Sir Jim Ratcliffe calls for ‘time and patience’ in first message to Manchester United fans since purchasing minority stake
New Manchester United investor Sir Jim Ratcliffe has called for 'patience' and 'time' from fans after he purchased a minority stake in the club.
On Christmas Eve The Red Devils finally announced that the British billionaire had agreed to buy 25 per cent of the Old Trafford outfit.
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In a deal understood to be worth around £1.25billion, the INEOS chief has outlined his desire to bring his beloved United back to the summit of world football.
To the delight of supporters, Ratcliffe and his team at INEOS will be responsible for the football operations.
And 48 hours after the confirmation of his arrival, the 71-year-old has written to the fanbase ahead of the Boxing Day clash against Aston Villa - live on talkSPORT.
In an to the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST), Ratcliffe has warned that it will be a long process to turn their favours around.
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He said: "I wanted to write to you at this time given the critical role of the fans to the future of Manchester United as we recognise our responsibility as custodians of the Club on your behalf.
"I believe we can bring sporting success on the pitch to complement the undoubted commercial success that the club has enjoyed.
"It will require time and patience alongside rigour and the highest level of professional management.
"You are ambitious for Manchester United and so are we. There are no guarantees in sport, and change can inevitably take time.
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"But we are in it for the long term and together we want to help take Manchester United back to where the club belongs, at the very top of English, European and World Football.
"I take that responsibility very seriously.
"Please note that, as with any deal, it is subject to the usual regulatory sign-off process and therefore we do not expect to speak publicly about Club matters until after the deal has completed."
Despite his investment, talkSPORT understands that there is no guarantee the Glazers have to sell in the deal.
Ratcliffe was involved in a head-to-head battle with Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani with a view to a full takeover of the club after the Glazer family revealed they were open to selling up in 2022.
However, Sheikh Jassim pulled out of the deal entirely, leaving Ratcliffe with a clear run at investing in the club.
Inside the Manchester United takeover and it’s anything but smooth sailing for Sir Jim Ratcliffe as he seeks board vote
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