Defiant Manchester United supporters are pressing ahead with a scheduled demonstration against the club's ownership structure, undeterred by a recent upturn in on-pitch results. The fan group, known as The 1958, has emphatically stated that back-to-back Premier League victories over Manchester City and Arsenal will not alter their plans to voice discontent before Sunday's fixture against Fulham at Old Trafford.
Protest Plans Firmly in Place
The organised protest is slated for February 1, with participants gathering at two designated locations from 1pm. Supporters will convene at the junction of Sir Matt Busby Way and Chester Road, as well as outside Hotel Football, ahead of the 2pm kick-off. This action continues a long history of fan demonstrations outside the iconic stadium, reflecting deep-seated frustrations that have simmered for years.
Core Grievances Unchanged by Results
A spokesperson for The 1958, which boasts nearly 100,000 members, clarified that their concerns are entirely separate from short-term match outcomes. "Recent results are down to Michael Carrick and the players and they have come in spite of our inept ownership, not because of it," the representative asserted. "Fans should not be fooled by two good results. We have been here too many times before. Our protest has never been about performances on the pitch. Not now, and not once in the last 21 years."
The group's primary focus remains what they describe as a fundamentally dysfunctional ownership model that has persistently failed the club. They argue that the issues run far deeper than temporary sporting success, targeting the strategic direction and financial management of the organisation.
Scathing Critique of Leadership
The 1958 has launched particularly fierce criticism at Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the billionaire businessman involved with the club. Despite his commercial achievements, the group labels him "an incompetent clown turning the club into a circus" in a football context, accusing him of making a series of poor decisions without a coherent long-term plan.
Additionally, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox have come under heavy fire. The fan collective has explicitly called for a vote of no confidence in the ownership, Berrada, and Wilcox, demanding their removal from positions of influence. "We are once again witnessing Manchester United being run by executives learning on the job, at the expense of results, stability, and credibility," the group declared earlier this month.
Accusations of Financial Mismanagement
The protestors paint a picture of a club being mismanaged on multiple fronts. They accuse the Glazer family of continuing to extract significant wealth from Manchester United, while simultaneously criticising Ratcliffe and his company Ineos for imposing burdens on supporters. "Together, they are running one of the biggest clubs in world football like a local corner shop, penny pinching, short term, and utterly devoid of vision," the statement lamented.
A particularly damning allegation suggests that over $1 billion has been drained from the club due to what they term greed. The 1958 also contends that Ratcliffe has betrayed the trust of many fans who initially saw him as an agent of change, instead becoming a "perfect Glazer shield" who absorbs public criticism while the Glazers continue operations behind the scenes. "Nothing has changed. In truth, it is worse," the group concluded, indicating a belief that the situation has deteriorated rather than improved.
The forthcoming protest represents a clear signal that, for a significant portion of the Manchester United fanbase, victories on the field cannot compensate for profound dissatisfaction with the stewardship of the club off it. The 1958's call to arms for Sunday underscores a determination to keep the pressure on the hierarchy, regardless of temporary sporting fortunes.
