May 27 – Manchester United staff were informed on Friday that a fresh wave of redundancies is under way, with up to 200 further jobs set to be cut across the organisation — including within the football department — as part of an ongoing cost-reduction strategy under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS-led regime.
The timing of the announcement, coming less than 48 hours after staff had supported the men’s first team during their Europa League final defeat against Tottenham in Bilbao, has reportedly caused discontent inside the club. Staff were told via email that they would find out on Friday if their roles were at risk. Among those expected to be impacted are physios and masseurs closely linked to the first team.
This round of cuts follows previous redundancies affecting non-football staff, who were informed earlier in May. United had initially postponed redundancy notifications for football personnel to avoid disrupting preparations for the final weeks of the season. On Thursday evening — just hours before the notices were sent — club staff attended a barbecue at Carrington, a move that some internally described as “tone-deaf” given the looming layoffs.
The reduction in headcount is part of a broader programme of streamlining and restructuring launched following Ratcliffe’s minority acquisition in February. At that time, the club announced plans to shed 150 to 200 positions, building on the 250 redundancies carried out the previous summer. In total, this amounts to approximately 450 job losses over the past 12 months.
The club had an average of 1,112 monthly employees as of June 2023, according to its most recent financial disclosures, suggesting that the latest round of redundancies will reduce the workforce by over 40% in under two years.
In addition to operational roles, Manchester United’s recruitment and performance departments are also being trimmed. The number of scouts is being reduced, and several senior figures are set to depart, including director of scouting Steve Brown, director of football operations David Harrison, and director of innovations Richard Hawkins.
The redundancies form part of a larger financial restructuring effort to address significant and persistent losses. Manchester United have recorded five consecutive years of full-year losses, amounting to £373 million ($503m) since they last posted a profit in 2018–19. The club’s revenue-generating capability remains substantial, but rising costs, declining on-pitch performance, and heavy investment in infrastructure have weighed heavily on its financial health.
Ratcliffe’s INEOS team has taken operational control of the football side of the business while the Glazer family retains majority ownership. Under INEOS, cost containment has become a central objective, with even internal catering provisions reviewed earlier this year as part of efforts to control spending.
Manchester United’s season concludes this weekend with a trip to Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong on a post-season commercial tour — one that may offer a temporary reprieve from mounting internal tensions as the club pushes through a transformation aimed at long-term sustainability and competitiveness.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1748363021labto1748363021ofdlr1748363021owedi1748363021sni@g1748363021niwe.1748363021yrrah1748363021