Man United to beef up security at Aston Villa game amid protests from furious fans – with Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘unlikely’ to attend

• Man United will step up security ahead of Aston Villa’s visit to Old Trafford 
• Sir Jim Ratcliffe is unlikely to attend amid growing anger from supporters 
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By MIKE KEEGAN

Manchester United are to increase security for their final match of the season – amid a planned protest and growing anger at the club’s ownership.

Extra measures have been taken ahead of the visit of Aston Villa, which will bring down the curtain on a season of serious underachievement at Old Trafford. Mail Sport understands that Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who took a minority stake in the club last January is at this stage ‘unlikely’ to attend.

A protest had already been planned before Wednesday’s Europa League final, but the loss to Tottenham has done little to ease the depth of feeling against the Glazer family and minority shareholder Ratcliffe.

Defeat for United, against their Champions League-chasing opponents, could see them finish the year as low as 17th in what has been an unprecedented campaign of underachievement in the Premier League era.

Greater Manchester Police have been working with the club, will monitor the situation and will be prepared to respond accordingly should they need to.

At recent games fans, angry at being shifted next season for corporate punters, have protested directly in front of the directors’ box by unfurling banners.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is unlikely to attend as Man United beef up security ahead of Aston Villa game

Fans group The 1958 will march down Sir Matt Busby Way, before gathering in the forecourt of the stadium to protest

The loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final has done little to ease the depth of feeling against the Glazer family and minority shareholder Ratcliffe

Ahead of the Villa match, fans group The 1958 will march down Sir Matt Busby Way, before gathering in the forecourt of the stadium to protest.

Much of their ire is aimed at the Glazers, who saddled the club with debt following their 2005 leveraged-buyout and who are widely-viewed as responsible for a miserable decade following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

However, Ratcliffe will also face criticism by those involved, with hundreds of redundancies following his group’s arrival more than a year ago and little signs so far of a resurgence on the field.

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Man United to beef up security at Aston Villa game amid protests from furious fans – with Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘unlikely’ to attend

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