Inside Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘liberating’ speech to Man Utd staff as he gives blunt appraisal of post-Ferguson decline
SIR JIM RATCLIFFE reportedly delivered an inspiring speech about his plans to resurrect Manchester United after meeting club staff at Old Trafford.
The Ineos chief has been busy getting to know key figures at United since his 25 per cent stake in the club was confirmed on Christmas Eve.
Ratcliffe and his right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford met with non-playing employees at a meeting on Thursday.
And the British billionaire is said to have made a big impression thanks to his blunt appraisal of the club’s decline post-Sir Alex Ferguson.
Ratcliffe, 71, did praise the commercial success of the club and the resilience shown during the pandemic, but said he invested in the club to win trophies, not to make money from his £1.3bn stake.
To accomplish his goals Ratcliffe wants to build an elite enviornment at the club, with Brailsford addressing the need to overcome United’s “performance challenge” – with Erik ten Hag’s side having lost 14 matches this season.
Ratcliffe’s speech was described as “honest” compared to previous statements about United’s supposed progress by the club’s hierarchy, and his presence is understood to have “reinvigorated” workers, a source told The Athletic.
Staff are also said to have found his focus on delivering silverware “liberating” and are impressed by Ratcliffe’s level of ambition.
Ratcliffe has promised further investment on top of his initial £1.3bn, including £300million to be spent on improving Old Trafford and Carrington.
Former Team Sky and British Cycling chief Brailsford, who is Ineos Director of Sport, is also believed to have made a good impression during the meeting.
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Brailsford has been spotted at matches since the takeover and is conducting an audit of the club’s structure and personnel.
He is reported to be planning on recruiting a world class sporting director and recruitment specialist – but will have to wait until the Premier League ratify Ineos’ 25 per cent stake before he gets underway.
Ratcliffe and Brailsford, 59, have met with players and staff at Carrington over the last few days and held a meeting with Ten Hag, which the United manager described as “very positive”.
Brailsford assured them that he and Ratcliffe will have hands-on role at the club along with incoming CEO Jean-Claude Blanc and Rob Nevin, Chairman of Ineos Sports – a marked change from the Glazers who spend most of their time in the US.