Jim Ratcliffe is set to take over football operations and a 25% share of Man Utd following Premier League approval – here is what he plans to spend money on first!
The Man Utd takeover saga recently came to an end, with the result being that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to take over a 25% share of the club alongside football operations.
Ratcliffe’s arrival is set to bring an influx of cash to the club, with a reported £237 million already set aside for his first project. But what will he spend that £237 million on?
Man Utd fans may have differing opinions on where exactly Ratcliffe should focus his first huge injection of cash.
The vast majority would probably argue between new signings to bolster the Red Devils’ squad, and renovations to Old Trafford, which has suffered dilapidation under the Glazer’s reign.
How Jim Ratcliffe aims to spend his first £237 million with Man Utd…
According to reports, Jim Ratcliffe’s first intentions with his £237 million budget will put a smile on Man Utd fans’ faces.
Ratcliffe intends to use the money to bring Old Trafford back to its best, with the entire initial budget said to be solely for the infamous stadium.
It has not been specified exactly where in the Old Trafford infrastructure this money will be placed, however there has been speculation that the possibility of knocking down the stadium to make way for a more modern one could be the way forward.
According to a poll by Manchester Evening News, 61% of Man Utd fans are in favour of this option, which could cost up to £2 billion to achieve.
There will of course be a large part of the Man Utd faithful that would urge Jim Ratcliffe to instead invest in bringing Man Utd’s long beloved stadium back to its former glory – i.e before the Glazer family had anything to do with it.
There has also been mention of a possible plan to extend Old Trafford, rather than demolish it, or rely completely upon renovating it at its current capacity.
Since the Americans took over in 2005, the slow disrepair that the stadium has fallen into has been a major point of aggravation for fans who have been calling for the family to depart the club.
This, along with grievance in regards to other mismanaged finances at the club, has been the main reason for faithful fans to call for the Glazers to leave Man Utd.
The club were even forced to close down their new mega store last June as a result of an ‘anti-Glazer’ protest put on by fans who had reached the end of their tether with the American owners.
Whatever happens with Old Trafford, we’re sure that Jim Ratcliffe’s plan to spend his first £237 million at Man Utd on stadium upgrades will certainly go down with Red Devils’ fans on the whole!
