Leaked email reveals Sir Jim Ratcliffe ambition to ‘revamp’ Manchester United

Manchester United co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe,  ready to implement massive staff cuts after sending an email to all employees on Tuesday (May 28) to “invite” them to resign.

Billionaire Jim Ratcliffe seems intent on a major overhaul at Manchester United and is not afraid of causing discomfort to many as he begins internal “revamp” efforts.

The INEOS owner is planning comprehensive changes this summer – and not just head coach Erik ten Hag is at risk of being sacked. On Tuesday (May 28), an email sent to all employees not part of the scouting team or main squad indicated that Manchester United is encouraging staff to leave the club by offering an advance bonus payment.

Since billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s £1.3 billion investment, INEOS has been pushing for savings and has appointed corporate restructuring consultancy Interpath to explore cost-cutting measures across the club.

Ratcliffe is aiming to cut a large number of staff to streamline the organization, after the club reported a loss of £28.7 million in the latest financial report, despite achieving record revenues. It is estimated that up to 1/5 of the 1,100-strong workforce could leave as Manchester United seeks to save costs.

All employees not directly working for the football department received an email on Tuesday (May 28), and they have one week to decide if they want to quit by agreeing to “voluntarily resign.”

According to The Guardian, the email stated: “While many welcome our new approach, we know that some colleagues are not willing to commit to this new way of working and want to understand their options.

To accommodate this and respect each colleague’s right to choose their working style, we will allow those who wish to leave now to receive an early season bonus if they cannot work in our office from June 1.”

Man United asserts that this move is “not a voluntary redundancy program,” but the email inviting staff to leave early has caused division and made some feel unfavorably towards billionaire Jim Ratcliffe. This is not the first time the 71-year-old INEOS boss has shown a tough approach, willing to do whatever it takes to save costs.

Billionaire Ratcliffe has been firm with employees since the beginning of the month by ordering anyone still working from home to return to the office immediately “or find another job,” and demanding that Old Trafford and Carrington be cleaned up as some areas were deemed “a disgrace.”

Staff were also upset after being informed they would only receive one ticket each for the FA Cup Final and the club would not cover travel and food costs as in previous years. Employees have to pay £20 for a return coach ticket to Wembley and cover their own food and drinks at service stations.

According to Mail Sport, an additional 50 employees compared to last year declined tickets for the FA Cup Final because they were unhappy with INEOS’s cost-cutting measures.

Staff have to pay £20 for a return coach ticket to Wembley and cover their own food and drink costs. Mail Sport reported that an additional 50 employees compared to last year declined tickets for the FA Cup Final because many were unhappy with Ineos’s cost-cutting measures.