Kieran Maguire tears into Man United after 'speaking' to sources
Man United part-owner INEOS has made the working environment unpleasant but they "don't care," according to Kieran Maguire.
The finance expert specialising in football accounting, discussed the situation on the "Price of Football" podcast. He said: "My understanding from talking to journalists and other people connected in Manchester is that staff morale is very, very low.
"It's not a pleasant working environment, but INEOS don't care."
He added that staff happiness "ultimately reflects operational performance." This suggests that the frustration off the pitch is connected to the team's underperformance on it.
After shock from co-host Kevin Day that tickets prices will be set at £66 minimum with no concessions, Maguire explained that the club justifies this by pointing to the fact that they’ve sold 97% of their tickets. He said the hierarchy would likely argue, “We’ve sold 97% of our tickets, so we’ll use dynamic or surge pricing to maximise revenue.”
He also suggested fans of the club may need to brace for more major price hikes, revealing he'd been contacted by some corporate package holders, with one quoting a rise from £3,600 to £6,000 in the space of two years.
INEOS decisions are becoming a problem on and off the pitch for Man United
Football Insider opinion
The Red Devils have implemented cost-saving measures following Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his group's investment earlier this year. As a result, ticket prices have surged, and the work culture at the club has drastically changed.
This was after sources told Football Insider that the group were forced to backtrack on a decision to revoke privileges given to the families of the Busby Babes after Sir Alex Ferguson intervened.
Before the Premier League match against Everton on 1 December, United fans protested the ticket price hikes imposed by INEOS and Ratcliffe.
The decision to set the minimum price for an individual match ticket at £66, affecting seniors, children, and adults, sparked the demonstration.
In a statement reacting to the protests, as per BBC Sport, Man United defended their recent actions, stating: “As a club, we have been focused on cost saving to put us on a stronger financial footing.
“It also means looking for opportunities to increase our revenues so we can continue to invest in football and infrastructure.”
Decisions like these fuel frustration among the Man United fanbase. While they may see hope in appointing Ruben Amorim, off the pitch, the atmosphere remains sour.
But the manager may find it difficult as Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that Man United are not expected to be busy in the January transfer window.
In other news, Man United sensation Leny Yoro has taken to social media.
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