Soccer

Jim Ratcliffe calls Manchester United’s untidiness a ‘disgrace’ after visit

IT department and age-group dressing rooms ‘reflect poorly’

Jim Ratcliffe and Dave Brailsford of INEOS with manager Erik ten Hag of Manchester United at Carrington Training Complex. Photograph: Manchester United via Getty

Jamie Jackson
Fri May 3 2024 - 19:58

Jim Ratcliffe has ordered Manchester United’s staff to raise standards after describing the level of untidiness in offices as a “disgrace” and some dressingrooms as “not much better”.

Ratcliffe, the minority owner who controls United’s football policy, made his comments after a two-day tour of Old Trafford and the Carrington training ground.

He wrote: “I had a good tour around the some of the facilities. I am afraid I was struck in many places by a high degree of untidiness. In particular the IT department which frankly was a disgrace and the dressingrooms of the U18 and U21 were not much better.”

His remarks in an email to staff were sent on Friday afternoon. Ratcliffe then compares these standards with that of Ineos, the multibillion-pound company he owns.

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“These standards would not come close to what we would expect at INEOS and we are a chemical company. Manchester United is an elite sporting organisation. It’s a small thing in many ways but unless an organisation has standards and discipline it will not succeed.

“I would be grateful in future if we adopt the proper standards of housekeeping everywhere. It reflects poorly on the club if we have visitors, young player parents, new players and the media and they see we don’t care enough to keep things shipshape.” – Guardian

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