‘Man United fans to really scream at the team’ after new development
Manchester United supporters may be quick to turn on their team next season, after a controversial decision sparked fury among the fanbase.
United have angered fans by raising their ticket prices once again, with Category A matches soaring from £66 to £97 from next season.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has faced heavy criticism for the decision, and it isn’t the first time that the club’s chief has caused controversy during his time in charge.
Ratcliffe has raised eyebrows with his sweeping cost-cutting measures over the past 18 months, and results on the pitch haven’t helped the situation.
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 – believes that the latest mishap at Man United could create an unsavoury atmosphere at the start of next season.
‘United ticket prices will magnify bad performances’, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness insisted that the raising of ticket prices could affect the support Man United receive.
Ruben Amorim is currently in the midst of a summer rebuild, after his side fell to a shocking 15th-place finish last season in the Premier League.
Wyness believes that United fans will be “triggered” that much quicker if the performances aren’t up to standard, as a result of the increased cost.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “All the fan groups I’ve spoken to at United and have read about, they have not had a full consultation process about this, and United have got to sort that out.
“You’d think they’d want to have a very cohesive fan base for next season to try and have this bounce back.
“They need it because although the fans may be loyal and they may pay this money, it just means they’re going to be triggered that much quicker if things don’t go right on the pitch.
“Before you know it, you’re going to start to see some real dissatisfaction at Old Trafford if things don’t go right in the first five or six games.
“You’re going to see the fans get on their back and if you’re paying £97 a ticket, believe me, you’ve got every right to boo and to shout and to really scream at the team. And that’s only going to magnify the situation.
“Look, if it all goes well, good luck to them, £97, everybody will feel it’s cheap. But right now they’re poised and they’ve got to get it right. Because if they don’t, this can spiral very, very quickly.”
Man United eye move for goalkeeper
Meanwhile, Football Insider exclusively revealed that Man United are eyeing a move for Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor to bolster their options.
United have held a long-term interest in Victor and scouts have been watching him at this summer’s Club World Cup.
The 29-year-old is understood to have a clause allowing him to leave for as little as $8million (£5.8m) this summer after he agreed to stay with the Brazilian side to play at the Club World Cup despite having offers to leave for Europe in January.
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