After completing the London Marathon on Sunday, Man Utd co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe spoke to BBC presenter and Newcastle fan Gabby Logan.
The 71-year-old took his chance to have another dig at Newcastle, proving once again that the Red Devils’ wait to appoint Dan Ashworth really is living rent free in his head.
Ratcliffe claimed ‘one of the biggest problems in football’ is the situation around ‘gardening leave’, bemoaning the fact Man Utd may have to wait anything from six to 18 months to appoint the likes of Ashworth as their new sporting director.
“It is a long journey”, he said. “One of the biggest problems we have in football is you get these new guys to come into the team, really capable people, but they’re all on gardening leave! So it takes you six months, a year of 18 months. It’s a real issue in football.” What, contracts are now a huge issue in football? You know what to do Jim – just pay up!
Ratcliffe then continued after Logan pointed out that Man Utd must strike deals with other clubs to bring in “really good people” like Ashworth. “They can’t work for us (until a deal is agreed) and the fans are impatient. Whether they like it or not, they have to be patient. It’s not a light switch, you can’t just turn it around like that.” Watch the clip below.
#NUFC living rent free in Jim’s head pic.twitter.com/6bWgxRhLtD
— Newcastle Fans TV (@NewcastleFansTV) April 21, 2024
He’s “the boss” now, apparently, yet he’s continuing to throw his toys out of the pram over the Ashworth saga and even snuck in a dig at “impatient” Man Utd fans.
Contracts are there for a reason and Ashworth was not forced to sign his contract when he joined Newcastle.
We had to pay Brighton for his services so Man Utd should do likewise and stop moaning.
I would be inclined to make him sit out the full 18 months the way Ratcliffe is going on.
It’s not as if the Man Utd owner hasn’t got the cash.
Joseph(Quote)
Ratcliffe and his crones played this whole Ashworth saga out in public before they even approached NUFC, in the hopes that we’d just crumble when they eventually came knocking. They genuineley thought the club were just going to roll over. Nah, not any more. The gardening leave is in Ashworth’s contract, so either pay up or shut up.
lee(Quote)
If I was a Man U fan I’d be worried our so called saviour has now tried once with a new stadium and now twice with Ashworth to get things done on the cheap. A sign of things to come?
It’s baffling that they refuse to pay for such a hugely important cog in their new regime, so glad we’re not folding like we would have under the fat controller
Porkpie(Quote)
Errrr yes – he WAS forced to sign his contract when he joined. If he wanted to join, he had to sign the contract.
Daveys **** mate(Quote)
Daveys****mate
He wasn’t forced to sign anything as he didn’t have to join if he didn’t like what he was signing, it’s called free will, so he must have been happy to sign it.
Joseph(Quote)