From Promises to Protests: Ratcliffe’s Manchester United Takeover Timeline
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority takeover of Manchester United, announced on Christmas Eve 2023, marked the beginning of a transformative and controversial chapter at Old Trafford. From bold promises to unexpected upheavals, the INEOS-led era has been anything but quiet. Here’s a detailed timeline of key events that have shaped Manchester United since Ratcliffe assumed control of football operations.
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
December 2023
January 2024
• Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford are seen meeting Erik ten Hag during a Carrington tour.
• Omar Berrada, formerly with Manchester City, is appointed as the new CEO. He takes up a period of gardening leave prior to officially starting in July.
February 2024
• The £1 billion, 27.7% takeover is officially finalised. Deal done!
• Former CEO Richard Arnold steps down, and Ineos executives John Rees and Rob Nevin join the board.
March 2024
• Matt Johnson is appointed head of women’s football.
• Plans for a “Wembley of the North” to replace Old Trafford are unveiled.
• The club’s NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on 21 March, down from $20.52 in December.
April 2024
• Senior staff lose access to club credit cards and private cars.
• Football director John Murtough resigns.
• Jason Wilcox becomes the new technical director after Southampton receives a compensation package.
May 2024
• Ratcliffe criticises the cleanliness at Carrington in an email, creating a “toxic” atmosphere.
• Renovations begin on Old Trafford’s leaking roof.
• Manchester United finishes eighth in the Premier League, their worst-ever position.
• Staff face a one-week deadline to accept redundancy offers in right sizing exercise to reduce staff numbers on the club’s payroll.
• Employees are required to pay for their own transport to the FA Cup final, receiving only one ticket each. Bruno Fernandes also offers to pay for the costs out of his own pocket but the offer is refused.
• Pre-match events for senior staff before the FA Cup final are canceled.
• Despite the turmoil, underdogs Manchester United win the FA Cup under Erik Ten Hag, defeating Manchester City at Wembley.
June 2024
• £50m plans to upgrade the Carrington training ground are announced.
• A strict “back to work” policy forces staff to return to the office.
• Ratcliffe faces backlash over remarks about the women’s team.
July 2024
• Dan Ashworth becomes sporting director after months of gardening leave from Newcastle.
• Erik ten Hag unexpectedly receives contract extension until 2026 and a public statement from Berrada claimed, “We're very happy with that decision [to give Ten Hag a new contract]," and "Erik has our full backing…”
• Several new coaching appointments are made, including Ruud van Nistelrooy, Rene Hake and Andreas Georgson.
• Christopher Vivell joins as interim director of recruitment.
• Jean-Claude Blanc (CEO of INEOS Sport) joins the Manchester United board.
• The club reduces the staff for its US pre-season tour to 125.
• 250 redundancies are announced, affecting prominent staff members.
August 2024
October 2024
• The £2m-a-year ambassadorial salary for Sir Alex Ferguson is discontinued.
• The staff Christmas party is canceled much to the disappointment of many employees.
• Hospitality suites are converted into temporary offices as part of the “back to work” policy.
• Erik ten Hag is dismissed with the club 14th in the Premier League, costing £15m in compensation.
November 2024
• Ruben Amorim is appointed as manager on a 3 year contract running until 2027, with a £10m release clause paid.
• Ruud van Nistelrooy is let go after his interim spell as manager.
• Internal disputes emerge over summer signings and the Erik ten Hag situation.
• Reports surface that Ratcliffe plans to cut the £40,000 budget for the Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association.
December 2024
• Ratcliffe acknowledges Manchester United as “mediocre” and outdated.
• Protests erupt after concessions for senior citizens and children are removed, with ticket prices rising to a minimum of £66.
• Elite Manchester United journalist Andy Mitten conducts interview with Ratcliffe to question him on the ticket price increases and other probing matters at the club.
• Dan Ashworth is sacked after just five months as sporting director sending shockwaves through the fanbase.
• The £100 staff Christmas bonus is replaced with a £40 M&S voucher.
• A Ruben Amorim press conference is interrupted by a ceiling leak following a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.
• Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford emerge, with food hygiene ratings dropping to two stars.
• A £40,000 funding cut to the Association of Former Manchester United Players charity is revealed.
As the timeline shows, Jim Ratcliffe’s first year in charge at Manchester United has been anything but smooth. From controversial decisions and public backlash to underwhelming performances both on and off the pitch, the INEOS era has left many fans frustrated and disillusioned. After one year in charge, Have INEOS simply taken Manchester United out of the frying pan and thrown them into the fire? There is a state of growing uncertainty forming at Old Trafford and the road ahead will undoubtedly be turbulent. Social media has been flooded with criticism, with supporters voicing their concerns over the direction of the club. For now, Ratcliffe faces an uphill battle to win back the trust of a fanbase yearning for stability and success.
