Manchester United staff were told yesterday that up to 200 more employees will lose their jobs by April, in the latest round of cuts at the Premier League club.
The announcement came during an emotional meeting in Old Trafford’s Manchester Suite, where hundreds of worried staff gathered to hear their fate from chief executive Omar Berrada.
Berrada apologised for spreading more gloom but explained that other top clubs had been more successful with smaller staff numbers, according to the Daily Mail.
Some employees were reportedly left emotional after being told they would learn their fate in April, facing another month of uncertainty.
Manchester United staff were told yesterday that up to 200 more employees will lose their jobs by April, in the latest round of cuts at the Premier League club
PA
The meeting included pies and chips served with water in plastic cups to somewhat help soften the blow.
Staff who survive the cuts face the removal of their remaining perks, with free lunches at Old Trafford being replaced by fruit from next week.
At Carrington training ground, employees will continue with the current menu until summer, after which they will be limited to soup and sandwiches instead of sharing players’ meal options.
Manchester United chief Omar Berrada delivered the news that more staff would be losing their jobs at Old Trafford
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“It was the only perk left,” one staffer noted, revealing Monday meals typically consisted of weekend matchday leftovers.
The staff cuts stand in stark contrast to Manchester United’s financial situation, with interest payments on the Glazers’ leveraged takeover now exceeding £1billion.
The club currently owes £391m in transfer fees, while £14.5m was paid in compensation to football staff sacked by Ratcliffe.
This included £4.1m for Dan Ashworth, who lasted just 159 days as sporting director, and Erik ten Hag and his coaches.
The Manchester United Supporters Trust has revealed new analysis showing the club’s debt interest payments will increase to £50m annually by 2027.
The Trust’s analysis also highlighted that transfer debt has grown by £52m in the past year, with £211m due this year.
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MUST urged the club to avoid raising ticket prices, stating: “The Glazers debt mountain is the original sin in the recent decline of Manchester United.”
The cuts contrast sharply with player wages, as midfielder Casemiro recently insisted he won’t leave his £375,000-a-week contract that runs for another 16 months.
Head coach Ruben Amorim had previously acknowledged the connection, stating “people are losing their jobs so we have to acknowledge that and the biggest problem is the football.”
The Glazers have piled the debt on Manchester United since purchasing the club back in 2005
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Staff morale at United has reportedly hit its lowest point, with employees at Monday’s meeting warned that leaking details would be a sackable offence.
Many hadn’t even reached their cars after the meeting before the club had already issued a press release about the cuts.
United are next in action against Ipswich on Wednesday as they look to climb up the Premier League table.