United Man Utd supporters link Ratcliffe to Savile during £74m Sesko chase
Manchester United fans, led by the supporters' group The 1958, are set to stage a protest against the co-ownership of the club by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family. The demonstration is scheduled for August 17, before United's opening Premier League match against Arsenal.
The protest stems from fans' disappointment that Ratcliffe, once seen as a potential savior, has instead become complicit in maintaining the status quo of ownership that they oppose. The 1958 criticize Ratcliffe for associating with the Glazers and helping them remain in charge, despite two decades of dissatisfaction with the Glazers' stewardship, debt burden, and perceived erosion of the club’s identity, community, and values.
The history of The 1958's criticism towards Ratcliffe and the Glazer family is grounded in their long-standing opposition to the Glazer ownership, which they view as detrimental. When Ratcliffe took over day-to-day operational control in February 2024 with a roughly 29% stake, many fans initially had hope he would change the club's direction. However, The 1958 now believe Ratcliffe is complicit in continuing the "ongoing erosion of everything that makes [Manchester United] what it is," particularly criticizing his support for the controversial Old Trafford Regeneration project. The group emphasizes that this vision prioritizes profit over fans, pushing long-term supporters out with rising costs.
The protest reflects fans' frustration that the new management structure involving Ratcliffe has failed to address their core concerns about ownership, debts, and the club’s identity and accessibility to its community—issues historically targeted at the Glazer family but now extended to Ratcliffe as well. The protestors will march to Old Trafford with banners that read 'Jim Can't Fix This'. This reference to Jimmy Savile is intended as a criticism of Ratcliffe.
The 1958 group reiterates their opposition to the Glazer family's ownership, stating that 20 years is too long. The club finished 15th in the Premier League last season, accruing just 42 points and losing 18 games. United has spent around £130m on Matheus Cunha from Wolves and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford, but these new signings are not deflecting from the protestors' concerns about Ratcliffe's involvement.
Ruben Amorim is attempting to refashion his squad at Manchester United, with the club having also launched a £74m bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko. However, this bid does not seem to deflect from the protestors' concerns about Ratcliffe's involvement either. Newcastle United is also in contention for the signing of Slovenia international Sesko.
The spokesperson for The 1958 stated that Ratcliffe, once seen as a potential savior, is now viewed as complicit in the ongoing erosion of the club's identity. The 1958 group continues to express their concerns about Jim Ratcliffe's involvement with Manchester United. Ratcliffe has been a 29% shareholder in Manchester United for more than 18 months.
- The supporters' group The 1958, in their debate against the co-ownership of Manchester United by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family, has arranged a protest, scheduled for August 17, before United's opening Premier League match against Arsenal.
- The 1958 heavily criticize Ratcliffe for his association with the Glazers and for not addressing the fans' core concerns about the club's ownership, debts, and the club’s identity, despite promising to change the club's direction.
- The protestors plan to march to Old Trafford with banners that read 'Jim Can't Fix This', intending this as a criticism of Ratcliffe reminiscent of Jimmy Savile, targeting his alleged role in the ongoing erosion of Manchester United's identity.
