Manchester United staff members will get the opportunity to enjoy a Christmas party this year a year after Sir Jim Ratcliffe cancelled last year's following staff redundancies
General view inside Old Trafford
Old Trafford will host the Manchester United staff Christmas party this year
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Manchester United's 2025 Christmas party has reportedly been given the go-ahead after Sir Jim Ratcliffe cancelled last year's. The United hierarchy stopped any festive cheer 12 months ago following a round of cuts.
Last year, the party was cancelled after it was deemed inappropriate to celebrate following a first round of redundancies that resulted in 250 jobs being axed. The scrapped celebration saved the club more than £100,000, with the annual staff bonus of £100 being replaced with a £40 voucher from M&S.
Now, the Daily Mail have reported that staff members will get the opportunity to celebrate Christmas this year, with chief executive Omar Berrada deciding to invite all staff members to the event. It will be held in one of the larger suites at Old Trafford, with food and musical entertainment provided for employees.
The decision comes after United's hierarchy ran the changes following Ineos' minority takeover. A further 200 redundancies, which reduced the workforce from 1,150 to 700, saved the club millions.
Back in March, Ratcliffe made several comments about the staff cuts and significant off-field changes during an interview with the BBC and Sky Sports. "I just think when you are in a period of change, it is disruptive," he said.
"It does, if you will excuse the pun, take people's eye off the ball a bit. We have got a club which was in a level of financial difficulty. 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.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and chief executive Omar Berrada
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and chief executive Omar Berrada
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"If we hadn't have implemented the cost programmes and restructuring that we have done over the last 12 months. So we have to deal with all those things, and there's only so many things you can deal with at once.
"We have a new management team, we have to deal with the financial restructure, then we have to move on to the squad, data analysis, and moving forward.
"But we are in the process of change and it's an uncomfortable period and disruptive and I do feel sympathy with the fans. But I am not actually surprised where we are in the league because Ruben's only got a certain size of squad he can deal with, and quite a number of those players are injured or not available to him."
Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Sir Jim Ratcliffe secured a deal for Manchester United in December 2023
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He added: "The simple answer is the club runs out of money at Christmas if we don't do those things [widespread cuts and restructuring].
"Ultimately, if you look at running the club the size of Manchester United with an income of about £650m you spend a part of that £650m on operating the club and part of it on the squad.
"Where do you want to spend the money? Do you want to spend it on operating the club, or do you want to spend it on the squad? Because if you spend it on the squad you get better results.
"And at the end of the day what's Manchester United here for if it's not to win trophies and silverware. What we want to do is invest in the best players in the world if we can, rather than spend it on, I'm afraid, free lunches."
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