Ex-PL CEO: 'Man United fans upset' as 'Pot-stirring' Ratcliffe hatches grim plan

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Sir Jim Ratcliffe is “very keen on stirring the pot” at Man United as he plans further ticket price increases.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – suggested the billionaire may attract blame if he can’t bring quick success to the club, after eroding goodwill with fans.

According to The Athletic (26 June), United are considering a substantial rise in their ticket prices as Ratcliffe looks to drive up revenues to fund the construction of a new stadium.

The Red Devils have increased their season ticket prices for a second consecutive campaign after previously freezing them for 11 years in a row, with next season’s rates going up by 5%.

Ratcliffe became a co-owner at United earlier this year, taking a 27.7% stake in the club and taking charge of footballing activities.

Man United fans ‘will be upset’ after new Ratcliffe plans revealed

He has recently decided to make 250 members of staff redundant in a bid to cut costs.

Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “Ratcliffe has disappointed me.

“I really had high hopes for him as an owner but he’s taken on so many battles, and here’s another one.

“There is a lot of fan unrest about the ticket schemes at Old Trafford.

“I know several season ticket holders who are moaning about the way the ticket system is run.

“An additional price increase is not going to keep them happy, particularly off the back of last season.

“I would have thought he could have staved off that increase for another season, to show everyone that he could do it on the back of success.

“He seems to be very keen on stirring up the pot. He feels the club has been lazy over the past few years, but taking on every possible battle every day is not the way to move forward.

“The fan base will be pretty upset about this increase. They’ll be quicker to blame Ratcliffe if things go wrong than they would’ve been before.

“It’s not the perfect environment, and Ratcliffe isn’t getting good marks so far.”

In other news, “huge” update on midfielder quitting Man United.

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