Tottenham have agreed a deal with an agency that was set up by former Manchester United executives who were axed earlier this year as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting measures
Tottenham have agreed a deal with an agency that was set up by former United executives who were axed as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting measures
Tottenham have agreed a deal with an agency that was set up by former United executives who were axed as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's cost-cutting measures
Tottenham have recruited several former Manchester United executives who were let go earlier this year as part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's extensive cost-saving measures.
Since acquiring a stake in the club and assuming full control of football operations, Ratcliffe has implemented drastic cost-cutting strategies, including discontinuing staff lunchboxes, cancelling the staff Christmas party, and terminating Sir Alex Ferguson's ambassadorial agreement.
United have also undergone multiple redundancy rounds, with some of the dismissed staff now finding employment at Tottenham.
As reported by the Telegraph (via the Mirror), Spurs have struck a deal with agency Altius8, established in February by ex-United commercial executives Ali Edge, Thomas Liston-Jones, and Victoria Timpson. Edge, who spent 29 years at United, primarily focused on maintaining commercial deals, while Liston-Jones served as the club's head of data and strategy.
Timpson, who was at Old Trafford for 16 years, held the position of chief executive of global alliances and partnerships before leaving earlier this year.
The report also says that Florence Lafaye, who briefly took over from Timpson after her departure, is associated with Altius8. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is said to be optimistic that they can replicate the significant impact on the club's revenues that the team had at United.
The report suggests that industry insiders are concerned Altius8's presence at Tottenham may not reflect well in Ratcliffe, after 'dismantling what was one of the few unqualified successes of the Glazer era'.
Nevertheless, Ratcliffe has consistently defended the cost-cutting measures, telling BBC Sport in March: "I don't enjoy reading the newspaper very much these days I have to say.
"I know it's unpopular, and this period of change is uncomfortable for people, and some of the decisions we have to make are unpleasant. But they are necessary to put Manchester United back on to a stable footing.
"If people want to see Manchester United winning trophies again then we have do all this stuff. Manchester United would have run out of cash by the end of this year - by the end of 2025 - after having me put $300m (£232.72m) in and if we buy no new players in the summer.
"We are in the process of change and it's an uncomfortable period and disruptive and I do feel sympathy with the fans. The simple answer is the club runs out of money at Christmas if we don't do those things."
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