Jamie O’Hara, former Premier League player and current pundit, recently shared his disappointment with Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s impact at Manchester United, calling the club “loserville” since the INEOS billionaire assumed control of United’s sporting operations.
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Ratcliffe, who bought a 27.7% minority stake in United in February, had initially been welcomed as a figure who would shake up the club’s leadership, replacing some long-standing dissatisfaction with the Glazer family.
But, O’Hara argues, the reality has been a far cry from the transformative leadership fans expected.
The INEOS chief has already made headlines with his cost-cutting initiatives, which include laying off up to 250 staff members and reportedly cutting “non-essential” activities.
According to reports, Ratcliffe’s efforts to reduce overhead have also included asking Manchester City to allow United players Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo to use a private jet for the Ballon d’Or ceremony. This request was reportedly declined, further fueling criticism.
On talkSPORT, O’Hara questioned Ratcliffe’s approach: “What is he doing? He’s a disgrace,” O’Hara said, referring to the billionaire’s reduced spending and alleged reliance on rival resources. “He came in, gave it the big spuds, he’s this billionaire… all he’s done is get rid of 200 people, they’ve got to bring their own food in now, now he’s trying to penny pinch on a jet.”
Since Ratcliffe’s arrival, United has struggled to gain ground in the Premier League, currently enduring a challenging season start under manager Erik ten Hag.
With only three wins in their first eight league matches and a winless record in Europa League so far, Ratcliffe’s tenure hasn’t provided the expected boost in performance.
As frustrations mount, O’Hara’s comments echo a growing sentiment among fans who feel the club has yet to see meaningful improvement on or off the field.
