- Sir Jim Ratcliffe described Man United’s men’s side as the ‘first team’ in June
- The Red Devils co-owner appeared to double down on his stance last week
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Marc Skinner has addressed the criticism directed towards Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the Manchester United co-owner reiterated that the men’s team remains his priority.
Skinner remarked, ‘It’s hard for me to see those comments but actually that’s not what I see from the working group that is every day with us’.
In an interview in June, Ratcliffe described the men’s side as the club’s ‘first team’ and opted to attend a Premier League match instead of the Women’s FA Cup final, where United secured their first major silverware.
Last week, Ratcliffe appeared to double down on his stance, telling the United We Stand fanzine: ‘There’s only so much that you can do and our focus has been on the men’s team. If not, you get spread too thinly.
‘We need to sort out the main issue – the men’s team. The women’s team is an opportunity. Women’s football is growing really quickly in popularity and size.
‘We need to participate in that. The girls wear a Manchester United badge on their shirt and they’re representing the club.’
Sir Jim Ratcliffe appeared to double down on his stance that the men’s team is his priority
Man United women’s boss Marc Skinner admitted that it was hard for him to see the comments
Ratcliffe described the women’s team as ‘an opportunity’ while insisting that sorting out the men’s team remains the main issue
The comments have drawn criticism from fans, with Ian Wright and Steph Houghton also addressing it on their podcast, Crossways. Houghton said: ‘The women’s team is part of that football club, it’s not something that sits on the side. If that’s me and I hear that from the top guy, I’d be thinking: “What are we doing?”.
‘Man United have done some great things over the years to come from the Championship to get into the WSL. They’ve built the club to a certain point, all you need is someone to back you.’
Weighing in on the debate, the Manchester United women’s boss said: ‘One thing I’ll say is words are cheap but actions last longer. For me, I see the actions.
‘It’s hard for me to hear those comments, but actually that’s not what I see from the working group that is every day with us.
‘Would I love the biggest budget in the league? Of course I would, I think everyone would. But I think everyone in this room wants a sustainable game.
‘We want to grow, we want women to have the same rights, to grow those rights, to have the finances available for all resources. But unfortunately, we’ve got to work for that because we’re starting from behind.
‘The reality is I don’t see it. I see it in support and support isn’t always finance. Support is actually knowing you’ve got a strategy, you’re going to move to this.
‘Our actions are supported and we’d all like more but I feel supported in the fact that everybody in this club wants our team to do well and we’re going to grow towards a sustainable model.’
