The winds of change are blowing at Manchester United this summer and for once, it doesn’t feel like another false dawn because of one big change.
This is Ineos and Sir Jim Ratcliffe‘s first summer window with full control of footballing operations and the changes have been tangible.
From investing smartly in the Manchester United squad, to giving attention to long-ignored facets of the club like the training ground Carrington and the stadium, it’s been a breath of fresh air.
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Perhaps no other person can put it into perspective better than someone who was at Manchester United when they were the envy of the footballing world.
Peter Kenyon was the hard-nosed CEO at Old Trafford when Sir Alex Ferguson was building a dynasty and he has now fired direct shots at the Glazers for allowing United to fall behind the competition.
Peter Kenyon calls out the Glazers
Kenyon had left United at just the right time, two years before Glazers arrived at United with their leveraged buyout.
He went to Chelsea who were an emerging powerhouse under Roman Abramovich so he could see in real-time United being left behind.
Speaking on Rio Ferdinand‘s YouTube channel Rio Ferdinand Presents, Kenyon called the people responsible for the rot- the Glazers, and put it in sharp contrast to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s early days.
He said: “Jim’s a serious guy. I think the ownership change is positive for United, to be really honest. I think it’s a long road bike.
“Ineos are starting to do the right thing. We were one of the first teams in Europe to have a dedicated training environment (Carrington) and it’s not anymore.
“Old Trafford was one of Europe’s biggest and best stadiums and it’s all looking tired people have overtaken us. That would never have happened.
“Ownership is a really important part of the culture of the football club and I think it is right they are starting to look at the ownership.”
Kenyon sensationally admitted that he looked at United from his Chelsea seat with bewilderment, in disbelief at what was going on at United.
He said: “We didn’t think it was right to take United public [on the stock market]. Ownership is a really important part of the fabric of the club.
“Roman [Abramovich at Chelsea] loved the club. He went to games. You can’t understand the temperature of the fans if you can’t go to games.”
Unpacking Kenyon’s words
Now that the Glazers have disappeared from the public eye and scrutiny, it seems like more people are willing to call their mishandling of United out directly.
Kenyon never worked under the Glazer ownership but it is clear from his comments that he took umbrage with the way the American owners ran things at the club.
Be it talking about the owners attending games (Glazers rarely did/do), taking the club private (Glazers took it public), or understanding fan sentiment, everything Kenyon says is what they didn’t do.
The fact that he worked under multiple ideal ownership structures, like pre-Glazer United or Roman’s Chelsea makes it an even sharper contrast for him.
Ultimately, his assessment of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s short time in charge is glowing which should fill the fans with lot of optimism.
A lot of the good things being done are already visible, but it means more when it comes from a man who has been there and done it all in the executive circles of the game.
from United In Focus https://ift.tt/mJxDhQ0