14.01.2025
Football fans frustrated further by United’s Ratcliffe
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has again drawn criticism from fans and commentators for an apparent lack of concern for Manchester United's women's team.

While Manchester United’s men’s side negotiate inconsistent form, followers of the Red Devils’ women’s team remain disappointed by a lack of engagement from the Ineos CEO.

Fan disillusionment had threatened to boil over into more than just social media grumbling due to poor results. However, results against Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal had seemingly assuaged that threat, and it remains to be seen what the fallout of Sunday’s home loss to Brighton will look like.

Fans have now turned their attention to the women’s team and are unimpressed with the United part owner’s apparent lack of interest therein.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Old Trafford – creative commons license. Get this image on: Free Malaysia Today.

Back in December, Ratcliffe spoke to the fanzine United We Stand about how much time and effort club executives were spending on United’s women’s side. He drew a lot of criticism for remarking that there was “only so much” he could do. He drew further ire for describing the men’s team as “the main issue” and referring to the women’s team “girls” and “an opportunity” in the same conversation.

Ratcliffe’s comments are particularly worrisome for women’s advocates in the wake of Dan Ashworth’s departure from the club. Ashworth was a known ally of the women’s team, having previously prioritised growing women’s football when working at the FA and Newcastle United.

His departure from the Red Devils, just five months after joining from the North-East has raised eyebrows in more ways than one.

The club’s pursuit of Ashworth now looks extraordinarily expensive and wasteful at a time the club has not been willing to spend money on the women’s team. Not only did Ratcliffe initially pay Newcastle £3m in compensation to release him from his contract, they have paid him a senior executive salary for five months (which is believed to run into the millions) plus whatever compensation is due to him following his departure.

United’s former goalkeeper Mary Earps. – creative commons license. James Boyes on Flickr (jamesboyes)

These numbers shine a poor light on the lack of investment in the women’s team. Higher women earners such as Mary Earps left the club and the squad were replenished with much cheaper options. The highest paid WSL player is currently Sam Kerr, who earns around £400,000 per year, meaning Dan Ashworth’s five-month tenure has cost club more than 10 times what it would have cost to have the world’s best women’s player at the club for an entire season.

Meanwhile, the men’s team, which benefitted from £110m net spend in the summer transfer window, has continued to underperform on the pitch. Despite this, the men will also benefit from a £50m redevelopment of its Carrington training facility – this has led to them being housed in the women’s training facilities on an interim basis while the women are housed in temporary units.

Barney, a Manchester United fan of 35 years, said that Ratcliffe’s apparent disdain was all the more frustrating given how easy it would have been to use more respectful language.

Manchester United Irene Guerrero
Irene Guerrero was bought by United in summer 2023 and lef the club one year later – creative commons license. James Boyes on Flickr (jamesboyes)

“It’s not difficult just to have a little bit of respect and use the right words, especially if you’re in his position at the club,” he said, accusing Ratcliffe of making the women’s team sound like a charitable endeavour, rather than a serious sporting pursuit.

“On one level it might be the case that the men’s team is the main issue, but you don’t need to say it. You don’t really need to compare, they’re two different things. It [the women’s game] has its own place and importance, and the women’s game is growing.”

Jane, an Old Trafford regular, was simply disappointed.

United Football Fans
United after winning against Brighton in 2023 – creative commons license. James Boyes on Flickr (jamesboyes)

“It’s not great,” she said of Ratcliffe’s choice of words, which also included referring to the women’s team as a “love and affinity” of the club, rather than a serious endeavour.

She added: “One day this will all get better.”

Manchester United women, currently fourth in the WSL, will hope that it will all get better sooner rather than later. If the men’s team can string together some form, perhaps they will be afforded the time and attention they deserve.

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