If Manchester United fans wanted an interesting first 12 months under Sir Jim Ratcliffe, they’ve certainly got that.

Part-owner Ratcliffe saw his minority ownership bid accepted in December 2023, with the businessman parting with around £1.3billion for a 27.7 per cent stake in the club. It was not until February 2024 that the deal became official, though, meaning this month marks a full year under the INEOS chief.

Those 12 months have been eventful to say the least, even if one thing yet to improve is the club’s on-pitch fortunes. United finished a lowly eighth at the end of the 2023-24 season, while they’ve since dropped even further in the Premier League standings.

Off the field, though, there has been plenty of noise around Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures and the sometimes unpopular form this has taken – with a fresh round of redundancies announced just this week. Here, Mirror Football takes a look at the changes made over the course of the last 12 months.

Ratcliffe’s changes begin before his arrival was officially confirmed. Omar Berrada is confirmed as United’s CEO, joining from City Football Group, with Richard Arnold making way. The billionaire’s takeover is ratified in February, following which United’s share price drops

Plans for a ‘Wembley of the North’ come to light, with plans laid out for the demolition of Old Trafford and the building of a new mega-money stadium. Matt Johnson takes over as head of women’s football, with Marc Skinner kept on as manager of United’s women’s team

Football director John Murtough follows Arnold in leaving, while Jason Wilcox arrives as technical director after a spell with Southampton. Ratcliffe is reported to have cancelled the credit cards of senior staff as the part-owner’s cost review process gets underway. After United reach the FA Cup final with a nervy victory over Coventry City, staff learn perks from the 2023 Wembley showpiece will not be repeated for the 2024 final

Workmen are seen dealing with the Old Trafford roof after visible leaks, but broader plans are put on hold until a decision is reached on the future of the ground. In leaked emails, Ratcliffe calls some areas of the stadium and training ground a “disgrace” following a facilities tour. The part-owner emails staff encouraging a return to the office, later offering early payment of a bonus for those prepared to leave the club as he continues to trim the staff, reportedly giving them just a week to decide whether to take “voluntary resignation”. On the pitch, United finish eighth after a humiliating 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace, but they end the season with victory in the FA Cup final

United’s ‘back to work’ directive comes into force after those May warnings. United begin work on their £50million Carrington Training Complex revamp, with reports emerging of a controversial plan to move the women’s team into temporary buildings to accommodate the men’s side during the rebuilding work. “We haven’t got into that level of detail with the women’s team yet,” Ratcliffe says in an interview with Bloomberg. “We’ve been pretty much focused on how we resolve the first team issues, and that’s been pretty full-time for the first six months.”

After Ratcliffe’s June meetings with Thomas Tuchel over potentially bringing in the German manager, the part-owner ultimately decides to stick with Erik ten Hag, handing the Dutchman a contract extension. After lengthy negotiations with Newcastle United, Dan Ashworth arrives as sporting director partway through the summer transfer window. Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro become Ten Hag’s first two summer signings, while there’s a coaching staff overhaul as Rene Hake, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Andreas Georgson and Jelle ten Rouwelaar come in and Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy all leave the club. Cost-cutting measures are visible as United cut down on their staff presence during their pre-season tour, while there are changes further up as Jean-Claude Blanc joins the board and Christopher Vivell comes in as interim director of recruitment.

United’s busy summer continues, with Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte joining in August to bring the summer spend to nearly £200m. Academy graduates Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood are among those sold, while United take a big financial hit on £50m signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Off-field cuts continue, though, with fewer matchday programmes provided to corporate guests in a move designed to reduce waste. Staff lunchboxes are also scrapped in a waste-cutting measure, with some setting up dining areas in a staff room with adjoining toilet cubicles, though the club indicates this is a choice rather than a requirement. Reports also emerge that United could look to make money from a behind-the-scenes documentary.

The summer decision to hand Ten Hag a contract extension begins to look foolish, with pressure growing on the manager. A 3-0 home defeat against Tottenham leaves United 13th in the league with just seven points from six matches, with big-money signing Yoro yet to feature after suffering a foot injury in pre-season. Away from the pitch, plans to turn a new United stadium into an occasional boxing venue come to light as new revenue streams are sought.

Ten Hag doesn’t make it through October, and is sacked after a 2-1 defeat at West Ham. It later emerges that it cost the club £11.4m to get rid of the former Ajax boss. October brings further cost-cutting measures elsewhere, including the end to a £2m ambassadorial deal enjoyed by legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the cancellation of a staff Christmas party. Staff morale was said to be at an all-time low, while the back-to-work directive reportedly involved converting hospitality suites into temporary offices.

Ruben Amorim takes over from Ten Hag, with United paying significant compensation to Sporting CP. Ruud van Nistelrooy makes way after fresh backroom changes, with the Dutchman going on to take the Leicester City job at the end of the month. United are reported to be considering cutting their regular payment to the club’s disabled supporters association, which stood at £40,000 per year before Ratcliffe’s arrival.

United’s decision to remove concessions for match tickets is met with outrage, as fans of both Manchester and Liverpool clubs come together for a joint protest at their respective clubs’ behaviour. Dan Ashworth leaves United after just a few months in his role, with the sporting director said to have been summoned after watching United’s defeat to Nottingham Forest with his family. The £100 Christmas bonus paid to staff in the Glazer era is replaced by a £40 M&S voucher. Old Trafford is hit by a mice infestation, while a press conference from head coach Amorim is interrupted by ceiling leaks

For a second successive January, United go into the winter transfer window knowing they will need to offload players if they’re to make any additions. Patrick Dorgu is the major new arrival, with loan exits for Marcus Rashford and Antony. On the pitch, Amorim ends a run of defeats with a draw at Liverpool, and seals a top-eight finish in the Europa League, but United remain without successive Premier League wins all season. Amorim calls the team the worst in United’s history after a dismal defeat at home to Brighton. Away from the pitch, there’s some more positive news as chancellor Rachel Reeves publicly backs United’s stadium plans, but the latest redundancy reports suggest there’s plenty more drama to come.