staff to come into office

June 2024 – Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women’s team

July 2024 – Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation

July 2024 – Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026

July 2024 – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher’s role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.

July 2024 – Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment 

July 2024 – Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board  

July 2024 – Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125

July 2024 – Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie

August 2024 – Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window 

August 2024 – Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet

October 2024 – Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson

October 2024 – Staff Christmas party cancelled 

October 2024 – “Back to work” policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matches

October 2024 – Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15m

November 2024 – Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause 

November 2024 – Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim 

November 2024 – Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings 

November 2024 – Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association

December 2024 – Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” Man Utd “still in last century” 

December 2024 – Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66

December 2024 – Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting director

December 2024 – £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucher

December 2024 – Ceiling starts leaking during Ruben Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth

December 2024 – Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford as rodent droppings found in food kiosks and plush suites as food hygiene ratings drops to just two stars

December 2024 – SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cuts £40,000 funding donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charity

Man Utd player ratings

CAPTAIN Fantastic rescued Manchester United once again – scoring a hat-trick as the Red Devils overcame an early scare to beat Real Sociedad and advance in the Europa League.

He was the coolest man inside Old Trafford twice as he slotted home penalties either side of half-time to put his side in control against the Spaniards.

Joshua Zirkzee was another who impressed as Manchester United secured a tie against Lyon in the quarter-finals.

But it wasn’t all positive.

Rasmus Hojlund drew a blank yet again. That’s now 21 games and no goals – the equivalent of over THIRTY HOURS without the £72m striker hitting the net.

Check out our full Man Utd player ratings.


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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