'You are no saviour' - fans push on with protest plans

The 1958 Group of Manchester United supporters expect in excess of 6,000 fans to protest against the club's ownership before the Premier League game against Fulham at Old Trafford on 1 February.

Details for the protest are still to be released but, having cancelled one proposed march against the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe in August, the group are ploughing ahead with their plans for the Fulham game despite Michael Carrick steering United to a derby victory over Manchester City last weekend which took his side to fifth in the table.

The 1958 Group say that, having initially viewed Ratcliffe as a potential saviour, they now view him as being 'complicit' in what they view as the poor state of their club, which is around £1.1bn in debt, including outstanding transfer payments.

There has been no significant progress around a new stadium despite Ratcliffe unveiling his grand plans in March.

"Jim Ratcliffe chose to get into bed with the Glazers and is helping to keep them in charge," said a spokesperson for the 1958 Group.

"Twenty-one years of a debt mountain, mismanagement and financial greed is 21 years too long. Enough is enough.

"We will not be silent. We will not be complicit. Jim Ratcliffe, you have chosen your side, and it is not ours. You are no saviour.

"For many, you come across as a clown, fumbling from one disaster to another, hopelessly out of your depth at one of the world's greatest football institutions, adored by millions.

"We were promised best in class, but for us the club is a laughing stock resembling a circus, and that includes the new stadium design."