Avram Glazer's response to probes about Sir Jim Ratcliffe speaks volumes

Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer appeared eager to avoid questions regarding Sir Jim Ratcliffe's running of the club when asked about his new business partner's work

American business tycoon Avram Glazer was eager to avoid questions over Sir Jim Ratcliffe's running of Manchester United.

The Red Devils were in dire straits when Ratcliffe, 72, purchased a minority share in the club last year. However, United are in an even worse position now, currently sat 15th in the Premier League despite making the decision to cut ties with Erik ten Hag and appoint Ruben Amorim as head coach.

Majority shareholder Glazer was approached by Sky News and begrudgingly denied any suggestion he was looking to sell his family's stakes in the club, saying "no" to the question "will you sell up?"

However, he was even more reluctant to give up any answers on Ratcliffe's input to date when asked if the British billionaire had "made things a lot worse". The reporter also made the point to Glazer: "He seems to be getting the blame, not you."

"I'm on my way to see the President right now," came Glazer's response. "I don't think it's appropriate to talk about it right now."

It's perhaps telling that Avram – the eldest child of late United owner Malcolm Glazer – declined to share any thoughts on Ratcliffe's work to date. Other businesspeople in that scenario may use it as an opportunity to back their colleague and reinforce faith in their ability to do the job, but none of that was apparent in his flat refusal to engage.

His non-answer came on the back of United's financial findings for the fourth quarter of 2024 being made public on Wednesday. And the report made for fairly grim reading, with United's debt still standing at more than £1billion as on-field matters fail to improve.

Glazer rarely discusses such matters in public and is often hesitant towards the media, so the 'interview' wasn't exactly out of character. Then again, it perhaps works in the American's favour that the new face of the club is taking some of the heat for what the Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) referred to as a "decade or more of mismanagement".

Ratcliffe has attracted widespread scrutiny for making around 250 United workers redundant since his arrival in 2024, with more reportedly on the way.

That hasn't helped the perception that those running the club are out of touch with the fans, but Glazer is likely pleased the target on his back appears to have shrunk with Ineos now calling many of the shots.

The accounts also revealed United spent £10.4m to sack Ten Hag and his coaching staff only a few months after awarding the team new contracts. That's in addition to the £4.1m it cost to hire and then fire former sporting director Dan Ashworth just five months apart.

With so much pressure on him and Ineos to turn fortunes around, Ratcliffe could perhaps do with a thumbs up from fellow investor Glazer to show a united front.

Instead, fans are left wondering whether they can expect more of the same regardless of who's making the decisions.