Man Utd boss Marc Skinner admits there's 'a lot' for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to do in order to turn women's side in WSL contenders

The INEOS billionaire completed a£1.25 billion partial takeover of the Red Devilsin December and that has reportedly led to an extra burst of 'energy' around the club. While Skinner, head coach of United Women, is excited by this move, he feels the Red Devils are a way off competing for the biggest trophies in the women's game.

The United boss said: "We [he and Ratcliffe] have not managed to meet yet, I know it’s on the horizon very soon. But we have our constant kind of feed through our bosses anyway in terms of kind of how we want to go forwards, what’s going to work and there’s a lot to do. I see it as a real positive move. I think if you know me as a character, my energy is full in, I’m all in so with my energy, coupled with the fantastic movement of the Ineos investment, I think it’s a real positive moment. We have to capitalise on that, we’re going to try to do that, we’re going to put all our behaviours in place for that. It’s hopefully a springboard for everybody to find the success that everybody wants for Man Utd.”

Ratcliffe has spoken about returning United's men's team to its former silverware-winning glory, and knocking rivals Manchester City and Liverpool off their perch in the process, but they are a long way off from achieving that goal. And the same could, arguably, be said for the women's side. While they finished second in the WSL last term, they are 10 points behind joint-leaders Chelsea and Man City in 2023/24. If anything, they may have gone backwards.

Following the international break over the past fortnight, fourth-placed United return to WSL action on Sunday when they travel to lowly West Ham - looking to bounce back from their 3-1 loss to title-chasing Arsenal last time out.