Manchester United Weighs Further Job Cuts Amid Financial Challenges

Posted : 12 February 2025

Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly considering further staff redundancies as part of cost-cutting measures at the club. Senior sources indicate that the club is exploring ways to reduce expenses, with United having lost nearly £300 million over the past three years—an amount insiders describe as unsustainable.

While the club has not officially confirmed the reports, it is believed that Ineos Group, chaired by Ratcliffe, is contemplating laying off between 100 and 200 employees. The specifics regarding the number of staff affected, the timeline, and the departments involved remain undecided, with a final decision expected within the next two weeks.

As part of its financial restructuring, United is also evaluating the closure of its London office in Kensington. However, club officials insist they will maintain a presence in the capital to continue engaging with global commercial partners. Ineos has already implemented significant cost-cutting measures, including reducing 250 staff positions, discontinuing Sir Alex Ferguson’s role as a paid ambassador, and eliminating free travel perks for staff attending finals.

The rationale behind these cuts is to reallocate funds toward strengthening the first team, with the previous round of redundancies expected to save the club approximately £45 million annually. Additionally, Jackie Kay, United’s long-serving head of team operations, is set to leave after nearly three decades at the club.

Ratcliffe has acknowledged that further "difficult and unpopular decisions" will be necessary to align the club with his vision. While some staff members admit the club was overstaffed, the scale of job cuts has sparked anger and concern within Old Trafford.

Meanwhile, Ratcliffe has already invested £300 million into the club, primarily for improvements to United’s Carrington training facility and preliminary planning for a potential new stadium. However, he has yet to decide whether to proceed with constructing a new stadium—expected to cost over £2 billion—or opt for a £1.5 billion renovation of Old Trafford.

United’s financial struggles have been highlighted in their latest accounts, which show a net loss of £113.2 million for the year ending June 30, 2024. This follows previous losses of £28.7 million in 2022-23 and £115.5 million in 2021-22, bringing the club’s five-year total losses to more than £370 million. Despite commercial revenues rising from £81.4 million in 2010 to £302.9 million in 2024, United and other top-flight clubs recognize the need to explore alternative revenue streams amid stagnating broadcast revenues.

Manchester United Weighs Further Job Cuts Amid Financial Challenges

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