Sir Jim Ratcliffe branded 'football incompetent'

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has had an eventful spell since acquiring a stake in Manchester United.

Since coming into the role in February 2024, he has seen both ends of the spectrum at the football club.

They have reached back-to-back finals under two different managers.

Under Erik ten Hag, they beat local rivals 2-1 Manchester City in the 2024 FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium. This was despite an eighth place finish in the Premier League table.

Ten Hag was sacked in the subsequent 2024/25 season, with Ruben Amorim officially announced as his replacement in November 2024.

Under Amorim, United finished in 15th place whilst also reaching a Europa League final, but they ended up on the losing side after a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

In recent weeks, Amorim was relieved of his duties as United head coach, with Michael Carrick set to be named interim manager.

United fans have grown frustrated with another season that has featured a managerial dismissal as they long for stability in a return to their glory days.

Ratcliffe drew criticism for a few decisions, including many staff cuts and redundancies.

It appears that is not just at United where Ratcliffe has drawn criticism.

The Sun have reported that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is being accused of being a “football incompetent wrecking a club”.

A fan club leader of French side OGC Nice, who Ratcliffe also owns, has had his say on Ratcliffe.

Solange Claude has asked Ratcliffe to “get out of our club now.”

He said: “Ratcliffe may be an expert in the chemicals industry, but he has shown he knows nothing about football. He is incompetent.

“I can understand how all those United fans must be feeling. What he is doing to their club he has already done to ours.

“He bought us for [just under] £100 million in 2019 and promised we would rival PSG as a regular European competitor. There are Sunday morning teams who play ten times better than us at times.”

“Ratcliffe, who has a home just next door in Monaco, doesn’t think much of Nice either. He promised a bright future, but doesn’t go to watch them now because he reckons they are not good enough.

“Who’s fault is that? He got us into Europe alright. Result, we are bottom of the Europa League after losing all six games.

“It didn’t help that he sold some of our best players as soon as we had qualified and has not replaced them.”

It goes further than just the fan statement, which comes after United fans had previously called a vote of no confidence in Ratcliffe.

400 Nice supporters are reported to have mobbed the team at the training ground, thrown missiles and scuffled with players.

Police have started investigations into the incident with two players said to have been kicked, punched and spat on.