Inside the Qataris’ ‘Project Ruby’ plan that ‘would have fixed Man Utd in THREE DAYS’ as fans turn on Ratcliffe
IT'S taken just 11 months for some Manchester United fans to turn on minority co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
And doubters in the Old Trafford faithful will no doubt be left even more frustrated when they find out what could've been under the Qatari administration, who had plans to revolutionise the club in just THREE DAYS.
Fan pressure and soaring costs saw the majority owning Glazer family announce that they were open to selling United in November 2022.
And Qatari billionaire banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, entered the race to buy Britain's biggest football club.
After months of speculation, Sheikh Jassim's final £4.5billion offer for full control was shunned by the Glazers, in favour of Britain's richest man Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe's own £1.2bn offer for a 27.7 per cent stake was accepted, and the 72-year-old, a life long fan, was effectively given the keys, taking control of all operations.
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But things haven't gone to plan, with sporting director Dan Ashworth leaving the club after just five months in his role in the latest of a string of PR disasters.
Almost 12 months on, the 'new' United lurches from horror show to another under Ratcliffe and his Ineos officers.
Ahead of Sunday's derby at Man City they find themselves in a lowly 13th place in the Premier League.
After 15 games they are 16 points behind Liverpool, who spanked them 3-0 at Old Trafford.
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But have now revealed an inside swoop into what could've happened in M16 if the Qatari's were allowed to buy the club outright.
Plans for a United rebirth, fuelled by vast wealth and some of the finest sporting and finance brains on earth, had already been carefully drafted.
The strategy for 'Project Ruby' saw the Qatari's pledge to announce the takeover on the first day.
The removal of ALL of the club's debt would come on the second day.
And United would be taken off the New York Stock Exchange and no longer answerable to far-away stakeholders.
By day three, Sheikh Jassim would reveal plans for a brand new state-of-the-art stadium.
That's it, a clean break in three days to change the club's history and current predicament.
As for Old Trafford, there would be no attempt to grab any money from the taxpayer, or confusion over whether this would be a refurbishment or a rebuild.
Ratcliffe was reportedly lobbying the government's "Levelling Up" plan to give the north of England a venue to rival Wembley.
And the iconic ground continues to rot away, hampered by an embarrassing leaky roof and dead RATS under seats.
Under Sheikh Jassim this would have been a more straightforward process.
"A stadium for a football club paid for by a football club and nobody else. And as for the staff Ratcliffe is firing - we would have been hiring."
None of the above will be of solace to the United fans – and the large numbers of staff - who had wanted the Sheikh Jassim bid to succeed.
Populous, the designers responsible for many of the venues at the 2022 World Cup, had already drawn up plans, which were shared with bidders for United.
It can now be disclosed that an 'adaptable' stadium was being seriously considered, with a capacity of between 90,000 and 100,000.
Leading commercial property company JLL, based in Manchester city centre, had already been signed up to work on the project.
And there was a separate fund planned for the women's team, who would've had their own training centre in Manchester.
Leading commercial property company JLL, based in Manchester city centre, had already been signed up to work on the project.
Far from being given the sack, Sir Alex Ferguson was to be cherished and invited onto an advisory board.
Others, including Class of '92 members David Beckham and Gary Neville, were also being lined up to add their input.
But the opposite has come true.
Ratcliffe's hated cost-cutting campaign has seen 250 redundancies made and tickets were hiked to £66 for kids and pensioners.
He's even turned into the grinch and replaced the £100 staff Christmas bonus with a £40 M&S voucher in his latest money-saving measure.
Fans have already protested outside Old Trafford begging to stop being "exploited".
But it might not be the end of the story.
The advisor told the Mail: "Sheikh Jassim is still a rich guy.
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"He is still a United fan. He is not going to rush off and try another Premier League club.
'If the opportunity to buy the whole of Manchester United arose again at some point in the future it is hard to see there not being a big level of interest. The plans are still there."
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