3 things Sir Jim Ratcliffe should do to get Manchester United back on track

Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s purchase of a 25 per cent stake in Manchester United certainly has hopes soaring across Old Trafford.

While this is not the full sale and redemption from the Glazer family that many fans would have hoped for, the total footballing control is bound to pay dividends. Further, with Jean-Claude Blanc and Sir Dave Brailsford assessing things before approval of the deal by the Premier League, a lot can go into planning.

Here’s what the acquisition ought to result in if the Red Devils hope to taste success again:

1. A New Sporting Director

United have been touted to have a proper Sporting Director for a while now but the model of governance which has succeeded immensely elsewhere is yet to taste regular fruition at Carrington. Newcastle United’s Dan Ashworth provides a good sample space that the new investors could hope to emulate in their initial months in charge.

In particular, this new figure ought to go beyond overseeing transfers and make a specific push on promoting viable academy talent as well as world-class scouting such that the likes of Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez ply their trade for the side before they become world-renowned talent.

Here, the bitter truth is that if Erik ten Hag’s vision doesn’t align with that of the INEOS group, an amicable parting needs to be on the cards.

2. Planned Transfer Windows

United’s transfer activity in the last decade has been nothing short of abysmal. They’ve lacked decisiveness in the transfer market under different managers, making several panic signings based on every aspect under the roof, but planned long-term squad building.

Instead, a new recruitment director should be put in charge of the ins and outs at the side and ensure that a structured transfer philosophy governs one of the biggest spenders in the transfer market.

Simply put, new owners need not always go the senseless spending route of Chelsea and a calm mind should call the shots.

3. Old Trafford Must Become New

As hard as it is for the loyal fanbase to digest, the spectacular edifice that is Old Trafford is crumbling and is in desperate need of modernization. Whether this happens through investments in renovations or the building of a brand new stadium, it simply doesn’t make sense that a club of the corporate clout of United resides in a stadium so iconic and yet so ancient.

The poor maintenance of one of England’s largest grounds is truly one of the biggest shames of the Glazer tenure, and one of the ways Sir Jim Ratcliffe and company can truly stamp their trust with the United faithful is by giving the Theatre of Dreams its fair due.