Sir Jim Ratcliffe has promised to be “ambitious” at Manchester United but admitted the need for “time and patience” in an open letter to the club’s supporters.
Ratcliffe’s INEOS confirmed their 25 per cent minority investment in United on Sunday in a move that will see it take control of the football operations at Old Trafford.
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) had responded to the news of the INEOS investment with “very mixed feelings” with the hugely unpopular Glazer family remaining in position and only diluting their shareholding.
Ratcliffe, a boyhood fan who has also pledged $300m (£245m) of “further investment” to aid infrastructure upgrades including the redevelopment of the stadium, says he takes the responsibility of returning the club to past glories “very seriously”
In a letter published by MUST on Tuesday, Ratcliffe said: “I wanted to write to you at this time given the critical role of the fans to the future of Manchester United as we recognise our responsibility as custodians of the Club on your behalf.
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“I believe we can bring sporting success on the pitch to complement the undoubted commercial success that the club has enjoyed. It will require time and patience alongside rigour and the highest level of professional management.
“You are ambitious for Manchester United and so are we. There are no guarantees in sport, and change can inevitably take time but we are in it for the long term and together we want to help take Manchester United back to where the club belongs, at the very top of English, European and world football. I take that responsibility very seriously.”
The investment remains subject to Premier League approval with that process likely to take between six and eight weeks.
“Please note that, as with any deal, it is subject to the usual regulatory sign-off process,” Ratcliffe added. “Therefore we do not expect to speak publicly about club matters until after the deal has completed.”
Manchester United — eighth in the Premier League — return to action against Aston Villa on Tuesday evening.
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(Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
