‘Man United have gone too far this time’ after ‘disaster’
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has employed a number of cost-cutting measures since taking control of footballing operations at Man United as he attempts to return the club to profitability.
The BBC reported earlier this month (12 February) that Ratcliffe is considering making between 100 and 200 more redundancies after 250 members of staff were let go last year.
It has been widely reported that significant cuts are to be made to the staff canteen at Old Trafford.
Football Insider has previously been told that “morale is below rock bottom” within United after hearing from staff at the club.
The Red Devils published its second quarter financial results in February – showing a loss of £27.7million for the three months up to the end of December 2024.
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has hit out at United chiefs for “another PR disaster”.
Man United handling of cuts is ‘very poor’, says Wyness
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness has insisted the staff canteen cuts are “embarrassing” for a club of Man United’s stature.
| Games | 23 |
| Wins | 11 |
| Draws | 3 |
| Losses | 9 |
| Goals (For / Against) | 41 / 40 |
| Win Percentage | 48% |
Ruben Amorim’s side are also struggling on the pitch and sit 14th in the Premier League with 11 games left to play.
Wyness told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It’s embarrassing for a club of Man United’s stature to get involved in small things like this.
“When I was at Villa, I actually put a staff canteen in because I was unhappy with them leaving for an hour or an hour and a half at lunchtime.
“I’d rather they stayed and talked to each other and kept them happy, it was very well-recieved.
“I do have some sympathy with some of the cost-cutting. The head count is probably too big.
“Man United are a big club and they do need more staff in areas, so they’ve probably gone too far.
“But they need a staff of around 800, in my opinion, to be in the right place.
“That would’ve been very efficient. 1100 was too many.
“The way this has been done is very poor. It’s another embarrassment for INEOS and another PR disaster.”
‘Ratcliffe could demand bigger Man United stake’
Football Insider has previously revealed that Ratcliffe could demand more shares in Man United to help fund the Old Trafford regeneration project.
United’s new stadium plans could cost the club more than £2billion as they will be financially responsible for that part of the project.
The club and a stadium regeneration task force are considering plans to either expand Old Trafford or build a new facility altogether.
For more Man United and exclusive news, follow us on Facebook or join our brand new WhatsApp Channel for instant updates to be sent straight to your phone.