It’s not every day a veteran football owner calls out one of the sport’s biggest decision-makers—but that’s exactly what Sir David Murray has done.

The former Glasgow Rangers boss, who once nearly co-owned Manchester United, is openly questioning Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s controversial moves at Old Trafford.

A Throwback to What Might Have Been

Back in 1989, Murray came within inches of buying half of Manchester United.

He was even negotiating a contract for Graeme Souness to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson, had the deal gone through.

Instead, the Scottish tycoon watched from the sidelines as the opportunity slipped away—thanks in part to a ruling by the Scottish Football Association that blocked cross-border club ownership.

“That’s Shoot-Your-Head Stuff”

Fast forward to 2025, and Murray isn’t holding back.

Speaking to Mail Sport, he called Ratcliffe’s approach “dysfunctional.”

What really pushed his buttons? The lavish wage paid to Casemiro—reportedly £370,000 a week—while backroom staff saw cuts and the staff canteen was shut down in a wave of cost-saving efforts.

“Without being disrespectful,” Murray said, “how can anyone justify paying those wages while cutting food and laying off staff? That’s shoot-your-head stuff.

Why would anybody do that?”

It’s Not an Oil Refinery, It’s a Football Club

Murray also drew a sharp comparison between Manchester United and Ratcliffe’s struggling Grangemouth refinery in Scotland.

“This is not a gasoline terminal,” he said. “It’s a business, yes—but it’s a people business. You can’t strip away the soul.”

He warned that Ratcliffe, who now owns a third of United, risks gutting the very heart of the club.

“You’ve got to be careful not to rip out what makes Manchester United special,” Murray said.

“It’s the same thing that made Rangers—it’s the people behind it.”

Reflecting on His Own Mistakes

Murray’s criticism also came with a note of personal accountability.

He admitted regret over his sale of Rangers to Craig Whyte in 2011, a move that led to the club’s financial collapse.

“One of my biggest regrets is the impact it had on the hardworking people at Ibrox,” he said.

“I’ve apologized, and I still feel a bond with those people to this day.”

A Vision That Never Took Off

Murray’s near-deal with Manchester United wasn’t just casual interest—it was strategic.

He and business partner Michael Knighton had even drawn up a 12-point merger plan.

The idea? Unite United and Rangers under one umbrella to streamline operations, court advertisers, and give players better perks through shared deals.

According to his new autobiography, Mettle, the plan also highlighted how a joint Rangers–United voice could dominate both the UK and European football scenes.

The Deal That Wasn’t Meant to Be

Unfortunately for Murray, the dream ended when the valuation of Knighton’s assets—like a Scottish castle—came up short.

Without the needed collateral, Murray pulled out, and the Scottish FA put the final nail in the coffin by banning joint ownership across borders.