New Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe believes that the Premier League’s ‘big six’ should have more influence in how the league is managed, a stance that may not garner much support from neutral fans.
Ratcliffe, a billionaire minority stakeholder overseeing Manchester United’s football operations, told Bloomberg that the six clubs driving interest in the league should wield more power than clubs like Leicester City or Nottingham Forest.
“I don’t think I have enough experience in understanding quite how the Premier League works yet,” he said. “As I understand, everyone has an equal vote, but there used to be a coalition of the six major clubs with significant influence in the Premiership. That ended after the European Super Club Initiative.
“And I think they need to ensure that the top six clubs aren’t disadvantaged by not having a strong say in the committee. Ultimately, these top clubs drive the Premiership’s global interest.”
Ratcliffe, who acquired a 27.7 percent stake in Man Utd in February, aims to restore the club to its trophy-winning ways.
By his calculations, Man Utd has a net spend of £1.1 billion in the ten seasons since Sir Alex Ferguson retired. Ratcliffe is concerned that Financial Fair Play rules or an independent regulator could hinder his plans to revitalize the club.
“I just think the Premiership needs to be cautious about getting entangled in endless legal disputes with numerous clubs,” he said.
“The Premiership is likely the most successful sports league in the world, certainly the most successful football league. In the north of England, we say: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
“If too much regulation is imposed, we risk ending up with issues like those of Manchester City, Everton, and Nottingham Forest. The Premiership could spend more time in court than focusing on what’s best for the league.”
