Sir Jim Ratcliffe asks Manchester United fans for time and patience following 25% purchase

INEOS chairman, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, contacts fans directly after buying 25% stake in Manchester United, calling for patience and promising success.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reached out to fans directly following the confirmation that he will purchase a 25% stake in Manchester United, urging supporters to be patient as his group works to restore the club's standing in global football.

After a lengthy period of exploration and negotiations, the Glazer family, the club's much-maligned owners, agreed to a £1.25bn deal with Sir Jim, who serves as the chairman of INEOS. This agreement will see INEOS take control of the football operations at Manchester United, with Sir Dave Brailsford, the firm's director of sport, in attendance at the team's match against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

In a letter to the Manchester United Supporters' Trust (MUST), the Fans' Forum, and the Fans' Advisory Board, Sir Jim assured fans that INEOS is committed to the long-term success of the club. He emphasized the need for time, patience, and professional management to bring about both sporting and commercial triumphs for Manchester United.

Acknowledging that there are no guarantees in sports, Sir Jim expressed his ambition to work with the fans to elevate Manchester United to the pinnacle of world football. He also stated that he takes his responsibility as the club's custodian very seriously and does not anticipate making any public statements about the club until the Premier League has ratified the deal, a process that could take four to six weeks.

The deal with Sir Jim Ratcliffe comes after a protracted 13-month saga involving the Glazer family's announcement of a strategic review of their ownership options, including the potential sale of the club, in November 2022. Despite the agreement with Sir Jim, MUST has expressed that fans have mixed feelings and remain skeptical due to the continued involvement of the Glazer family in running the club.

Ultimately, Sir Jim's outreach to Manchester United fans signals a new chapter for the club, with hopes that the partnership with INEOS will steer the team towards a brighter future, despite the lingering reservations among supporters.

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