Jim Ratcliffe could lose Man United ally as legal action begins – boardroom source
Man United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS outfit have been in the news again in recent days after ending their sponsorship agreement with the New Zealand All Blacks.
INEOS had a deal running until 2027 with New Zealand Rugby but failed to make a payment for the first part of this year, prompting legal action from the governing body.
Meanwhile, Ratcliffe has been at the centre of controversy and uncertainty with his sailing and cycling ventures amid cost-cutting across the board at INEOS.
Ratcliffe and INEOS have come under criticism from Man United fans after hikes in ticket prices and redundancies at the club since they bought a 29% stake in the club last year.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted the billionaire was welcomed as a “British success story” but is now “damaging his reputation”.
Ratcliffe and Brailsford relationship could hit the rocks, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed Ratcliffe’s relationship with INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford, who was appointed in 2021, could hit the rocks after recent developments.
Brailsford has recently unveiled his ‘Mission 21’ plan at Man United – which is aimed at securing a 21st Premier League title before 2028.
Wyness insisted the relationship between the two key INEOS figures “has to be under a lot of stress right now”.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “The All Blacks are suing Ratcliffe and INEOS over not making their payment for this year’s agreement.
“Already, the All Blacks page on the INEOS website says ‘page not found’.
“It looks like there will be legal action because there will have been a watertight contract, unless the All Blacks have breached it in some way – which I doubt.
“There is already legal action on the sailing side, the cycling team is in a mess – and Man United aren’t doing well.
“I’m afraid Sir Jim, who was welcomed as a British success story at United, is damaging his reputation with how he is handling himself in sport.
“Brailsford has got to be complicit in this, because he’s been the strategist for a long time.
“I just wonder how long it is before that relationship breaks up, because it has to be under a lot of stress right now.”
‘Ratcliffe could demand bigger Man United stake’
Football Insider revealed on Thursday (13 February) that Ratcliffe could demand more shares in Man United to help fund the Old Trafford regeneration project.
United’s new stadium plans could cost the club more than £2billion as they will be financially responsible for that part of the project.
The club and a stadium regeneration task force are considering plans to either expand Old Trafford or build a new facility altogether.
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