Man United legend Eric Cantona SLAMS Sir Jim Ratcliffe for a ‘scandalous lack of respect’ in expletive-laden Instagram rant after Sir Alex Ferguson was ‘sacked’ from his ambassadorial role
- Eric Cantona won four Premier Leagues in five years under Sir Alex Ferguson
- The legendary manager’s £2.16million ambassadorial role ended on Tuesday
- LISTEN NOW: It all starts! available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Manchester United legend Eric Cantona has taken aim at the new co-owners of Ineos after Sir Alex Ferguson’s lucrative multi-million pound ambassadorial role was axed.
Ferguson is the most successful manager in the history of the Premier League and United, building a dynasty that dominated the first twenty years of the competition and defined an era of English football.
The Scottish manager left the club after 27 years in 2013, having led the club to a final top-level crown, which remains the most recent the Red Devils have won.
However, on Tuesday it was announced that Sir Jim is the new co-owner Ratcliffe first informed Ferguson in the summer that he would no longer be a paid employee at Old Trafford after the end of the season. 38 years.
The decision has unexpectedly drawn the ire of a number of United legends, the majority of whom all retain a strong respect for their former boss, with Cantona being no different as he slammed the controversial decision on Instagram.
Sir Alex Ferguson has had his lucrative ambassadorial role at Manchester United ended by Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Eric Cantona has taken aim at the club’s new co-owners after the ‘sack’ of club icon Ferguson
“Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do whatever he wants at the club until the day he dies. What a lack of respect,” the legendary United icon wrote on Instagram.
‘It’s absolutely scandalous. Sir Alex Ferguson will always be my boss! And I’ll throw them all in a big bag of shit!’
Cantona was one of the key pillars of Ferguson and United’s dominance of English football in the early days of the Premier League.
Between 1992 and 1997, Cantona and the Red Devils won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups and three Community Shield crowns under the great Scottish manager.
Ferguson is an almost constant presence at Old Trafford, despite leaving more than a decade ago.
A regular at matches, the legend of his time in charge has perhaps served as something of an unsurpassed benchmark for every manager who has come in his wake.
Sources insist the meeting in which Ferguson was briefed was completely amicable and the 82-year-old, who will retain his title as non-executive director, remains a close friend of the club who will always be welcome at Old Trafford.
But the decision once again demonstrates Ratcliffe’s determination to cut costs after United announced net losses for the fifth year in a row last month. The new co-owner has implemented a brutal redundancy program that has led to the loss of 250 jobs – with Ferguson making the biggest sacrifice by some distance.
He is often seen sitting next to Ratcliffe in the directors’ box and chatting to the Ineos owner since he paid £1.3 billion to acquire 27.7 percent of the club.
The Glazer family were pleased that Ferguson could continue in his well-paid role, writes Mail Sport’s Chris Wheeler, partly in recognition that his success on the pitch brought huge financial benefits to the club.
Cantona spent five years at Old Trafford under Ferguson, winning four Premier Leagues from 1992-97
Cantona underlined that the former Red Devils manager would always remain his boss ‘until the day he dies’
Ferguson is the most successful manager in the club’s history, having won thirteen Premier Leagues
But Ratcliffe has taken a more businesslike approach and decided United can no longer afford to pay such a high price for Ferguson’s services while the rest of the club feels under pressure.
For now, Ferguson will retain his place on the club’s football board, a largely honorary body that also included Sir Bobby Charlton before his death last year.
In addition to the redundancy programme, which could save United up to £45 million a year, Ratcliffe has presided over a series of cost cuts, including the cancellation of company credit cards and chauffeured cars for executives, and free travel for employees to university. FA Cup final in May.
It is understood this year’s staff Christmas party has also been cancelled, with sources accepting it would be in poor taste if so many colleagues lost their jobs.
