UK football regulator ‘won’t be good’ says Ratcliffe

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is opposed to the introduction of a football regulator and says he can understand why Manchester City are challenging the Premier League’s rules.

Ratcliffe has taken a 27.7% stake in United but has effectively been allowed to control day-to-day operations by the Glazer family.

He has appointed a new technical director in Jason Wilcox, with Omar Berrada set to take over as chief executive next month. United will install Dan Ashworth as sporting director once a compensation deal is agreed with Newcastle.

Ratcliffe also oversaw the decision to stick with manager Erik ten Hag, even though United spoke to a number of potential replacements.

In addition, he has signed off on a £50m upgrade of the club’s Carrington training complex, with work under way that will force the first-team out of the main building for large parts of next season.

However, while he is concentrating on issues at United, Ratcliffe is also aware of wider problems facing the game, with a new government-backed football regulator top of the list.

The plans were part of the Football Governance Bill, which was halted when the General Election was called but both Conservative and Labour parties have committed to it if they form the next government.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has previously warned of the potential for ‘unintended consequences’ resulting from the introduction of a regulator, which he has said could threaten the league’s status as the most lucrative in the world.

It is one of a number of regulatory issues facing Premier League clubs, who must comply with current profit and sustainability rules for at least another season.