Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been heavily criticized for turning MU into a circus

Sir Jim Ratcliffe was branded an “incompetent clown” by a faction of Manchester United supporters who accused him of transforming the club into a “circus.”

The fan group The 1958 announced plans to stage a protest next month and called for a vote of no confidence against both ownership groups of MU. Minority shareholder Ratcliffe was sharply criticized for plunging the Red Devils into chaos, just days after Coach Ruben Amorim was dismissed after 14 months which was described as a “nightmare.”

The 1958 – a fan group claiming over 100,000 members – will hold a peaceful demonstration before MU’s match against Fulham at Old Trafford on February 1st.

A spokesperson for The 1958 stated: “After repeatedly stumbling from one disaster to another, Ratcliffe has shown himself as an incompetent clown, turning the club into a circus. Instead of being a top example, we are now a laughingstock. The recent days at MU have been truly chaotic and alarming.”.

The group also openly criticized Football Director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada. Their statement said:

“A coach was reportedly fired not because of poor performances against Grimsby, Everton, West Ham, or Wolves, but due to a heated dispute with Jason Wilcox – who only had 9 months of experience as Football Director at Southampton. He interfered with tactical matters despite the club appointing Ruben Amorim with an understanding of his rigid tactical system. It’s unbelievable.”

“This decision is believed to have been supported by Omar Berrada – a CEO with no prior experience in this role, who listened to complaints from a close ally instead of showing independent leadership. Once again, we witness MU being run by leaders who learn on the job, sacrificing the club’s stability, results, and reputation. We call for a vote of no confidence against the owners, Berrada, and Wilcox.”.

During MU’s 2-2 draw with Burnley, protests targeting Jim Ratcliffe emerged. The away stand repeatedly chanted the names of interim manager candidates like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick, as well as temporary coaches Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans. The 1958 also accused the current ownership model of hiking ticket prices, exploiting loyalty, and “bullying” season ticket holders.

This fan group also declared they do not defend Ruben Amorim, but INEOS’s dismissal of him highlights the turmoil at the club’s top management. They believe INEOS is running one of the world’s biggest clubs like a local convenience store: stingy, short-sighted, and completely lacking vision.

The 1958 previously canceled a planned protest before Amorim’s season opener against Arsenal last August after a divided fan survey. Many felt it was too soon to judge Ratcliffe’s role at that time.

However, The 1958 concluded: “Many gave Ratcliffe more time. But that time has been wasted. The situation now is undeniably worse. With Ratcliffe and the Glazer family, the game is over. Time has run out. We cannot endure any longer and call on as many fans as possible to join a large-scale protest.”