Manchester United supporter Frank Ilett, who has gone viral for his uncut hair, insists he has not made millions by profiting on his beloved club’s poor run of form for 16 months.
Ilett has gained social-media publicity during that timeframe after declaring that he would not cut his hair until United win five games in a row.
Known as The United Strand on social media, Ilett’s near 500-day wait for a trim could finally happen on Tuesday night if the Red Devils win at West Ham United in the Premier League.
While Ilett’s challenge has brought humour to rival fans’ he has been accused of financially benefitting a lot from United’s downfall, something he denies.
Speaking about his financial situation, he told The Sun: ‘I’m definitely not the millionaire that some people think I am. There’s been a lot of talk about making millions, but that isn’t the case.
‘It’s not as well paid as some people think. But that’s not why I started it in the first place.’
Frank Ilett says he’s not become a millionaire from his uncut hair amid Man United’s poor form
Ilett (pictured on day one of the challenge in October 2024) now possesses a significant afro
United have won their last four games in a row, with one more meaning Ilett would get a haircut
Ilett’s notorious hair has seen him since work with Paddy Power while also setting up an ecommerce business.
And his latest partnership sees him teaming up with Argos – who will fast track him an array of hair supplies if United beat West Ham to allow him to cut his hair.
Ilett, who is from Oxford but now lives in Spain, has said he will live-stream the match at the London Stadium and that if the visitors win he will donate his hair to the Little Princess Trust, a UK charity providing wigs to children who lost their hair due to illness.
Frank said: ‘I’m also doing a fundraiser for them. I think we’ve raised about £6,000 for them so far. It’s a really great charity, with great people there too,’ he continued to The Sun.
‘The length of my hair is 25cm now, which is thankfully long enough to be able to donate.’
Since starting the challenge on October 5, 2024, Ilett has amassed over 1.5million followers on social media, but not everyone has been invested in that.
Speaking about Ilett’s hair challenge, United boss Michael Carrick said on Monday: ‘I can say I’m aware of it, yeah. My kids have made me aware of it, if anything,’ said Carrick.
‘It certainly won’t go into the team talk, from a professional level. I can understand and what’s going on with it and it does make me smile but it won’t have an impact ultimately in the end.’
Ilett, who lives in Spain, has teamed up with Argos who will send him products for his hair cut
His sentiments echo that of captain Bruno Fernandes who remarked after their Saturday’s 2-0 win over Tottenham: ‘I need to book for myself, I don’t look at other people.
‘I don’t look if they need to go to the hair dresser or not, that is not important for me.’
