Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly considering another round of job cuts as part of ongoing cost-saving measures at the club.
Senior figures at United have confirmed that additional cost-cutting strategies are being explored, with the club having lost nearly £300million over the past three years. One insider described the situation as “unsustainable.”
While the club has not directly addressed reports suggesting that INEOS Group, chaired by Ratcliffe, is contemplating between 100 and 200 redundancies.
Another potential cost-cutting move involves the possible closure of United’s London office in Kensington.
However, club officials insist that they will continue to have a presence in the capital to focus on global marketing and commercial partnerships.
INEOS has already implemented significant reductions, including cutting 250 jobs, discontinuing Sir Alex Ferguson’s role as a paid ambassador, and ending free staff travel for cup finals.
The reasoning behind these measures is to redirect funds into strengthening the first-team squad. The previous round of redundancies was estimated to save the club around £45 million per year.
Jackie Kay, United’s head of team operations, is set to leave after nearly three decades at the club. Her departure marks another significant change under Ratcliffe’s leadership.
🚨 Sir Jim Ratcliffe understands that his decisions are unpopular, but feels there’s a lack of awareness outside the club regarding the full picture of #mufc‘s situation. [@JamieJackson___] pic.twitter.com/Wjj5FCvv7Z
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) February 12, 2025
In December, Ratcliffe warned that more “difficult and unpopular decisions” would be necessary to move the club in the direction he envisions.
Many United employees, including some already affected by job cuts, acknowledge that the club had become “bloated” in terms of staffing. However, the extent of the reductions has left many shocked and frustrated.
Ratcliffe has already injected £300million into Manchester United, with a significant portion allocated to upgrading the Carrington training facility and planning for a possible new stadium.
United’s most recent financial statements revealed a net loss of £113.2million for the year ending June 30, 2024.
The club had previously reported losses of £28.7million in 2022-23 and £115.5million in 2021-22, with cumulative losses exceeding £370million over the past five years.
INEOS and Ratcliffe have faced criticism for raising matchday ticket prices to £66 per game, with no discounts for children or pensioners.
On the pitch, Manchester United’s performances have been disappointing. They currently sit in 13th place in the Premier League, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 27 points and the top four by 14 points.
Under the new ownership, the club has spent over £200million on new signings across two transfer windows.
At the same time, they have facilitated the exits of key players, with midfielder Scott McTominay moving to Napoli and Marcus Rashford joining Aston Villa on loan.
High-profile signings Jadon Sancho and Antony have also been loaned out as part of the squad reshuffle.