The Manchester United Supporters Trust has welcomed the news that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has successfully completed his initial 27.7 per cent investment in the club.
Ratcliffe and his INEOS group have paid more than £1.3billion for 27.7 per cent, which will rise to close to 30 per cent following a further £238million injection into the Premier League giants.
Ahead of the announcement, the new arrivals had effectively taken control of footballing operations at the club from majority owners the Glazers and have swiftly gone about making their mark.
M.U.S.T went on to say Ratcliffe and his INEOS group appear to be ‘looking seriously and ambitiously at the future of Old Trafford.’ Therefore, they wish ‘Sir Jim and his team every success ‘.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS have completed their minority investment in Manchester United
The Man United Supporters Trust welcomed the news and wished him the best at the club
M.U.S.T released the following statement on Wednesday morning: ‘The news that the deal for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to buy an initial 25 per cent stake in the Club has now completed will be welcomed by our fans around the world.
‘Even before today, Sir Jim and his team have made an impressive start to their new role at United having moved fast on recruitment and on fan engagement. They are also clearly looking seriously and ambitiously at the future of Old Trafford.
‘After the difficulties of the last decade, United fans are realistic about the journey back to the top and we know it won’t happen overnight.
‘But Sir Jim has declared his mission to restore United back to the top of English and European football and we dearly hope we can look back on today as a turning point in that journey.
‘Fans priorities now are to see the needed recruitment continue, both on and off the pitch, and the promised investment in both football and the stadium delivered. And all of this must be delivered in a new spirit of partnership between the Club and the fans. We wish Sir Jim and his team every success.’
The Manchester United Supporters Trust has previously greeted Ratcliffe’s investment with ‘very mixed feelings’. They released the following statement in December 2023.
‘During 18 years of debt, decay and mismanagement, Manchester United fans have loudly and consistently called for change at our Club.
‘When the so-called Strategic Review was announced nearly a year ago, it finally appeared that the sale of the club was on the horizon, potentially bringing the new investment and new direction MUFC so clearly needs.
‘Against that backdrop, fans have very mixed feelings today. We welcome the investment from a boyhood red, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS company, but many will wish his ownership stake was greater than the initially rumoured 25 per cent.
‘We note the statements that he and his team will control sporting activities, yet puzzle how any organisation can put its very core business in the hands of a minority shareholder, and how that meaningfully works in practice.
‘It is now incumbent on the Club’s owners and management to properly explain how this new structure will work, where the new investment will be directed and how it will benefit the team on the field.
‘As the Supporters Trust, we expect to have discussions with the Club management and the INEOS team in the near future to understand their plans, and to put to them the very many questions fans have today.
‘Today might – just might – be a step forward for Manchester United after some very difficult years. But with the Glazers still in charge, people should understand that United fans will remain sceptical and wait for the proof in the pudding.’
Ratcliffe will take control of football operations at United after completing the investment
Man United are hoping to secure the services of Newcastle’s sporting director Dan Ashworth
Nevertheless, Ratcliffe is thrilled to see the deal go through and insists he will help take Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League.
Following the confirmation of his deal, Ratcliffe said: ‘To become co-owner of Manchester United is a great honour and comes with great responsibility.
‘This marks the completion of the transaction, but just the beginning of our journey to take Manchester United back to the top of English, European and world football, with world-class facilities for our fans. Work to achieve those objectives will accelerate from today.’
Meanwhile, executive co-chairman Joel Glazer added: ‘I would like to welcome Sir Jim as co-owner and look forward to working closely with him and INEOS Sport to deliver a bright future for Manchester United.’
Ratcliffe has officially taken control of football operations and has the option to buy more Class B shares from the Glazers, should they decide to sell more.
Ratcliffe is joined on a new-look board by INEOS Sport CEO Jean-Claude Blanc and Sir David Brailsford, their director of sport.
The billionaire has already made changes and is looking to bring in Dan Ashworth to head up the club’s recruitment.
Rasmus Hojlund (far right) inspired Manchester United to a 2-1 win over Luton Town on Sunday
Ashworth has now told Newcastle he wants to leave the club – but he could be forced to wait close to two years before joining Manchester United if they do not pay significant compensation.
Mail Sport understands the period of gardening leave written into the sporting director’s current contract would take him towards the January transfer window of 2026.
That means Man United will have to negotiate an enhanced compensation fee to release him early or meet the terms of his contract and wait for his gardening leave to expire.
Nevertheless, it’s been reported that Ratcliffe is so confident of getting his man that no alternatives have been contacted for the role.
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