New Manchester United shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe has urged fans for "time and patience" to oversee significant changes at Old Trafford.
Following a protracted process lasting over 12 months, the 71-year-old's 25% purchase of the Red Devils for around £1bn was confirmed by Man United on Christmas Eve.
With Ratcliffe only arriving as a minority investor, the unpopular Glazer family will remain in control of the club, but the former will now take charge of football operations with Ineos.
Ratcliffe - who fended off Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani to purchase a stake in the Red Devils - has also committed £236m into improving the Old Trafford infrastructure, and he takes over at a time when Erik ten Hag's team are in peril on the pitch.
After finishing third in the Premier League and winning the EFL Cup last season, Man United sit eighth in the Premier League table and have been eliminated from Europe on account of finishing bottom of their Champions League group.
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The Red Devils' EFL Cup defence has also come to an end, and a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United on Saturday marked the first time since 1930 that Man United had lost 13 games in a single season before Christmas.
Following confirmation of Ratcliffe's arrival, the Manchester United Supporters' Trust admitted that they had "mixed feelings" about the agreement given that the Glazers remain in office and will continue to make crucial off-field decisions.
In an open letter to supporters, Ratcliffe conceded that transforming Man United's fortunes may take some time, but he insisted that Ineos are at the Theatre of Dreams for the long haul, once his purchase has been ratified by the Premier League.
"I believe we can bring sporting success on the pitch to complement the undoubted commercial success that the club has enjoyed. It will require time and patience alongside rigour and the highest level of professional management," Ratcliffe said.
"You are ambitious for Manchester United and so are we. There are no guarantees in sport, and change can inevitably take time but we are in it for the long term and together we want to help take Manchester United back to where the club belongs, at the very top of English, European and world football. I take that responsibility very seriously."
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"Please note that, as with any deal, it is subject to the usual regulatory sign-off process and therefore we do not expect to speak publicly about club matters until after the deal has completed."
Another prominent item on Ratcliffe's in-tray will be the imminent January transfer window, although his 25% stake will have little impact on funds available for Man United's winter business.
Instead, the Red Devils are expected to focus on cutting unwanted players from the ranks next month, and they are supposedly hopeful of raising around £80m through sales, having drawn up a list of performers suitable for the axe.
Jadon Sancho, Casemiro, Donny van de Beek, Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial could all be allowed to leave, although Ten Hag has suggested that he does not want to lose the latter next month.
Varane is also said to be against a January exit from Old Trafford, but Van de Beek is believed to be closing in on a loan switch to German giants Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ben Knapton
