Dan Ashworth: FA hand former Man Utd director lifeline with new role May 14, 2025 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Ineos and Ratcliffe need a sporting win and fast April 11, 2025 “Ineos Britannia announces that it has withdrawn its intention to challenge for the next America’s Cup.”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 [...]
Manchester United Old Trafford plans set to be revealed March 10, 2025 Manchester United are today expected to announce plans for a new stadium to replace Old Trafford after co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe defended the club’s penny pinching. A “Wembley of the North” on the site of Old Trafford has been Ratcliffe’s goal since the billionaire purchased just under 30 per cent of Manchester United last year. [...]
Ratcliffe calls on Europe to ditch carbon tax to save chemicals industry February 26, 2025 Sir Jim Ratcliffe has warned that Europe’s chemicals industry “faces extinction” and called on European Union leaders to ditch their carbon tax and increase tariffs to preserve it. In an open letter published on Wednesday, the founder and owner of chemicals giant Ineos launched an excoriating assessment of the EU’s approach to the chemicals sector, [...]