On Monday, there is a meeting for the employees at Manchester United. While the players with weekly wages of a few hundred thousand pounds will rest after training and pre-season for the next game, the United boss will let you know who will lose their jobs in this round. English media have reported that up to 200 positions may be cut. Although United will have to cut costs to manoeuvre within the rules of profitable and sustainable club operations, the cuts by Ratcliffe and the INEOS gang have caused great discontent. There is more to come.
According to the Daily Mail, much of what Alex Ferguson helped build up in what became the club’s heyday, will be removed. Now the focus will be directed forward, and only forward.
This comes with a particularly bitter taste after the same United management has spent around £24 million to sack Ten Hag, buy free Amorim, buy out Newcastle sporting director Ashworth, then sack the same guy after 159 days in the job.
Now comes the cut that will really make the irritation spread among the club’s employees who have kept their jobs. According to The Guardian, Ratcliffe is closing the staff canteen at Old Trafford (open 11.30-13.30). The offer is replaced with free fruit.
The closure is expected to come as early as the end of the week. Those who work in connection with match day at Old Trafford will get a packed lunch in their hand.
There’s no doubt Ratcliffe and the gang need to clean up the level of spending, but this is petty. When a club cuts food services to the employees while the players keep their benefits with a few hundred thousand pounds a week, then distance is created between the people in the club, the management and the players.
