Gary Neville has called Manchester United’s year a “disgrace to the end” following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a 25% share in the club on Christmas Eve.

Neville thanked INEOS Group chairman Ratcliffe, 71, a childhood United fan born in nearby Failsworth, “all the very best” in his efforts to restore the club to its former glory.

Former United captain Neville, writing on X, questioned the timing of the announcement, which came at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve: “Manchester United 2023 has been a disgrace to the end.”

“The timing is truly terrible, and no functioning organization would even consider it.”

“Anyway all the very best to Jim Ratcliffe and I hope he can somehow work out a way to get the club right again and back to being something respectable on and off the pitch.”

Ratcliffe’s 25% stake purchase comes after the club’s US-based owners, the Glazer family, announced their desire to conduct a strategic evaluation of their options, including the prospect of selling up.

United has had a bad season thus far, losing more games before Christmas than in any season since 1930 and going four games without scoring, its worst run in 30 years.

Erik ten Hag’s side ended eighth in the Premier League, eight points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, and bottom of its Champions League group.

Ratcliffe has agreed to invest approximately £236 million ($441 million) in the club, and INEOS will manage United’s football operations.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) has expressed concern over how the Glazer family’s partnership with the INEOS Group would function, and has asked the club’s owners to clarify the situation.

MUST also stated that fans would have “mixed feelings” as Ratcliffe’s investment left the Glazers in full control at Old Trafford.

“During 18 years of debt, decay and mismanagement, Manchester United fans have loudly and consistently called for change at our club,” the statement stated.

“When the so-called Strategic Review was announced nearly a year ago, it finally appeared that the club would be sold, potentially bringing the new investment and new direction that MUFC so desperately needs.”

“Against that backdrop, fans are feeling very conflicted today.” We applaud Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS company’s involvement, but many would wish his ownership interest was bigger than the initially reported 25%.

“We note the statements that he and his team will control sporting activities, yet puzzle how any organisation can put its very core business in the hands of a minority shareholder, and how that meaningfully works in practice.”

The Premier League’s clearance for Ratcliffe’s investment is expected to take four to six weeks.

Sir Ben Ainslie, owner of the British sailing team INEOS Britannia, has praised Ratcliffe’s leadership skills.

“We couldn’t have asked for better backers, supporters,” Ainslie, a four-time Olympic winner, told BBC Sport.

“The three main partners of INEOS, Jim, John (Reece), and Andy (Currie), are very hands on.” As the team’s CEO, I report to them monthly or bimonthly, and they have an important role in every major decision we make.

“In my experience, Jim is a very switched-on guy.” He is well-versed in sports. Football, as we all know, is a very dynamic sport, with results coming and going and the possibility of several personnel changes…

“My experience of Jim is if he picks a team, picks the right people, he will back them all the way and I would expect to see that if that is the case with Man United.”