After losing IOC election, how about Seb Coe for chair of football regulator? March 27, 2025 It was, with hindsight, not a “keep Seb Coe out” but a “get Kirsty Coventry in” campaign that determined the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidential election outcome. I was as guilty as most British observers in believing that Seb Coe would take it to the wire. Unconscious bias and all that. In the event, eight [...]
UK government backs Manchester United 100,000-seat stadium March 19, 2025 Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy has said the government is keen to “crack on” in supporting Manchester United’s plan to build a 100,000-seater stadium. Manchester United and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe unveiled plans for a “New Trafford” development adjacent to the Theatre of Dreams that would include a number of [...]
Brentford owner Benham weighs up minority investment in Bees March 19, 2025 Brentford have received multiple offers of minority investment from American groups who value the club at around £400m. Owner Matthew Benham has been seeking additional investment for over a year. Rothschild was appointed to oversee the sales process but Morning Wire understands that the merchant bank is no longer working on the Brentford deal. The [...]
Scrapping relegation can help WSL dodge trap set by men’s football March 13, 2025 The WSL’s new leadership deserves credit for seriously considering ditching relegation in pursuit of a firmer financial footing for women’s football, writes Ed Warner. Manchester City have sacked their head coach with hopes of Champions League qualification this season fading and only cup dreams to cling to. No, not Pep Guardiola, but Gareth Taylor, now [...]
Manchester United Old Trafford plans set to be revealed March 10, 2025 Manchester United are today expected to announce plans for a new stadium to replace Old Trafford after co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe defended the club’s penny pinching. A “Wembley of the North” on the site of Old Trafford has been Ratcliffe’s goal since the billionaire purchased just under 30 per cent of Manchester United last year. [...]
Ratcliffe calls on Europe to ditch carbon tax to save chemicals industry February 26, 2025 Sir Jim Ratcliffe has warned that Europe’s chemicals industry “faces extinction” and called on European Union leaders to ditch their carbon tax and increase tariffs to preserve it. In an open letter published on Wednesday, the founder and owner of chemicals giant Ineos launched an excoriating assessment of the EU’s approach to the chemicals sector, [...]
Man Utd job losses could hit 450 as Ratcliffe swings axe again February 24, 2025 Manchester United have confirmed plans to make up to another 200 redundancies in a bid to arrest five years of continuous losses at the 20-time English champions. It comes just months after Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos slashed 250 jobs at Old Trafford and could take the total number of redundancies to 450 since he [...]
Glazer answers question of whether Manchester United is for sale February 20, 2025 Manchester United co-owner Avram Glazer has given a definitive answer as to whether he would sell his share in the Old Trafford club. The Premier League club published their results this week, showing a £14.5m cost for disposing of former manager Erik ten Hag, sporting director Dan Ashworth and others. The club therefore made a [...]
Tennis sceptics have got it wrong – we need more mixed-sex sport events February 20, 2025 Some players aren’t happy with the US Open’s drastic rethink of mixed doubles, but tennis should be applauded for a move that is good for women’s sport, says Ed Warner. Even the most ardent tennis fan probably couldn’t tell you who won the mixed doubles at last year’s US Open, or any of the other [...]
Ahead of the Game: Tottenham in crosshairs as Ratcliffe eyes more cuts February 19, 2025 Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos are set to continue cutting their investment in sport beyond Manchester United with the company’s commercial deal with Tottenham Hotspur unlikely to be renewed. Spurs signed a five-year contract with Ineos Grenadier as their official 4×4 vehicle partner in 2022, having previously partnered with Ineos Hygienics as official hand sanitiser [...]