Man Utd’s Sir Jim Ratcliffe faces vote of no confidence and labelled a ‘clown’ | Football | Sport
Manchester United fans’ group, The 1958, have launched a scathing attack on the club’s owners, CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, demanding a vote of no confidence. The group has revealed plans for a demonstration against the United hierarchy, scheduled to take place before their match against Fulham on February 1. The management of Ruben Amorim’s tenure at Old Trafford has been heavily criticised by the group, who have described the team’s performances as “mediocre” and off-field operations as “chaotic”.
And minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been dubbed an “incompetent clown” following his failed attempts to steer the club towards betterment. Amorim was sacked by United on Monday, mere hours after his heated remarks in the wake of their 1-1 draw with Leeds United at Elland Road. Darren Fletcher has taken over on a temporary basis, overseeing the 2-2 draw against Burnley, and will be at the helm for the FA Cup third round tie against Premier League rivals Brighton. This protest piles further pressure on the Glazer family, Ratcliffe, and the revamped football operations team at the Theatre of Dreams.
There is growing discontent among supporters who feel they have been priced out, marginalised and treated as an inconvenience. Fans organised a protest at the end of last season, before the vital clash with Aston Villa, coming together to voice their frustration with the football club after one of their poorest campaigns in top-flight history.
They ended up 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur. There were original plans to demonstrate at United’s Premier League opening match against Arsenal, but these were called off after criticism over the choice to target Ratcliffe as well as the Glazers’ running of the club.
Having shelved their protests against the INEOS boss, next month’s match with Marco Silva’s side will represent the first opportunity for supporters to air their grievances. Anti-board messages have already begun to emerge, including during Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at Turf Moor, where a banner appeared in the away end reading: “Jim can’t fix this.”
United sit just outside the Champions League places but threw away another opportunity to claim a top-four finish, with Benjamin Sesko’s double not enough against Scott Parker’s side.
Amorim has faced increasing pressure after failing to halt the slide in form that eventually led to Erik ten Hag‘s dismissal. The former Sporting CP boss has overseen multiple low points during his tenure at the club, including an embarrassing Carabao Cup elimination against League Two side Grimsby.
A spokesperson for The 1958 group voiced their concerns, saying: “It has been an extraordinary and deeply troubling few days at Manchester United. On the pitch, we are watching mediocre performances from an average team drifting without identity, direction, or ambition. Off it, the chaos is even worse.
“A manager has reportedly been dismissed not primarily for abject performances against Grimsby, Everton, West Ham, and Wolves, but allegedly for a heated exchange with Jason Wilcox. Wilcox a man with just nine months’ experience as a Director of Football at Southampton is said to have attempted to interfere tactically, despite the club hiring Ruben fully aware of his rigid system. The situation beggar’s belief.
“This decision was allegedly endorsed by Omar Berrada, a CEO with no prior experience in the role, listening to the complaints of a close ally rather than exercising independent leadership. We are once again witnessing Manchester United being run by executives learning on the job, at the expense of results, stability, and credibility.
“Let us be clear: this is not a defence of Ruben or the football served up under him. Much of it was unacceptable. But his dismissal once again exposes the continued dysfunction at our club. Manchester United is now a toxic partnership where fans are getting the worst of both worlds.
“WE CALL FOR A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN THE OWNERSHIP, BERRADA AND WILCOX.”
They stated: “Earlier this season, we asked supporters if they wanted to protest. Many chose to give Ratcliffe time. That time has been squandered. The situation is undeniably worse. That is why we will protest at Fulham at home on Sunday 1st February.
“Manchester United is 150 years old. That proud history, built by generations of supporters, must be protected. If we do not act now, the club we pass on will be unrecognisable, stripped of its culture, its soul, and its people.
“This needs to be stopped. We must fight for our club. We must fight for fan culture before it is too late. If you knew you couldn’t play tomorrow, how hard would you play today?
“For Ratcliffe and the Glazers the game is over. Time is up. We can take no more and urge as many fans as possible to join us in a massive protest.”
