Manchester United’s legendary club ambassadors are set to face salary cuts in the latest round of cost-cutting measures under new INEOS ownership.
Bryan Robson, Denis Irwin and Andy Cole are among those who will see their earnings reduced, according to talkSPORT.
The move comes as part of a wider financial restructuring driven by minority owner Jim Ratcliffe, who acquired a 27.7 per cent stake in the club in December 2023.
Robson, who has served as a Global Ambassador since 2011, performs duties including worldwide promotional appearances for the club.
The club has declined to comment on contractual arrangements with their ambassadors and legends.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe terminated Sir Alex Ferguson’s contract last year
PA
Irwin and Cole, alongside other former stars, host sponsors and hospitality guests during home matches at Old Trafford.
Current matchday ambassadorial duties command fees between £500 and £1,000 per appearance.
Many of the former players affected by these cuts rely significantly on this income, having played in an era before the current high wages in football.
The salary reductions are expected to impact a broader group of club legends who perform similar promotional and hospitality roles at the club.
The salary cuts follow several other cost-reduction measures implemented since INEOS’s arrival at Old Trafford.
Sir Alex Ferguson, the club’s iconic former manager, was asked to give up his £2m ambassador salary from the end of this season, though he remains in the role under what the club calls an ‘amicable’ agreement.
Bryan Robson is one of the players who will have his wages slashed
PA
Ratcliffe has also overseen 250 non-playing staff redundancies across the club.
Christmas bonuses have been reduced, with £100 payments replaced by £40 vouchers.
The club has also stopped its annual £40,000 donation to The Association of Former Manchester United Players.
The Manchester United Foundation is reportedly facing funding cuts, while match ticket prices for children and pensioners have risen to a minimum of £66.
Sources at the club indicate these widespread cuts are necessary to comply with Premier League spending rules and support squad rebuilding after recording £113m losses last year.
Ratcliffe has already invested £300m of his personal fortune beyond his initial share purchase.
This investment was intended to support the new stadium project, but there are concerns the funds could be consumed by existing losses without significant cost reductions.
The financial restructuring comes amid challenging times on the pitch, with United currently 13th in the Premier League, having won just seven of their 22 matches this season.
Robson, nicknamed ‘Captain Marvel’ by supporters, scored 74 goals in 345 league games for United and is considered one of the club’s greatest players.
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Sir Jim Ratcliffe has caused a stir with his cost-cutting measures
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He joined United for a then-record £1.5m in 1981 and earned 90 England caps, inspiring future stars like David Beckham and Steven Gerrard.
Both Robson and Irwin were instrumental in ending United’s 26-year wait for a league title in 1993.
Irwin and Cole were key members of the historic 1999 treble-winning team, becoming the first English side to secure the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in a single season.
None of these legends earned the substantial salaries that today’s United players command.