Following his purchase of a stake in Manchester United in February 2024, Sir Jim Ratcliffe acknowledged that he and his INEOS team had made numerous errors in their previous football ventures at Lausanne and Nice, suggesting lessons had been learned. However, significant changes off the pitch have failed to translate to improvements on it, with the club cycling through managers, most recently placing Michael Carrick in charge.
From Minor Administrative Blunders to Cultural Friction
Among the lower-ranked issues is the decision to replace traditional staff Christmas bonuses with a modest M&S voucher amid widespread cost-cutting and redundancies. A leaked whole staff email from Ratcliffe also caused immediate friction at Carrington by describing youth team changing rooms as a disgrace and the club museum as crap, while demanding a return to office work despite a lack of desks. Proposals to redevelop Old Trafford into a so-called Wembley of the North with taxpayer funding drew intense criticism, particularly given Ratcliffe’s move to Monaco in 2020 which reportedly saved him billions in taxes. Staff members also reported a growing culture of fear due to an INEOS figure acting as an internal spy, while employees attending the 2024 FA Cup final were forced to pay £20 for travel and bring packed lunches, even as INEOS executives traveled by chauffeured car.
Other controversial considerations included contemplating a 50% cut to the disabled supporters’ association budget and reportedly planning to revoke matchday box privileges for the families of the legendary Busby Babes. Meanwhile, a grieving family of the club’s longest-serving employee, Kath Phipps, received a phone call inquiring about her two season tickets just two days after her passing. Job cuts saw 250 staff made redundant to slash costs, despite the club continuing to spend heavily on under-performing players. The women’s team also faced setbacks, including being temporarily moved into portable buildings to accommodate the men’s squad, while Ratcliffe referred to the men’s side as “the first team” in a July 2024 interview.
Managerial Turmoil and Recruitment Failures
Managerial instability has plagued the club under INEOS, starting with the decision to trigger a contract extension for Erik ten Hag after a poor season, followed by the recruitment of players specifically tailored to his system. Dan Ashworth’s brief five-month tenure as sporting director ended in a mutual consent exit after disagreements over managerial appointments. The mid-season hiring of Ruben Amorim proved disastrous as the squad struggled to adapt to his specific tactical demands, leading to his eventual sacking in January 2026. Rather than addressing core midfield and defensive weaknesses in the transfer market, the hierarchy’s squad planning left successive managers hamstrung. Ultimately, handing Michael Carrick the permanent managerial reins has left the team struggling to control matches, prompting widespread concern over the direction of the club.
Political Controversy and Public Backlash
At the top of the ranking is Ratcliffe’s controversial interview with Sky News in Belgium, where he claimed the UK had been “colonised by immigrants” and criticized state support levels, citing incorrect population figures. The remarks drew sharp criticism, including calls for an apology from the Prime Minister and condemnation from Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who described the comments as insulting and inflammatory. Critics noted the stark contrast between Ratcliffe’s anti-benefit rhetoric and INEOS receiving a £120 million public subsidy in December, compounding mounting supporter disillusionment with the direction of the club since the INEOS investment.
