Man Utd fans to protest against 'inept ownership' despite recent wins

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Even after back-to-back wins against the Premier League top two and new optimism coursing through Manchester United, fans are still planning to protest before Sunday’s home game against Fulham.

A march to Old Trafford was arranged before the morale-boosting wins against Manchester City and Arsenal and organizers are not backing down, saying they are demonstrating against the 20-time English champion’s "dysfunctional, inept ownership."

"Bring the heat. Bring the noise. Bring your love for the club," fan group, The 1958, posted on X this week.

The group has been a vocal critic of United's ownership, the American Glazer family and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe, the owner of petrochemical giant INEOS, assumed control of the soccer operations after buying an initial 25% stake for $1.3 billion in 2024, but performances have nosedived with two coaches fired and a worst ever Premier League campaign last season.

The Glazers have been unpopular among fans since their leveraged buyout of the club in 2005. There was hope Ratcliffe — a boyhood United supporter — would bring the good times back but his minority ownership has so far been marked by high-profile hirings and firings, ticket price hikes and sweeping cost cuts.

Former player Michael Carrick is the latest head coach, only until the end of the season, after Ruben Amorim was fired this month. Despite Carrick's wins against City and Arsenal, fans' anger towards the ownership remains.

The 1958 describes it as a "toxic partnership where fans are getting the worst of both worlds."

Still, the timing looks odd given United's upturn in form under Carrick, rise to fourth in the standings and in the Champions League places. The game against Fulham is a chance for United to produce three consecutive league wins for only the second time this season.

The fans, though, are determined to make their feelings known to the owners.

"We deserve better and our traditions need to be respected," The 1958 said.