‘Jim Ratcliffe facing fan revolt after latest Man United blunder’
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be facing a fan revolt following the latest blunder at Old Trafford.
The INEOS chief has come under fire as he looks to cut costs, having taken over the Premier League side’s footballing operations last year.
Ratcliffe made 250 members of Man United’s staff redundant last summer in a bid to “return the club to profitability”.
Chief executive Omar Berrada informed staff in February more redundancies were on the way at Old Trafford, with up to 200 more people set to lose their jobs.
The Manchester giants employed 1,140 people before the redundancies last summer, with the latest move taking that figure down to around 690 as Ratcliffe continues to streamline the business.
Ratcliffe previously claimed United would have gone “bust by Christmas” if it wasn’t for his cost-cutting measures, which have included charity cuts, halting benefits for ex-players and ticket price increases.
Man United slammed after ticket price hike
Old Trafford chiefs are under pressure to get things right this summer as United look to compete for trophies next season.
Ruben Amorim’s side finished 15th in the Premier League table in the 2024-25 campaign, while they lost in the Europa League final to Tottenham.
United have already made a move that has gone down terribly with the fans.
The club have announced their matchday prices could reach £97 next season, while the most expensive ticket at Old Trafford for the 2024-25 campaign was £66.
The lowest priced ticket for a Premier League game is now £37 for the category C matches against Sunderland and Wolves.
That figure rises to £97 for the highest priced tickets in category A, which includes Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle United.
BBC Sport reported on 18 June United sources have said the new prices were lower than originally planned following discussion with supporters.
However, the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) have rejected the claim there was any kind of consultation involved in response to the announcement.
It said: “After how last season went, we might have hoped the club would reconsider their plans for this new ticketing model which will see eye-watering price increases for supporters who buy tickets on a match-by-match basis. This really is a fresh kick in the teeth for Manchester United fans.”
Jim Ratcliffe facing backlash after Man United move
United fans were among several supporters to protest against ticket price rises in the 2024-25 season.
Ratcliffe had a chance to try and build bridges with the fanbase this summer following the club’s dismal campaign.
However, the latest blunder to increase ticket prices has gone down poorly and could lead to a revolt among the fans before the season has even started.
In contrast, Man City have announced a ticket price reduction for next season.
The club said for the Manchester derby or an equivalent fixture, the lowest-priced adult tickets have been reduced by 43 per cent, while the highest-priced tickets have been slashed by 22 per cent.
Man City have also confirmed a season ticket price freeze, with Liverpool, West Ham, Brentford, Tottenham, Wolves and Burnley taking the same approach.
Meanwhile, United are among several Premier League clubs to have increased their season ticket prices by up to 5 per cent for the 2025-26 campaign.
For more Man United and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.