Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s latest embarrassing cost-cutting move at Manchester United has fans reeling. In what appears to be a drastic bid to save money, The Sun reports that non-playing staff including kids at the club’s Carrington training ground will now be served nothing more than soup and sandwiches for lunch. This drastic measure taken in the wake of the club’s latest cost-cutting measures is embarrassing and petty, to say the least. The move has sparked an outrage among fans on social media, who believe this is too much now and the club needs to stop being so petty and embarrassing.
Since INEOS bought a minority stake in the club, they have been relentless in its pursuit of cost savings. Last year, over 250 staff members were made redundant, and whispers now suggest that another 200 positions could soon be axed. With Manchester United’s net debt ballooning to over £1 billion since the Glazer takeover in 2005, every penny is being scrutinized. This latest measure is a continuation of similar measures including ticket price raises, canceling the annual Christmas party for staff and reducing funding for charities that support former players.
The move to trim the menu at Carrington is particularly embarrassing. Once known for offering a full hot meal and a selection of beverages to staff, the training ground canteen will now provide only the basics for everyone not in the first-team squad. Fans have been left fuming in the wake of a misfiring squad, poor performances on the pitch, and bad business in the transfer market. However, the INEOS administration is on a mission to save every penny possible.
These measures don’t stop at the canteen. Recent reports suggest that the Under-18s’ FA Youth Cup match, typically held at Old Trafford, was shifted to Leigh Sports Village to save the club £8,000. Such moves sound logical on paper but disrespect the values and traditions of the club while hampering players’ morale who look up to play at the iconic Old Trafford. While managing finances is crucial, an obsessive focus on cost-cutting risks undermining the club’s heritage causing a further drift among the fans and staff alike.