13 March 2024 , 09:19
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Gary Neville has hammered the Glazers for failing to appoint the right people at Manchester United - and also accused them of neglecting their iconic Old Trafford stadium.
The club's American owners are subjected to regular criticism, having overseen a gradual decline over the past decade. Following their takeover in 2005, the success of Sir Alex Ferguson shielded them from the fans and the media, but since his retirement their flaws have been exposed.
The Glazers are largely absent owners and allowed Ed Woodward to run the club until his recent departure. He was one of several individuals employed despite having a lack of experience. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is currently wowing fans by making shrewd appointments - but Neville insists that is just normal behaviour.
He also remains stunned that Old Trafford hasn't had much-needed improvements, especially given the finances of the club and the fact they've allowed local rivals Manchester City to soar ahead of them in terms of infrastructure.
He said on The Overlap Fan Debate, brought to you by Sky Bet : “I think the Glazers have been negligent in the past 10 years in not appointing the right people. We think Sir Jim Ratcliffe coming in is amazing because he’s appointed a sporting director and a CEO – it’s unbelievable really, it’s just like normal practice.
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“My biggest thing is the stadium and regeneration. You think about Financial Fair Play now, and the generation of income that could’ve happened – United own 50-60 acres around the ground. Manchester City have invested in the Co-Op Arena that’s going to open in a month or two, they own half of that. They’ve invested in other things that have made money around the ground and invested in the place. Letting the stadium go and not touching the regeneration – those two things are just negligent.
“You can get the team wrong, sign the wrong players, lose football matches – I don’t have a problem with that. You can’t not have the best stadium with the money coming in and you can’t not have a CEO and sporting director that understand football clubs.”
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has begun making changes in Manchester (PA)The neglect of Old Trafford has cost the club as they were overlooked for Euro 2028 with City's Etihad Stadium getting the nod ahead of it. Their stadium is seen as far more modern with the champions continuing to invest in upgrades.
Ratcliffe has made it clear he wants to ensure that United have a stadium that rivals the best arenas in Europe. The billionaire has spoken of his desire to create a 'Wembley of the North' - which could involve Government assistance as a task force is put together to ensure the club's neglect is addressed.
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