29 December 2023 , 21:14
587
0
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been warned against appointing Dave Brailsford to lead Manchester United's footballing comeback.
The Red Devils have endured a wretched season, sitting seventh in the Premier League as well as being knocked out of the Carabao Cup and Champions League. They have been boosted by the long-awaited conclusion of their drawn out ownership saga.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe completed his deal for a 25 percent stake in the club on Christmas Eve. Ratcliffe is set to appoint Brailsford to United's football board, acting as his representative as he assesses what to overhaul at Old Trafford.
But former Liverpool and Newcastle manager Graeme Souness believes that would be a mistake. Souness has highlighted Brailsford's struggles at Ligue 1 Nice, who Ratcliffe owns, as evidence that a more experienced head is needed.
"A big fix is needed at Manchester United if Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to start getting the club back where they should be in 2024. I don't imagine for one minute he will be investing £1.3billion and then sitting back to watch more of the same," he told the Daily Mail.
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
"Delegation will be key. There has been a lot of talk about Sir Dave Brailsford. If Brailsford really had the biggest say at Nice, who have struggled under Ineos ownership, I'd suggest Sir Jim would be better off looking for the best football man out there.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Jim Ratcliffe be able to turn Manchester United around? Comment below.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been warned Dave Brailsford is the wrong man to head up the overhaul at Manchester United (Michael Steele/Getty Images)"Brailsford's background is not in football, so Sir Jim has got to find a football man he can lean on heavily - really, really heavily - and then hope he's hired the right one. It's not going to be a quick fix."
Ratcliffe has promised major changes will be coming at Old Trafford once he arrives. The billionaire penned an open letter to the Manchester United Supporters Trust earlier this week to lay out his plans.
"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," the letter read.
"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. Please note that, as with any deal, it is subject to the usual regulatory sign-off process and therefore we do not expect to speak publicly about Club matters until after the deal has completed."