Members of Manchester United’s staff have been forced into eating their lunches in the toilets amid a bizarre cost-cutting crackdown at the club.
Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased a quarter stake in the club earlier this year, him and his INEOS team have taken control of football and financial matters.
And they have wasted no time in making their mark after finding United in a state of disarray, committing to root-and-branch reforms.
According to the Daily Mail, that has included some bizarre actions being taken to further make savings specifically on matchdays.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has undergone a root-and-branch review of Man Utd
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Staff that take care of corporate members were previously given a lunchbox that included a sandwich, a cereal bar, a bag of crisps and a soft drink.
But on the opening day of the Premier League season as United took on Fulham at Old Trafford, staff were left dismayed when their lunch was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, the waiters, servers and chefs were left to fend over what was left behind by the corporate punters at the end of the day.
A source revealed how they were forced to eat in a toilet, saying the Daily Mail: “They’ve set up a dining table next to four toilet cubicles.
“You come out of the cubicle and someone is sat in right front of you, eating.”
But the staff are not the only ones who have faced the cuts with fans in the corporate boxes also having their matchday programmes stripped from them.
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As is courtesy at most Premier League clubs, those who attend the private boxes – which often costs punters thousands in tickets – were provided with a match programme.
However, on Friday night when United faced Fulham, only five of the 10 boxes were given one as the others went empty-handed.
The Red Devils have insisted that anyone in a box who asks for a programme would be given one and there is also a QR code to allow fans the chance to read it digitally.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has left no stone unturned as he continues to slash cuts at Old Trafford
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United have made huge financial changes to the club which has resulted in 250 redundancies while company credit cards have been stripped back and private chauffeurs discontinued.
Several key members of staff have already been replaced with Ratcliffe bringing in his own team, including technical director Jason Wilcox and sporting director Dan Ashworth.
Omar Berrada was also pinched from local rivals Manchester City and appointed as United’s new chief executive.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS head of sport Sir Dave Brailsford have
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The Red Devils have been active in the transfer window this summer, backing Erik ten Hag with a new contract after reports emerged that he could have been sacked at the end of last season.
Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have all signed for United this summer.
And there could be further moves in the pipeline with Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell linked, as well as a move in the pipeline for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Manuel Ugarte.