Manchester United : Will Newfound Light With INEOS Live To Shine By Night ?

Manchester United has a visionary in Sir Jim Ratcliff but whether or not his plans will live long remains uncertain, with the Glazers also calling the shots at the club.

Manchester United braces itself up for the commencement of a new era as the iconic club prepares for a transformative change in ownership.

With the recent acquisition by INEOS, one of the world’s leading chemical companies, United fans are filled with anticipation and excitement about what lies ahead.

For a club rich in history, United has been a shadow of its proud self since the departure of their legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson at the end of the 2012-13 season.

Manchester United has struggled to maintain its top status, suffering from the inconsistency and inability of managers and players alike, to sustain top form for long periods.

Top managers have come and gone from Old Trafford since Ferguson retired. Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, the biggest of them all, but none was able to restore the lost glory.

However, this only showed that Manchester United may need more than just managerial changes or players acquisition to transform from the difficult phase that threatens to want to last until forever.

While managers and players get criticized by the fans, it is no news that the owners and the hierarchy’s commitment to the success of the club has also been questioned.

The Glazer’s ugly start at Manchester United

The Glazer family, led by businessman Malcolm Glazer, assumed ownership status at Manchester United in a highly leveraged takeover in 2005.

Prior to the takeover, hundreds of Manchester United fans had staged an angry protest at Old Trafford against his proposed takeover of the club in February. More than 400 people joined the protest after word went out via the internet and mobile phones.

That kickstarted the Glazer out protest, which has recently returned back to life amidst the club’s difficulty.

The takeover was not well received by fans, due to concerns about debt levels, lack of transparency, and the club’s financial health as acquisition was via a leveraged buyout, which involved borrowing substantial amounts of money to finance the purchase.

A debt of around £525 million was incurred by the club as a result of the takeover, something that raised concerns among fans, shareholders, and financial analysts about the club’s financial stability and long-term viability under the Glazers.

The consequences was that Manchester United was unable to compete with the other heavyweights in the transfer window, and that allowed Chelsea come into the party of the big guns, while the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool regressed.

Trouble contained by Cristiano Ronaldo and Alex Ferguson

The great Sir Alex Ferguson was able to help Manchester United manage the tough situation by maintaining onfield success.

Under the ownership of Glazers and in the era of Ferguson, United won one Champions League title, five Premier League titles, four Community Shield titles, three Carabao Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup title.

Also, thanks to the emergence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who not only led them to majority of their success but also fetched them what was a world record fee of £80 million when he left for Real Madrid in the summer of 2009.

Thanks to these two icons, Manchester United continued to operate as one of the world’s most valuable and successful football clubs despite their financial constraints.

Over time, the club’s revenue streams grew, driven by lucrative broadcasting deals, commercial partnerships, and global fan engagement.

However, the legacy of the Glazer takeover and the debt incurred in 2005 continued to shape discussions and debates surrounding the ownership and they have been put under further pressure due to the decline post Fergie era.

Glazer out returned and for good..

In 2021, Manchester United fans brought back the infamous #GlazerOut protest due to the club’s involvement in a proposed breakaway competition, tagged the European Super League.

Fans, again turned on the club for her lack of communication and financial concerns, which has always beset the club since the beginning of the Glazer era.

With the acceptance of INEOS’s bid to buy 25 per cent of the shares, it appears Manchester United fans have achieved a major victory because Sir Jim Ratcliff will now take charge of football operations at the club.

INEOS: United’s light at the tunnel’s end

In December 2023, news emerged that the Glazer family has accepted a bid of £1.2 billion from INEOS, world’s fourth largest chemical company, under the ownership of Sir Jim Ratcliff, to buy 25 per cent of the club.

The news was well received by fans and well-wishers of the club. They got an icing on the cake when it was also revealed that INEOS would take full control of football operations while also having a say in the commercial aspect, thought to still be under the supervision of the Glazer.

Letting a shareholder with just 25 per cent take full control of football operation in a football club is a sign of admission of failure by the Glazers, but a major victory for the fans, who have had enough of an administration leading their club astray.

INEOS’ arrival a good news for fans

INEOS’s commitment to community engagement and social responsibility aligns with Manchester United’s ethos of giving back to the local community.

The company is also well known for its initiatives such as grassroots football programs, educational partnerships, and charitable endeavors. All of these qualities will help Manchester United strengthen its ties with fans, stakeholders, and the wider community, fostering a sense of unity and pride.

Since the departure of Ferguson, not many of the Glazer decisions have borne good fruits. They started to get it wrong in naming Ferguson’s successor, allowing the Scotman to choose his own heir, without a plan of their own.

They’ve not been able to recover from that mistake as the club continues to come short in the league, not winning another since in Ferguson’s final season as the manager.

INEOS on the other hand appears to have a clear picture of what to do. Though the deal is still subject to investigation and approval by the Premier League before it can become official.

Limitations that could upset the good vision

Will Manchester United’s newfound light with INEOS live to shine by night

Despite the good vision of Sir Jim Ratcliff and INEOS, having just 25 per cent of the shares is not reliable. Should things go wrong, it’ll be easy for the Glazer to reclaim their rights as the majority shareholder.

Moreso, the experience of Ratcliff in football is not enough to threaten the crown of Manchester United’s more established rivals in domestic competitions and in Europe.

Hence, the club’s chances of success will be heavily attached to those that’ll be joining him in administration.

Good news is, on that front, he has also started on a bright note by making big moves.

Manchester United has completed the appointment of Omar Berrada as the club’s chief executive, having lured him away from a chief operating officer role at rivals Manchester City. A big win right there.

To add to the excitement, highly rated Dan Ashworth has also been contacted to come takeover as the sporting director, with Manchester United ready to pay Newcastle United £12 million to lure him to Old Trafford.

The vision is clear under Jim Ratcliff and INEOS, which justifies the excitement of Manchester United fans who see them as the key to a bright future rather than just the replacement for the Glazers.

The unfortunate thing is, fans have to accept that the Glazer’s are not going away any time soon and their joy can turn sour, if things go wrong between the Glazer’s and INEOS.

But for the present, fans can also feel a big burden off their chest, and enjoy the prospect of INEOS and Jim Ratcliff while it is still effective, because it looks potent.

Hassan Afolabi