Project Ruby: Would United have been better off with Sheikh Jassim of Qatar than Sir Jim Ratcliffe?

Many of Manchester United's long-time followers are disenchanted with their present situation, and their complaints have only become worse since Sir Jim Ratcliffe's minority ownership in the club. 

Though he has longstanding ties to Manchester United and a strong history in business, the decisions taken under his direction—especially in terms of performance and administration—have drawn major criticism and resentment. 

On the other hand, another vision for the club's future—one driven by Qatari billionaire Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani—has emerged as a potential "what could have been" scenario, one that many supporters still find romanticised.

Though ambitious, this suggested plan—which became known as "Project Ruby"—promised a quick and complete change of Manchester United within only three days, an offer that seemed to offer a bold and maybe successful fix for the club's continuous problems. 

This begs the basic issue, though: would Project Ruby have been able to really bring Manchester United back to the promised level? 

The Qatari vision: A new era for Manchester United

Project Ruby was an ambitious initiative meant to quickly revive Manchester United and bring it back to its previous glory, thereby transforming the club once more into a prominent player on the domestic and international football scenes.

The idea essentially sought to offer a fresh start, starting with the immediate debt elimination of the club. According to the strategy, this was only the first of a series of radical actions that would also involve removing Manchester United from public markets and guaranteeing that the club would no longer be under the control of far-off investors or shareholders, those whose influence had sometimes been observed as detrimental to the long-term interests of the team. 

Designed to free the club from financial obligations, administrative restrictions, and outside pressure, this all-encompassing and quick reform program was meant to let it concentrate just on athletic performance. 

Within the first three days of a possible takeover, Sheikh Jassim and his team promised to wipe out Manchester United's debts, remove the club from the stock exchange, and reveal plans for a state-of-the-art stadium capable of rivalling the world's best. 

The promised transformation: A fresh start

Project Ruby's promised plan was striking in its speed and audacity. The debt would be cleared on day one, allowing for a fresh financial start; United would no longer be listed on the public market, with complete control firmly in the hands of Sheikh Jassim and his team by day two; and ambitious plans for a new stadium would be revealed by day three. 

Though certainly audacious, these pledges gave the club hope for its future by implying that the vision of the Qatari group was not only a hazy promise of development but also a well-crafted road plan to make Manchester United a footballing powerhouse once more, on and off the pitch. 

Project Ruby's core goal was to pay off Manchester United's crushing debt, therefore extricating its long-limiting potential. 

The Glazers' financial policies, which included using loans against the club's brand, had caused a great financial burden that affected not only their capacity to compete but also their general appeal to supporters. 

Under Sheikh Jassim's strategy, the debt was supposed to be eliminated so Manchester United could have the financial freedom it had long lacked and could reinvest in its future—that meant either enhancing the facilities or strengthening the team. 

This debt-free pledge contrasted sharply with the circumstances under the Glazers and even Sir Jim Ratcliffe, where the financial condition sometimes seemed to be a major barrier to progress. 

The departure from the New York Stock Exchange was equally important since it meant Manchester United would no longer have to answer to faceless investors more focused on profit margins than the team's performance. 

Rather, with no diversion from the demands of public shareholders, the emphasis would once more be on football, legacy, and long-term viability. 

The idea for a brand-new stadium was maybe the most remarkable aspect of Sheikh Jassim's concept for Manchester United and one that would have captivated many supporters. 

Though historically famous, Old Trafford had become dilapidated and run-down over the years as structural problems, including a leaky roof and inadequate facilities, compromised the matchday experience for supporters. 

Replace the ageing Old Trafford with a modern, state-of-the-art stadium capable of hosting 90,000 to 100,000 supporters, providing world-class amenities and a really world-class experience; Sheikh Jassim's concept was obvious. 

The design firm Populous, responsible for many of the stadiums at the 2022 World Cup, had already been assigned to create flexible plans for such a venue, ensuring that the stadium would not only be a home for Manchester United but also a venue fit for the most important football events on the planet. 

The reality under Ratcliffe’s ownership

Under Ratcliffe's direction, there has been no clear vision for such a radical undertaking; the emphasis has been on renovating Old Trafford, with an eye towards cost-cutting rather than long-term infrastructural upgrades. 

By contrast, Sheikh Jassim's idea was simple: create a world-class stadium funded exclusively by the club and free from public expenditure, which the present ownership structure of Manchester United had fallen short of. 

Under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's direction, the reality has been anticlimactic when compared to the Qatari ideal. 

Ratcliffe has battled to win over Manchester United staff members as well as supporters despite his outstanding commercial record.

Widespread criticism has been directed at his emphasis on cost-cutting initiatives, which includes notable club-wide duplicity. 

Ratcliffe's management of the club clearly puts efficiency above the cultural and historical values long connected with Manchester United, with 250 employees sacked in his first year alone. 

Given the degree of funding and care the Qatari team was ready to commit to rebuilding the club's history, this sharp contrast to the more aspirational objectives put up by Sheikh Jassim has left many supporters feeling alienated and disappointed. 

Furthermore undermining Ratcliffe's support are ticket price increases and the choice to cut staff Christmas bonuses from £100 to £40, which many wonder whether his business-minded approach is truly the best fit for a football team with Manchester United's profile. 

Unquestionably, Manchester United's problems under Ratcliffe's ownership have existed on the pitch. After 15 games, a 13th-place position in the Premier League makes it quite evident that the team has fallen short both domestically and in Europe. 

Lack of a defined sporting plan and a run of disappointing results have cast questions on whether Ratcliffe's leadership can provide the team the required long-term success. 

Although he is still in office, the lack of a clear vision and the continuous problems on the pitch imply that the team is caught in a cycle of underperformance and cannot escape its present malaise. 

Could Project Ruby have fixed Manchester United?

Given this reality, one wonders whether Project Ruby could have corrected Manchester United in the manner it promised. Although a definitive response is not attainable, multiple elements point to the Qatari strategy having greater promise than that of Ratcliffe. 

First of all, the debt cancellation of the club would have been a much-needed financial reset that would provide free rein in player acquisition and the construction of modern facilities. 

In terms of infrastructure and footballing ability, the prospect of a new stadium together with the financial freedom to assemble a competitive team would have put Manchester United on par with the top teams in the world. 

Furthermore, Sheikh Jassim's more inclusive strategy—which promised to involve former icons like Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham, and Gary Neville in an advisory capacity—would have guaranteed that Manchester United's legacy was maintained while also fostering a more open, fan-friendly culture. 

This strategy emphasises just how different the Qatari vision was in terms of its dedication to both the footballing side of the club and its larger community when compared with the cost-cutting policies and lack of contact with supporters of the present administration. 

Moreover, the prospect of a new training facility for the women's squad proved Sheikh Jassim's will to establish a complete and sustainable footballing operation, one that would guarantee Manchester United's success in all spheres of the game. 

On the other hand, major criticism has resulted from Ratcliffe's neglect of the women's team under his management as well as from the absence of clear direction for the club's general sporting policy.

Therefore, even if it is uncertain whether Project Ruby would have turned Manchester United around, it is evident that the vision of the Qatari group presented a more all-encompassing, forward-looking one than the one Sir Jim Ratcliffe is now working on.