An influential Manchester United fan group is planning a protest against the ownership, which it accuses of “turning the club into a circus”.
The 1958 group was responsible for protests at the way United was being run which attracted thousands in March last year – although they scrapped a plan to repeat it before the opening home game of this season against Arsenal.
Discontent against minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe been growing in recent weeks, and the appointment and subsequent dismissal of Ruben Amorim has triggered a call to protest before the Red Devils play Fulham on 1 February.
Fans held up an anti-Ratcliffe banner at Turf Moor on Wednesday before the 2-2 draw with Burnley, when supporters also sang vicious songs against co-chairman Joel Glazer.
“After lurching from one disaster to another, Ratcliffe comes across as an incompetent clown turning the club into a circus,” said the 1958 group in a statement.
“Instead of best in class, we’re a laughing stock.
“It has been an extraordinary and deeply troubling few days at Manchester United. On the pitch, we are watching mediocre performances from an average team drifting without identity, direction, or ambition. Off it, the chaos is even worse.”
Senior United officials are continuing their search for a caretaker boss to replace Amorim, although sources with an understanding of the situation say substantive conversations with front-runners Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick are yet to take place.
Sources close to Ratcliffe defend him, pointing to the £250m of his own money he has invested in the club, including a complete renovation of United’s Carrington training complex, as proof he is genuine in his wish to drive the club forward.
However, others point to the decision to retain Erik ten Hag following the 2024 FA Cup final win over Manchester City, invest £200m in new players, then sack the Dutchman just nine games into the new Premier League season, and then doing something similar with Amorim after last term’s 15th-placed finish, as clear examples of flawed thinking.