The air inside Old Trafford was thick with uncertainty. Staff members exchanged nervous glances as they gathered for a crucial meeting on Monday morning. Manchester United’s chief executive, Omar Berrada, took a deep breath before addressing the room—his words would confirm what many had feared.
Up to 200 employees would soon find themselves without a job.
This was the latest chapter in Manchester United’s painful transformation, a desperate attempt to steer the club away from financial disaster. The numbers told a grim story—five consecutive years of losses since 2019, with over £300 million drained from the club in the last three years alone. The latest financial report revealed a £27.7 million loss for the second quarter. The club, once a symbol of invincibility, was now fighting to stay afloat.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe had already wielded the axe once before, slashing 250 jobs in an initial wave of cost-cutting. Now, he was taking more drastic measures. “We cannot continue to lose money like this,” Berrada stated, his voice firm but solemn. “If we want success on the pitch, we need stability off it.”
For those who had spent years working behind the scenes at United, the news was devastating. The proposed redundancies, affecting approximately 150-200 employees, would be implemented over the next three to four months. Some would be relocated to the club’s Carrington training base, while the London office presence would shrink significantly. Every corner of the club was feeling the squeeze, from free staff lunches—now scrapped to save over £1 million annually—to the uncertain future of charitable contributions.
Meanwhile, the team was faltering on the pitch. Ruben Amorim’s side found themselves languishing in 15th place in the Premier League, a far cry from the club’s former dominance. Their only realistic shot at Champions League qualification lay in winning the Europa League. Failure to do so would trigger a financial blow—a £10 million annual reduction in their sponsorship deal with Adidas.
Even the club’s recent managerial shake-up had come at a hefty price. The sacking of Erik ten Hag, his coaching staff, and former sporting director Dan Ashworth had cost United £14.5 million—a necessary gamble or an expensive miscalculation?
In an effort to right the ship, Manchester United appointed Marc Armstrong as their new chief business officer, a key figure in their so-called “transformation plan.” Leadership would be consolidated in Manchester, with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency and, above all, financial sustainability.
“These hard choices are necessary,” Berrada admitted. “We have a responsibility to put Manchester United in the strongest position to win.”
