‘Man United fans to turn on owners’ after ‘disgraceful’ new decision – Insider
Man United fans are expected to continue their protests against INEOS’ decision-making after their latest action was labelled “a disgrace” by the club’s former chief scout.
Mick Brown, who spent over a decade at Man United during their most successful period and remains very well-connected there, exclusively told Football Insider that the decisions have “gone against what the club has always been”.
This comes after the decision to withdraw the £40,000 annual payment to The Association of Former Man United Players [AFMUP] – a charity supporting players who have previously represented the club and did not make enough money to retire after their playing career.
INEOS’ extensive cost-cutting scheme has led to growing frustration among the supporters and employees at Old Trafford, with this the latest in a string of shocking calls.
Previously, over 250 employees had been dismissed from their roles following the new owners’ arrival in an attempt to lower the club’s expenses.
Then, the decision was made to raise ticket prices without consultation, leading to protests outside of Old Trafford ahead of the Premier League fixture against Everton.
On top of that, Football Insider exclusively revealed in December that the owners were made to backtrack on a decision to revoke privileges given to the families of the Busby Babes.
INEOS slammed for latest ‘disgrace’ decision at Man United
The former scout, who worked closely with Sir Alex Ferguson during his time at the club and has worked with owners at a number of elite clubs, insisted INEOS are “tearing the heart and soul out of the club” with their shocking off-field decisions.
“It’s symptomatic of INEOS’ time at the club so far,” he told Football Insider.
“I think they’ve gone a long way to ripping the heart and soul out of the club with these decisions.
“These are things which totally go against what Man United as a club has always been.
“This latest one is a crass judgement in my book. Every club that I know has some form of former players association which helps in various ways.
“Manchester United have been in a position where they can help better than most others in terms of financial support to the AFMUP.
“So to come in, look at the problems they’ve got, and to decide that is one of those problems is maddening.
“If you’d sent them in with the task of making decisions which would upset the fanbase the most, you’d do exactly as they have done so far.
“It’s the same with ticket price rises and the 250 people who have lost their jobs, they weren’t necessarily high earners but those are the ones who have suffered.
“With each decision they make, the more the fans start to turn on them, because they’re decisions which negatively impact the normal people – the fans and the employees.
“We’ve seen protests outside Old Trafford already and I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see those continue because they decisions they’ve made have been a disgrace.”
In other news, Man United accelerate striker signing after Joshua Zirkzee twist.
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