Manchester United fans protest outside Old Trafford over ticket prices
One of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s ‘unpopular decisions’ has been to introduce a minimum match ticket price of £66
Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrived at Manchester United as the knight in shining armour to long-suffering fans but the honeymoon period has not lasted long. His reign will so far be remembered for a widespread cuts and measures which has impacted staff and ticket prices for supporters.
A deal for a 27.7 per cent stake in United, worth £1.25 billion, was announced on Christmas Eve last year and Ratcliffe wants to lift United from its current “mediocre” status back to where they once were.
He has warned his “difficult and unpopular decisions” are necessary. Here, Telegraph Sport details the savage cuts he has made during his first year in charge football operations.
Redundancies
Ed Woodward, executive vice-chairman at United until 2021, oversaw the post-Sir Alex Ferguson decline of the United but he also treated staff like family. The redundancies since the summer at United have been brutal as Ratcliffe has looked to cut the staffing levels from more than 1,100 by around 250.
Some of those who left the club had dedicated their working lives to United and many behind the scenes forged strong relationships with first-team players away from the training pitches. “It’s been hard and difficult to see,” said Jonny Evans on pre-season tour in America. “The new owners feel that’s the direction that they want to go. But, you know, it’s not been easy for everyone at the same time.”
United’s most recent financial figures showed exceptional items in their accounts, with £8.6 million spent on restructuring costs, including the redundancy scheme.
Sporting director
Ratcliffe branded the situation “absurd” when Dan Ashworth was stuck on gardening leave at Newcastle, waiting for a deal to be struck for him to join United. United made him their No.1 target, having assessed his work at the Football Association turning the national age-group teams into major tournament winners and giving Gareth Southgate the players to reach the final of the European Championship twice.
But Ashworth’s time at United lasted as long as his gardening leave. At the weekend he left the club, who had spent around £3million to acquire his services. He was described as a “10/10 sporting director, one of the best around” before he arrived, but failed to gel with the football hierarchy. Given his track record, it has raised questions over whether Ashworth was the biggest problem at the club.
Christmas is cancelled
It was probably no surprise that Christmas celebrations were cancelled for staff, given the redundancies. It would hardly be good optics to have an expensive knees-up after seeing so many colleagues leave.
United have traditionally held a party for staff at various different locations from on-site at Old Trafford to the Old Trafford Cricket Ground. But it has been scrapped altogether this year after being held in a suite at the stadium in 2023.
Other cuts include the staff’s £100 Christmas bonus being replaced by a £40 voucher for Marks & Spencer. Many were not expecting any form of bonus so there was an element of surprise from some staff at the gesture of goodwill heading into the festive season. While the Glazer family were running the club, staff received their £100 bonus each year before Christmas but this time around they are receiving the voucher instead.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford at a Manchester United game at Villa Park
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has overseen sweeping job cuts with morale within the club said to be low
FA Cup final travel
It was their finest moment of the year - Erik ten Hag pulling off a stunning win against Manchester City against all the odds to save his job and bring a major trophy back to Old Trafford. But the backdrop to the showpiece were cuts to the perks for the Wembley final. United traditionally gave staff free tickets for the final plus travel and accommodation to Wembley, a pre-match lunch and after-party.
On the eve of last season’s final, staff and directors learned they would only receive one ticket and would have to pay £20 coach travel on the day of the game.
Other perks
Ratcliffe has been determined to clamp down on lavish spending at all levels and some staff no longer have access to chauffeur-driven private cars. Some of the corporate credit cards of heads of department were also cancelled.
One of the big decisions Ratcliffe made was to appoint a corporate restructuring firm to oversee his major cost-cutting drive at United. Interpath Advisory were tasked with examining all areas of United’s business with a view to driving greater efficiency and determining where savings can be made. The hope was to free up more money to invest in the first-team squad and ensure the club do not fall foul of Premier League rules governing spending.
No more Fergie time
United could not be the same club Ratcliffe invested in had it not been for Ferguson - his 13 Premier League titles are the foundation that make the club the biggest in England. But it was announced that Ferguson would leave as club ambassador at the end of the season, a multi-million pound role that would see savings made on the balance sheet.
Former United striker Eric Cantona called the decision “scandalous” adding: “Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies. Such a lack of respect.”
Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands at Old Trafford for a Manchester United Europa League match
Sir Alex Ferguson will no longer be employed as a club ambassador as Ineos cut costs
Ticket prices
The anti-Ratcliffe chants were a stunning part of the supporter protest against hiked ticket prices ahead of the recent win against Everton. Fans sang about Ratcliffe being put on a bonfire, such was the resentment towards the co-owner once seen as a “local boy” with the supporters at heart.
Matchday ticket prices have risen to £66 with no concessions, with fears it will price some supporters out of watching games. “I don’t want to end up in a position where the genuine local fans can’t afford to come, but I do want to optimise the ticketing. We need to find a balance. And you can’t be popular all the time either,” he told United We Stand fanzine.
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