Man United’s ‘Scrooge’ co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘cancels £40,000 charity donation for club legends’ in multi-billionaire’s latest penny-pinching after sacking Sir Alex Ferguson
- The charity was founded in 1985 to support former players after their retirement
- Red Devil legends Bryan Robson and Dennis Irwin are among the 300 members
- LISTEN NOW: It all begins! New formation, some new faces, but the optimism is gone at Old Trafford
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly continued Manchester United’s cost-cutting measures by canceling a charity donation for club legends.
Ratcliffe began an in-depth financial investigation after taking a quarter of the club’s shares earlier this year.
The club laid off around 250 people in the summer and earlier this month hundreds of fans gathered outside Old Trafford to protest the decision to increase match ticket prices.
As reported by The sun, Billionaire Ratcliffe has continued the money grab scheme by cutting funding to charity.
United donated £40,000 every year to a charity set up to help former players. But there is fear that it will cease to exist.
The Association of Former Manchester United Players was founded in 1985 to support players who were not earning the mouth-watering salaries of the modern era.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly continued Manchester United’s cost-cutting measures
A charity supporting former ex-United players such as Denis Irwin (right) and Bryan Robson (left) is being canceled
Red Devil legends such as Bryan Robson, Brian Kidd and Dennis Irwin are among the 300 former players the charity is supporting.
Trustee Jim Elms played for United’s youth team and reserves and has rejected Ratcliffe’s decision.
The 84-year-old told The Sun: “We have sent a letter to say we have not been paid. No one came out and told us, so we had to send another letter.
“Then we started hearing things that this would be the end of us.”
Elms had a telephone conversation with United CEO Omar Berrada. He added: “It didn’t go so well.
‘Omar was noncommittal. He’s going to meet us again in January, but he said he doesn’t see it changing.
“He didn’t seem to think we were a necessity.”
Ratcliffe’s latest comes just months after legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson lost his role at the club.
Hundreds of Manchester United fans protested against a ticket price increase earlier this month
Sir Alex Ferguson was removed from his role in October after a private meeting with Ratcliffe
Ferguson became a global club ambassador and club director after stepping down as manager in 2013 after a 27-year reign. He was reportedly paid £2.16 million a year to serve as a global ambassador for the club, in a deal that lasted more than a decade.
But United’s legendary manager, 82, lost his contract after a personal meeting with minority owner Ratcliffe in October.
United have not done well on the pitch so far this season. Thursday’s defeat to strugglers Wolves condemned the team to their eighth Premier League defeat of the season.
With only 22 points from their first 18 games, the twenty-time top champions are closer to the relegation zone than the top four.
United are back in action on Monday evening when they host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle.
