Manchester United's director of football Jason Wilcox has appealed to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe for more time to turn around the club's fortunes. Speaking at a gala dinner marking the 40th anniversary of the Association of Manchester United Players, Wilcox emphasised the need for patience as the club undergoes a structural transformation.
Wilcox revealed that when he joined 18 months ago, he found a lack of football identity and poor alignment between ownership, the CEO, and the academy. He admitted the club had to go through a period of transformation, including redundancies, to create a leaner workforce with accountability. 'It's been a real challenge, I can't lie,' he said.
The plea comes after a difficult start to the season, with United managing just four points from their first four Premier League matches, including a derby defeat to Manchester City. Ratcliffe recently visited Carrington for discussions with manager Ruben Amorim, focusing on data around the team's performance.
Amorim confirmed the talks, joking that Ratcliffe offered him a new contract, but stressed the owner's full support. 'He said many times this is my first season. For me, it's not. But normal things,' the Portuguese coach said. Despite the pressure, Wilcox expressed confidence: 'I just pray we get the opportunity to turn it around. It's not will we win again, it's when.'
