Man United owner Ratcliffe sees fortune plummet £6.5bn Sport Business Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has seen his fortune plummet by £6.5bn in just one year. The latest edition of the Sunday Times Rich List sees the Brit drop to seventh with an estimated wealth of £17bn, down £6.47bn on his fortune last year. He’s been jumped by Sir James Dyson, Israeli businessman Idan [...]
Naples, Italy to host 2027 America’s Cup with PM Meloni backing Sport Business Naples in Italy will host the 38th America’s Cup after holders New Zealand were unable to stage the sailing regatta in their own country. The Aotearoa government rejected attempts by Emirates Team New Zealand after the Kiwis won the last event in Barcelona, beating Sir Ben Ainslie and Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s challenger Britannia. “While the [...]
Dan Ashworth: FA hand former Man Utd director lifeline with new role Sport Business The Football Association has confirmed that it has re-hired Dan Ashworth, five months after he was sacked as Manchester United sporting director by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ashworth, who was previously the FA’s director of elite development and then technical director between 2013 and 2019, has taken up the newly created role of chief football officer. [...]
Manchester United swap trophy parade for BBQ if they win Europa League May 13, 2025 Manchester United are not planning a trophy parade if they win the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur next week. The club, run by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, could put some gloss on a difficult season by beating Spurs and claiming a Champions League place on 21 May in Bilbao. But even if they [...]
Nottingham Forest owner Marinakis gives up control of club April 30, 2025 Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis has relinquished control of the Premier League club in order to avoid scuppering their Champions League qualification. Marinakis has placed his Forest shares in a blind trust to ensure that he does not fall foul of Uefa rules preventing control of two teams in the same European competition. [...]
Ineos and Ratcliffe need a sporting win and fast April 11, 2025 “Ineos Britannia announces that it has withdrawn its intention to challenge for the next America’s Cup.” Those were the words issued this week in the latest sporting scaleback by British chemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The stream of negative news out of Manchester United – including hundreds of job losses, brutal cost-cutting and criticism over [...]
After losing IOC election, how about Seb Coe for chair of football regulator? March 27, 2025 It was, with hindsight, not a “keep Seb Coe out” but a “get Kirsty Coventry in” campaign that determined the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential election outcome. I was as guilty as most British observers in believing that Seb Coe would take it to the wire. Unconscious bias and all that. In the event, eight [...]
UK government backs Manchester United 100,000-seat stadium March 19, 2025 Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy has said the government is keen to “crack on” in supporting Manchester United’s plan to build a 100,000-seater stadium. Manchester United and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe unveiled plans for a “New Trafford” development adjacent to the Theatre of Dreams that would include a number of [...]
Brentford owner Benham weighs up minority investment in Bees March 19, 2025 Brentford have received multiple offers of minority investment from American groups who value the club at around £400m. Owner Matthew Benham has been seeking additional investment for over a year. Rothschild was appointed to oversee the sales process but City AM understands that the merchant bank is no longer working on the Brentford deal. The [...]
Scrapping relegation can help WSL dodge trap set by men’s football March 13, 2025 The WSL’s new leadership deserves credit for seriously considering ditching relegation in pursuit of a firmer financial footing for women’s football, writes Ed Warner. Manchester City have sacked their head coach with hopes of Champions League qualification this season fading and only cup dreams to cling to. No, not Pep Guardiola, but Gareth Taylor, now [...]