‘Forget the artist’s impressions, Jim Ratcliffe is overseeing a Man United disaster’
Man United have not yet shown any signs of improvement since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS took control of footballing matters last year (2024).
The club have unveiled plans to build a 100,000-seater new stadium close to Old Trafford – with Ratcliffe insisting he wants the new ground to be the “world’s greatest” and hoping it could be completed in five years.
The British billionaire has faced criticism for his running of Man United – who sit in the bottom half of the Premier League this season.
He has kicked off a series of cost-cutting measures, including charity cuts and the halting of benefits for ex-players.
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 Ratcliffe is “showing a complete lack of understanding of how to run a football club”.
Ratcliffe facing ‘big questions’ over Man United leadership
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness suggested Man United can only improve their financial position with success on the pitch.
The ex-CEO insisted the “jury is out” on whether Ratcliffe can deliver that success.
| Position | Team | Games | Points | GD |
| 11 | Crystal Palace | 28 | 39 | +3 |
| 12 | Brentford | 28 | 38 | +4 |
| 13 | Tottenham | 28 | 34 | +14 |
| 14 | Man United | 28 | 34 | -6 |
| 15 | Everton | 28 | 33 | -4 |
| 16 | West Ham | 28 | 33 | -16 |
Wyness insisted the “lovely artists impressions” of the new stadium “don’t make a difference”.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “He’s showing a complete lack of understanding of how to run a football club and how to maintain the culture.
“The stadium design is very impressive – but is Ratcliffe the right man to lead this club?
“There are still some big questions on the football side.
“And let’s not forget, Man United are a football club. That’s what everyone seems to forget.
“When I took over at Villa, I found they were running a catering business that happened to play football.
“Man United will only increase revenue if they are winning on the football pitch. What we’ve seen in the last couple of seasons has been disastrous.
“The jury’s out on Ratcliffe. All those lovely artists impressions don’t make a difference.”
Man United could agree £50m naming rights deal
Football Insider revealed on Wednesday (12 March) that Man United could agree a naming rights deal worth more than £50million a year for their new stadium.
United’s shirt sponsor Snapdragon previously expressed its interest in purchasing the club’s stadium naming rights.
Man City currently earn the most in the Premier League from naming rights as Etihad Airways pays around £15million to sponsor their stadium as part of the Abu Dhabi airline’s £80million annual contribution to the club.
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