Manchester United’s women’s boss has broken his silence after Sir Jim Ratcliffe appeared to double down on his stance that the men’s team is his PRIORITY

Mark Skinner addressed the criticism leveled at Sir Jim Ratcliffe after Manchester United the co-owner reiterated that the men’s team remains his priority.

Skinner noted, “It’s hard for me to see these comments, but I don’t really see that from the task force that’s with us every day.”

In an interview in June, Ratcliffe described the men’s team as the club’s “first team” and chose to attend the Premier League match instead of the women’s FA Cup final where United secured their first major silverware.

Ratcliffe appeared to double down on his stance last week, telling fanzine United We Stand: “There is so much you can do and our focus is on the men’s team. If not, you will be spread too thin.

“We have to solve the main problem – the men’s team. The women’s team is a possibility. Women’s football growing really fast in popularity and size.

“We have to participate in this. The girls wear a Manchester United badge on their shirt and represent the club.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe appears to have doubled down on his stance that the men’s team is his priority

Man Utd Women’s boss Mark Skinner admitted he found the comments difficult to see

Ratcliffe described the women’s team as a “possibility” while insisting the men’s team line-up remains the main issue

The comments drew criticism from fans, with Ian Wright and Steph Houghton also addressing it on their podcast, Crossways. Houghton said: “The women’s team is part of this football club, it’s not something that sits on the sidelines. If that’s me and I hear that from the top guy, I’ll be like, ‘What are we doing?’

“Man United have done some great things over the years to get from the Championship to the WSL. They’ve built the club up to a point, all you need is someone to support you.

Wedging into the debate, the Manchester United Women’s boss said: “One thing I will say is that words are cheap but actions take longer. For me, I see the actions.

“It’s hard for me to hear those comments, but that’s not really what I’m seeing from the task force that’s with us every day.

“Would I like the biggest budget in the league? Of course I would, I think everyone would. But I think everyone in this room wants a sustainable game.

“We want to grow, we want women to have the same rights, to increase those rights, to have the finances available for all the resources. But unfortunately, we have to work for it because we are starting from the back.

“The reality is I don’t see it. I see it in support, and support is not always finance. Support is really knowing you have a strategy, you’re going to go for it.

“Our actions have been supported and we would all like more, but I feel supported by the fact that everyone at this club wants our team to do well and we will develop towards a sustainable model.”