Paul Scholes lays into Sir Jim Ratcliffe for ‘having the cheek’ to introduce ‘ridiculous’ Man Utd’s ticket prices
PAUL SCHOLES ripped into Sir Jim Ratcliffe and slammed Manchester United’s ticket prices in a scathing attack.
There has growing anger and protests from fans aimed at the new owners after they made the decision to scrap concessions and hike prices to a minimum of £66 per ticket for members.
Ratcliffe’s controversial moves have come as he tries to fix the club’s balance sheets by cutting costs.
The billionaire has made 250 people redundant, cancelled the staff Christmas party and made them pay for their own travel to last season’s FA Cup final among other money-saving hacks.
And with United having a poor season on the pitch, Scholes slammed Ineos’ first 12 months at Old Trafford.
On SkyBet‘s The Overlap Fan Debate, he said: “They have been in charge for nearly a year now and everything is still negative.
“I can’t think of something positive that they’ve done for the football club.
“Things are getting worse on the football pitch so couldn’t they have just said that they would do cheaper tickets – couldn’t they just give us something positive.
“How can you ask Manchester United fans to pay more money with what is on the football pitch.”
Scholes added: “£66 for a ticket is ridiculous. If you think of Manchester, there are so many deprived areas.
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“Sir Jim Ratcliffe himself is from Failsworth, which is a deprived area.
“If you take one kid with you, that is £120, if you take a family, you are looking at £300-400 – it is just not right.
“Where do these owners get the front to put ticket prices up?
“For the value – we’re probably having our worst ever Premier League season and they’ve got the cheek to put the prices up.
“There is nothing positive happening with that football club. The team look bang average. They are not doing anything for fans.
“If we have got Sir Jim Ratcliffe, compared to all these American owners, who has been a United fan since growing up in an area in Manchester – he is still hiking prices up.
“It just shows that they don’t care.”
Banners reading “stop exploiting loyalty” have been seen at Old Trafford in recent games.
There are also fears among United’s 55,000 season-ticket holders that a hefty price hike is likely for them next season.
Ratcliffe was dubbed “Scrooge” last month after a sensational month of cost-cutting saw Christmas bonuses halved and a donation to a charity that helps former players axed.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe's first year at Man Utd
SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 – and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since…
December 2023 – Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford
January 2024 – Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington
January 2024 – Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO
February 2024 – Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed
February 2024 – Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added
March 2024 – Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” in bizarre move
March 2024 – Matt Johnson appointed head of women’s football
March 2024 – Ratcliffe announces plans to build “Wembley of the North” to replace Old Trafford
March 2024 – Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 – down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December
April 2024 – Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled
April 2024 – John Murtough quits as football director
April 2024 – Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton
May 2024 – Ratcliffe turns Carrington “toxic” after sending email to employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanliness
May 2024 – Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof
May 2024 – Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish
May 2024 – Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy
May 2024 – Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket
May 2024 – Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed
May 2024 – Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result
June 2024 – Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground
June 2024 – Ratcliffe introduces strict “back to work” policy forcing staff to come into office
June 2024 – Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women’s team
July 2024 – Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation
July 2024 – Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026
July 2024 – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher’s role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.
July 2024 – Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment
July 2024 – Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board
July 2024 – Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125
July 2024 – Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie
August 2024 – Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window
August 2024 – Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet
October 2024 – Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson
October 2024 – Staff Christmas party cancelled
October 2024 – “Back to work” policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matches
October 2024 – Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15m
November 2024 – Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause
November 2024 – Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim
November 2024 – Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings
November 2024 – Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association
December 2024 – Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” Man Utd “still in last century”
December 2024 – Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66
December 2024 – Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting director
December 2024 – £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucher
December 2024 – Ceiling starts leaking during Ruben Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth
December 2024 – Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford as rodent droppings found in food kiosks and plush suites as food hygiene ratings drops to just two stars
December 2024 – SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cuts £40,000 funding donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charity