Sir Jim Ratcliffe calls mess at Manchester United facilities ‘a disgrace’ in email to club staff

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has sent an email to all Manchester United staff to highlight the lack of order in some parts he witnessed at the club’s Old Trafford stadium and Carrington training facility, describing one area as a “disgrace” .

Ratcliffe and his company INEOS completed the purchase of a minority stake in United earlier this year, and the 71-year-old visited the club’s facilities earlier this week.

Following the visit, Ratcliffe sent an email to club staff, which has been seen by The Athletic — describe the order of the club’s IT department as a “disgrace” and add that “frankly, the U-18 and U-21 locker rooms” were not much better.

He said cleaning standards at United facilities would not be acceptable at INEOS and “we are a chemical company”.

Ratcliffe warned that it is unacceptable for an elite sporting organization to fail to maintain the highest levels of cleanliness and order, adding that it gives a bad impression to visitors, including parents of young footballers, potential recruits and the press.

It is the latest installment in Ratcliffe’s attempts to set a new tone and culture internally with a significant focus on performance, standards, discipline and results.

Staff were stunned to receive the email on Friday afternoon. The initial response of some was to consider the comments insulting and exaggerated, but others said The Athletic They felt this assault on United’s standards was already necessary and was necessary to weed out underperforming colleagues in the organization.

On Wednesday, it became clear to club staff that the poor performance of an organization at Ineos would lead to no Christmas parties being held, implying that it could also work at United.

Manchester United have been contacted for comment The Athletic.

INEOS acquired a 27.7 per cent stake in the Premier League club in a deal valued at more than $1.3 billion, and is now overseeing major off-field structural changes to United’s core football operations.

INEOS aim to implement improvements across the board at United as they look to change the culture at the club with a shock therapy approach.

Earlier this week, The Athletic revealed Ratcliffe ordered the club’s non-football staff to return to their offices in Manchester and London, insisting that the work-from-home culture for employees must end.

INEOS initially appeared to focus on football and performance, but quickly concluded that the necessary improvements would also require Ratcliffe’s team to take firm control of the business, commercial and operations arms of the club.

Last month, INEOS hired consultancy Interpath Advisory to review the club’s trading and operating costs.

United have made multiple off-field changes in a bid to reduce their spending, including removing company credit cards from staff members, who are also asked to contribute to their own travel and food costs. for Manchester’s trip to London for this month’s FA. Cup final against Manchester City.

In December 2023, United had its food hygiene rating for Old Trafford downgraded after guests at a corporate event were served raw chicken.

The Athletic He initially revealed that the club had received complaints from guests who attended an event held at the club’s stadium. The Food Standards Authority (FSA) subsequently ruled that the club’s food safety management, which includes a “system or controls in place to ensure that food sold or served is safe for consumption”, requires “significant improvements”.

As a result of the review, Old Trafford’s food hygiene rating was reduced to one out of five. Before the incident and an inspection on November 24 last year, it was a maximum of five out of five.

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