“It's not a light switch" - Sir Jim Ratcliffe sends message to 'impatient' Manchester United fans
Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has urged the club's fans to be patient with the rebuild. He claimed it would be a long journey and take at least 18 months before all their new appointments take charge.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Ratcliffe understood why Manchester United were impatient and looking for instant success. But he was quick to highlight that it would take time for them to get things back on track, saying:
"It's a long journey. The fans are impatient and I have some sympathy with that. It's a journey and people, whether they like it or not, have to be a bit patient. We've got these new guys to come into the team, capable people, but they're all on gardening leave. So it takes you six months, a year, 18 months before they can join. It's a real issue in football. It's not a light switch. You can't just turn it around like that it takes a bit of time."
United recently announced Jason Wilcox as their new technical director, becoming the latest appointment under Ratcliffe.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants Manchester United to do well on the pitch
Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke to the club's official website earlier this year and stated that the main aim for the new part-owners is performance on the pitch. He wants them to be challenging for the Premier League and the Champions League and said:
"So, the message to the fans… I think absolutely our priority with ManUtd is performance on the pitch. So we want Manchester United to be challenging for the Premier League, challenging for the Champions League. That's what ManUtd is about."
He added:
"It's the greatest club in the world so it should be playing the greatest football in the world. But it's not a light switch. We can't just switch a switch and, all of a sudden, United are going to be playing football at the level of Real Madrid because they haven't been for the last 11 years. That takes time and it takes a bit of patience."
Manchester United are in the FA Cup final this season but are struggling in the league. They are seventh in the Premier League table, level on points with sixth-placed Newcastle United.