More job cuts are hanging over beleaguered United staff and Confidential understands that some employees learned of the new round of redundancies while attending Denis Law’s wake at Old Trafford last week.
They were made aware of reports that up to 200 more jobs could go as minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos continue to reduce the workforce to save money. It was a far from ideal setting for staff to learn that they could lose their jobs as they celebrated the life of one of United’s greatest ever players.
Chief executive Omar Berrada and chief operating officer Collette Roche attended the memorial service at Manchester Cathedral earlier in the day, but no senior figures were present at the wake.
It felt even more awkward that the people responsible for organising both events were ex-staff members who were let go by the club last year.
United are set to give their employees a briefing at 2.30pm on Monday to update them on the prospect of more redundancies with morale once again at a low ebb.
It coincides with Marc Amstrong’s first day as the club’s chief business officer after he made the move from Paris Saint-Germain where he held a similar role.
Some employees learned of the new round of redundancies while attending Denis Law’s wake
Up to 200 more jobs could go as Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos continue to reduce the workforce
Teddy feels job cuts pain
Former United striker Teddy Sheringham has been a critic of how Ineos are running the club, and he put his finger on just what United are losing by laying off so many rank and file staff.
‘All those people that have just been sacked at United, they are all the people that made the club tick,’ said Sheringham, a Treble winner under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999.
‘It’s not like any other company in the country or industry. There is a lot of love in the football club and I felt that as soon as I went to Man United; loads of people around the place and all those little jobs that no one really wants to do.
‘There were people in there that had a love for the club, and they’ve all gone now.’
Sheringham, now 58, believes United have lost part of their identity that was so important during Ferguson’s time at Old Trafford.
‘It’s not like a homely club now,’ he added. ‘When you get rid of all those people who love the club, for peanuts as well, it’s a big thing.
‘Sir Alex was big on that. He had people around who loved the club and all did their little part to keep it ticking over, keeping the players happy and making them feel loved and wanted when they came across from whatever part of the world.’
Former United striker Teddy Sheringham has been a critic of how Ineos are running the club
Knighton returns for The King
One surprise mourner at Denis Law’s funeral was Michael Knighton.
The businessman who tried to buy United for £20m in 1989 and famously played keepy-uppy in front of the Stretford End arrived alone and almost unnoticed at Manchester Cathedral to pay his own tribute to The King.
Now 73, not much is heard from Knighton these days but he did re-appear in public in the summer of 2022 claiming to be in talks over forming a consortium to buy United from the Glazer family or nudge Sir Jim Ratcliffe into action.
‘If we can smoke the great Sir Jim out to buy Manchester United, my consortium will be punching the air because we’ve achieved what we want to do,’ said Knighton at the time.
Amad to undergo operation
Amad Diallo will undergo surgery on the damaged ankle ligaments that have almost certainly ended his season. Diallo hurt his ankle in training last week and the injury was severe enough that United’s medical department decided he should have an operation.
The Ivory Coast international is expected to be out for several months, and head coach Ruben Amorim isn’t expecting him back before the final Premier League game at home to Aston Villa on May 25. ‘Amad is for sure out for the season,’ Amorim said after Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham.
Amad Diallo may not play again this season after picking up an ankle injury in training
The likes of Kobbie Mainoo are also injured, leaving United with somewhat of an injury crisis
There was more bad news for United after Kobbie Mainoo was ruled out for around six weeks with what was described as a muscular injury.
Confidential can confirm that Mainoo has strained a calf muscle as he battles to be back in time for the start of March when United return to European action in the last 16 of the Europa League.
The injuries sustained by Manuel Ugarte and Toby Collyer last week are not thought to be as serious, while Christian Eriksen and Leny Yoro are expected to be available for United’s last-ever trip to Goodison Park on Saturday after recovering from illness.
Dave back at the wheel
Sir Dave Brailsford was the first man on the ground when Sir Jim Ratcliffe made his £1.3billion investment in United, and Confidential learns that the Ineos sporting director has become increasingly conspicuous around Carrington again after temporarily relocating from his home in Monaco.
Brailsford has been a key figure in the ongoing £50million redevelopment of the training ground, and his leadership will be required during what promises to be another turbulent period of cost cuts and job losses.
The former British Olympic Cycling chief is, of course, also known for his marginal gains and the decision to bring in world-renowned athletics coach Harry Marra as a temporary consultant has Brailsford’s fingerprints all over it.
It’s understood that Marra is still at Carrington educating United’s coaching and fitness staff rather than having any direct input with the players – which is just as well given the sudden spate of injuries that saw Diallo, Mainoo, Ugarte and Collyer injured over two days of training last week.
Sir Dave Brailsford’s leadership will be required during what promises to be a turbulent period
MUST battle ticket price rises
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust are determined to have their voices heard after they launched the ‘Make United united’ campaign in a bid to see ticket prices frozen.
In the last few days, the fan group published an open letter to Sir Jim Ratcliffe in which it laid out why now is the wrong time to increase ticketing costs – as well as offering five solutions for the future.
‘This is not simply about protecting supporters’ pockets. We understand the financial realities of running the club,’ part of the letter reads. ‘However, there is a strong correlation between fan relations and both financial and on-field outcomes.
‘Poorly timed changes to ticketing policies risk undermining the very atmosphere and support that drive success on the pitch, leading to far greater losses in revenue than any gains from ticket price increases or policy changes.
‘By freezing prices and avoiding major disruptive policy changes now, you have the opportunity to signal that you value the unique role of fans in Manchester United’s success.
‘Together, we can build a stronger future for the club. The consequences of ignoring this are significant, but the benefits of getting it right are immeasurable. We hope you will give this careful consideration and make the right decision for Manchester United’s future.’
MUST want to see prices for season-ticket holders and members frozen for next season, greater consultation with fans over longer term increases, and have also suggested alternative fundraising via a ‘share issue for existing shareholders or allow fans (or other investors) the option to co-invest in their club on a fair and equal basis with the major shareholders’.
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust have published an open letter to Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe’s public comments in recent months have drastically increased the level of fear around season ticket prices going up, not least after the mid-season move to increase a matchday ticket to £66 with no concessions.
You can read MUST’s open letter in full here.
Reprieve for pair accused over Rangers chaos
A United fan and his 11-year-old son have had their season tickets reinstated after the club erroneously suspended them as part of their investigation into the chaos that unfolded during the Rangers game.
Marcus and Thomas Scott left the match in the 75th minute after feeling unsafe because of the high volume of supporters in their section, the upper tier of the East Stand. Those Rangers fans then moved into their seats, meaning they weren’t in them when United checked CCTV footage.
United suspended their tickets pending an appeal, and a post from Thomas’ mother Amanda about the case was quickly picked up by fans on social media who expressed anger at the way it had been dealt with.
The club have since corrected their mistake after a further review of CCTV, meaning the father and son will not miss any matches as a result of the error.
‘Now we just need United to make him feel safe when watching his team,’ Amanda wrote on Facebook.
A United fan and his 11-year-old son have had their season tickets reinstated after the club erroneously suspended them amid chaos that unfolded during the Rangers game.
Confidential revealed last week that United’s investigation had found 1,600 Rangers fans had infiltrated home areas of Old Trafford, but the vast majority of season ticket holders were not at fault.
United’s hasty exit
After the travel problems United have encountered playing in London recently, it was a relief for Amorim and his players to make a quick exit on Sunday night following the defeat to Tottenham.
United’s plans to take the train on Saturday were disrupted by a signal failure on the West Coast mainline, and they made the journey on the team bus.
Although the traffic wasn’t as heavy as it would be on a weekday, it still meant that dinner at the team hotel had to be delayed by half an hour.
It followed the issues United had getting back from London when they played at Fulham three weeks earlier.
Their flight from Luton Airport was grounded due to Storm Herminia, forcing the squad to return by bus which arrived in the early hours of the morning.
Although the result didn’t go United’s way this time as they lost 1-0 at Spurs, at least the trip back was smooth as they caught a flight from Stansted and were back in Manchester by 10.30pm.
United’s plans to take the train on Saturday were disrupted by a signal failure on the West Coast mainline, and they made the journey on the team bus
Mazraoui a man of his word
It would have been very easy for Noussair Mazraoui to find an excuse to get out of a fan commitment less than 24 hours after Sunday’s galling defeat to Tottenham pushed United down to 15th in the table.
But the defender is a man of his word and he made a visit to see the Manchester United Muslim Supporters’ Club on Monday as part of a special collaboration.
Confidential understands the Moroccan spent around 30 minutes with members of the group and held a laid-back Q&A session on general football and the importance of his faith.
Those in attendance also got Mazraoui to sign shirts and take pictures and it was described as hugely positive by those involved, particularly so soon after the disappointment of the result at Tottenham.
Heaven is off the mark
Confidential braved the cold on Monday night to be among the 563-strong crowd at Leigh Sports Village to see Ayden Heaven get off the mark in a United shirt.
The centre back joined from Arsenal in January as a first-team signing but he has yet to get the nod from Amorim. As a result, he got his first minutes in a United shirt with the Under 21s against Fulham.
Noussair Mazraoui made a visit to see the Man United Muslim Supporters’ Club on Monday
Ayden Heaven is a potential option to step in at left centre back amid the injury crisis
Heaven was handed 45 minutes by boss Travis Binnion and he looked the part in a composed display alongside Reece Munro, one of the more underrated players coming out of Carrington.
Heaven is a big physical presence but impressed on the night with his composure on the ball, and his ability to carry it out from the back will likely endear him to Amorim and his staff.
He did pick up a booking for a rash challenge on the stroke of half-time, but having not played a match since arriving the 18-year-old will have been pleased to have come through it unscathed.
It was notable too that he played on the left side of a back four, suggesting he is an option to step in at left centre back now Lisandro Martinez has had surgery to rule him out for the remainder of the season.
Head-scratcher for Scanlon
It was particularly confusing to see so many academy players called up by the first team this week and James Scanlon not to be among them.
The 18-year-old scored a brace in the 5-1 FA Youth Cup win over Chelsea and was drafted in to first-team training sessions on Friday and Saturday as Amorim and his staff wanted to get a closer look at him.
Confidential understands that Scanlon was in contention to make the trip to Tottenham before a late decision was made to push him into the Under 21s for the week.
James Scanlon, 18, scored a brace in the 5-1 FA Youth Cup win over Chelsea earlier this month
Scanlon is a full international with Gibraltar and is one of the few players in the academy sides who is a more natural fit as one of the No 10s that Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system calls for.
Those close to the player have been left scratching their head at Scanlon being overlooked for so many of his peers, particularly after he was the best player on the pitch for the first 45 minutes of the U21s’ defeat to Fulham on Monday night.
Sources around Carrington have been left confused also at Scanlon’s limited opportunities at more senior level given he has shown he can dominate at U18 level.
Ethan gets a loan lift
It was a good weekend for Ethan Williams who made his first start for Cheltenham Town and secured an assist in their comeback win against Barrow.
Williams, 19, has had to be patient for his opportunity having been restricted to cameo roles against Accrington Stanley, Chesterfield and Fleetwood Town.
But he got the nod to start on the left wing of Cheltenham’s 4-2-3-1 system against Barrow and it was Williams’ ball to Ashley Hay that teed up the winning goal, completing the comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2.
It will come as relief to United academy staff given that a number of their loans so far have not played out as the player or club would have hoped.
United academy product Ethan Williams recently made his first start for Cheltenham Town
Dan Gore, as mentioned previously in this column, has been questioned by Rotherham boss Steve Evans, and the midfielder has since returned to United for treatment on a hairline bone fracture.
Ethan Wheatley has also found it tricky at Walsall in League Two as he has been left out of the last three matchday squads, although boss Mat Sadler has since come out to praise the United youngster’s effort in training.
High calibre loans have proven quite tricky for United to get right in recent years and is something that is continually monitored.
But the difficulties of Gore and Wheatley add to the frustrations of last season where Maxi Oyedele, who has since left the club, found himself frozen out at Forest Green Rovers.
Warm-up boost for Brown
Eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice an unfamiliar face during the warm-up of that FA Youth Cup clash against Chelsea.
Nathanial Junior Brown, part of the U16s group, got to warm up with the likes of Chido Obi and Scanlon ahead of the Chelsea cup clash at Leigh Sports Village.
United have previous for this sort of thing having invited 14-year-old JJ Gabriel to warm up with the U18s last season ahead of the Premier League Cup final against Manchester City.
Confidential has learned United have organised a team-bonding meal in Manchester
Club staff are keen to show some of their brightest young talents what lies ahead for them, and for Brown it was a useful opportunity to show his professionalism with older players.
Reds hit the town
Sunday’s defeat at Tottenham was United’s eighth in the last 12 Premier League games under Amorim, and it’s no surprise that morale is low and some players are starting to lose faith in their head coach.
To try and lift spirits, Confidential has learned that the squad have organised a team-bonding meal in Manchester on Wednesday so the players can enjoy themselves away from the club.
