MANCHESTER UNITED have confirmed as many as 200 staff will lose their jobs as part of a second wave of cost-cutting since the arrival of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos.
Last summer saw 250 staff made redundant in a brutal first wave to save costs.
PAMan Utd are cutting another 200 jobs under Sir Jim Ratcliffe[/caption]
GettyIt comes as part of the latest round of cost-cutting made by the club[/caption]
AFPThe statement revealed the club had been running at a loss for five consecutive years[/caption]
But the list of casualties is now set to increase by between 150 and 200 after a statement revealed the next steps in the club’s transformation plan.
A club statement released this afternoon said: “Manchester United is to transform its corporate structure as part of a series of additional measures to improve the club’s financial sustainability and enhance operational efficiency.
“The transformation plan aims to return the club to profitability after five consecutive years of losses since 2019.
“This will create a more solid financial platform from which the club can invest in men’s and women’s football success and improved infrastructure.
“As part of these measures, the club anticipates that approximately 150-200 jobs may be made redundant, subject to a consultation process with employees.
“These would be in addition to the 250 roles removed last year.”
SunSport exclusively revealed how lunches for all but the first team had been reduced to soup and sandwiches — and that includes coaches and analysts, with a later report from The Guardian revealing the staff canteen was set to CLOSE altogether.
Ending free lunches for staff is estimated to be saving the club £1million a year, while the club will also be scaling back its London presence, according to BBC Sport.
Meanwhile, SunSport also exclusively reported how the Under-18s were denied the chance to play at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup fifth round, with the game played at Leigh Sports Village to save £8,000.
Other cuts have seen Ratcliffe cancelling the club’s annual Christmas party, raising concession ticket prices and cutting funding for a charity helping former players.
Sky Sports report the club remain committed to a £40,000-a-year donation to their Disabled Supporters’ Association, but are considering reducing payments to the MU Foundation.
Reports revealed without a £240m investment from new minority owners, Ineos, Man Utd would have “run out of money“.
Financial figures for the second quarter of the 2024/25 financial year revealed just how bad the situation had become, with interest costs since the Glazers took over in 2005 now reaching more than £1billion.
The report also revealed that without an £80m investment from Ineos in the quarter the club would be down to just £15m in cash.
CEO Omar Berrada laid out the devastating impact of years of mismanagement has had on the club after running at a loss for five consecutive years.
He said: “We have a responsibility to put Manchester United in the strongest position to win across our men’s, women’s and academy teams.
“We are initiating a wide-ranging series of measures which will transform and renew the club.
“Unfortunately, this means announcing further potential redundancies and we deeply regret the impact on those affected colleagues.
“However, these hard choices are necessary to put the club back on a stable financial footing. We have lost money for the past five consecutive years. This cannot continue.
“Our two main priorities as a club are delivering success on the pitch for our fans and improving our facilities. We cannot invest in these objectives if we are continuously losing money.
“At the end of this process, we will have a more lean, agile and financially sustainable football club, while continuing to provide a world class service to our valuable commercial partners.
“We will then be in a much stronger position to invest in football success and improved facilities for fans, while remaining compliant with UEFA and Premier League regulations.”
A damning statement from the Man Utd Supporters Trust (MUST) following the publication of the second quarter financial results said: “Today’s financial results lay bare the scale of the financial mismanagement we have seen at Manchester United…
“Fans should not pay the price for a problem that starts with our crippling debt interest payments and is exacerbated by a decade or more of mismanagement.
“It’s time to freeze ticket prices and allow everyone – players, management, owners and fans – to get behind United and restore this club to where it belongs.”
If the off pitch situation was not bad enough, things on the pitch could not be much bleaker.
The club is enduring its worst season on the pitch since they were relegated in the 1970s and every position lower they go costs them £4m in prize money.
By sitting 15th in the table, level on points with 16th place West Ham, the Red Devils could also be left without European football next season unless they win the Europa League.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s first year at Man Utd
SIR JIM RATCLIFFE’S minority takeover at Manchester United was announced on Christmas Eve in 2023 – and a lot has happened at Old Trafford since…
December 2023 – Man Utd confirm Ratcliffe’s takeover on Christmas Eve, vowing to invest £245m into Old Trafford
January 2024 – Ratcliffe and right-hand man Sir Dave Brailsford photographed meeting Erik ten Hag during tour of Carrington
January 2024 – Omar Berrada poached from Man City as new CEO
February 2024 – Ratcliffe’s £1billion, 27.7 per cent takeover officially completed
February 2024 – Former CEO Richard Arnold quits board as Ineos pair John Rees and Rob Nevin added
March 2024 – Ratcliffe bans words “awesome” and “lukewarm cappuccino” in bizarre move
March 2024 – Matt Johnson appointed head of women’s football
March 2024 – Ratcliffe announces plans to build “Wembley of the North” to replace Old Trafford
March 2024 – Man Utd NYSE share price drops to $13.73 on March 21 – down from $20.52 immediately after Ratcliffe takeover in December
April 2024 – Senior staff club credit cards and private cars cancelled
April 2024 – John Murtough quits as football director
April 2024 – Jason Wilcox appointed technical director after compensation package agreed with Southampton
May 2024 – Ratcliffe turns Carrington “toxic” after sending email to employees slamming “disgraceful” lack of cleanliness
May 2024 – Work finally starts on leaking Old Trafford roof
May 2024 – Man Utd finish eighth in Premier League, worst-ever finish
May 2024 – Ratcliffe gives employees just one week to decide if they want to accept redundancy
May 2024 – Staff forced to pay for own transport to FA Cup final and only given one ticket
May 2024 – Pre-match party and hotel for senior staff before FA Cup final axed
May 2024 – Man Utd shock rivals Man City to win FA Cup despite suggestions Erik ten Hag will be sacked regardless of result
June 2024 – Man Utd announce £50m plans to upgrade Carrington training ground
June 2024 – Ratcliffe introduces strict “back to work” policy forcing staff to come into office
June 2024 – Ratcliffe scores own goal with comments about women’s team
July 2024 – Man Utd finally agree deal to bring in Dan Ashworth as sporting director after four months of gardening leave at Newcastle, who received £3m in compensation
July 2024 – Erik ten Hag signs shock new contract extension until 2026
July 2024 – Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake appointed assistant managers, Andreas Georgson first-team coach and Jelle ten Rouwelaar goalkeeper coach. Darren Fletcher’s role changes from technical director to first-team coach. Steve McClaren, Mitchell van der Gaag and Benni McCarthy depart.
July 2024 – Ex-Chelsea technical director Christopher Vivell joins on short-term basis as interim director of recruitment
July 2024 – Jean-Claude Blanc added to Man Utd board
July 2024 – Man Utd cut down number of staff on US pre-season tour to 125
July 2024 – Ratcliffe makes 250 redundancies including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie
August 2024 – Man Utd splash out £199m in the summer transfer window
August 2024 – Matchday staff lunchboxes scrapped and some forced to eat beside toilet
October 2024 – Man Utd stop paying £2m-a-year ambassador salary to Sir Alex Ferguson
October 2024 – Staff Christmas party cancelled
October 2024 – “Back to work” policy costing Utd fortune to convert hospitality suites into temporary offices between home matches
October 2024 – Erik ten Hag sacked with club 14th in Premier League table, costing club £15m
November 2024 – Ruben Amorim appointed new Man Utd manager on deal until 2027 after stumping up £10m release clause
November 2024 – Coach Ruud van Nistelrooy axed by new manager Ruben Amorim
November 2024 – Man Utd chiefs locked in blame game over summer shambles including Erik ten Hag situation and transfer signings
November 2024 – Ratcliffe reportedly set to half £40,000 budget paid to Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association
December 2024 – Ratcliffe admits “mediocre” Man Utd “still in last century”
December 2024 – Fans protest after OAP and children concessions tickets ditched and minimum home ticket cost up to £66
December 2024 – Dan Ashworth sacked after five months as sporting director
December 2024 – £100 staff Christmas bonus ditched for £40 M&S voucher
December 2024 – Ceiling starts leaking during Ruben Amorim’s press conference after 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth
December 2024 – Reports of a mice infestation at Old Trafford as rodent droppings found in food kiosks and plush suites as food hygiene ratings drops to just two stars
December 2024 – SunSport reveals Ratcliffe cuts £40,000 funding donation to Association of Former Manchester United Players charity
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