Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson to leave club’s ambassador role
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Alex Ferguson (centre) attending the English Premier League match between Aston Villa and Manchester United in Birmingham on Oct 6.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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MANCHESTER – Manchester United’s most successful manager Alex Ferguson will step down as a global ambassador after the club’s part-owners Ineos ended his multi-million pound contract.
Ferguson, a familiar sight in the Old Trafford director’s box for years, signed an agreement with United in 2013 to be a club ambassador, receiving £2.16 million (S$3.7 million) a year.
The split was amicable, according to a team source who said it was one of a number of time-consuming responsibilities from which the 82-year-old was stepping back, and that he is always welcome at Old Trafford.
There have been job cuts virtually across the board at United as part of cost-saving measures at the club, who have been incurring losses for some time.
Ferguson, who will step down from his ambassadorial duties at the end of the season, led United to 38 trophies, including 13 English Premier League and two Champions League titles, before he retired from management in 2013.
United finished a worst-ever eighth in the Premier League last season, despite spending over £200 million on players in the close season.
They have splashed out about £600 million on new players since their under-fire Dutch manager Erik ten Hag took charge ahead of the 2022-23 season.
It is not known whether the cost-cutting will affect other United ambassadors, including former players Andy Cole, Park Ji-sung, Dwight Yorke, Denis Irwin and Bryan Robson.
Former United forward Eric Cantona called the decision “scandalous”, and former United defender and pundit Rio Ferdinand said “no one is safe” at the club.
“Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies. Such a lack of respect. It’s totally scandalous. Sir Alex Ferguson will be my boss forever!,” Cantona wrote on Instagram on Oct 15, ending his message with an expletive.
Ferdinand wrote on X: “If Sir Alex can be taken out, then NO ONE IS SAFE at Man United – anyone can get it now. Ineos sending a message to ANYONE at the club?!?”
Cantona and Ferdinand played under Ferguson during their time at the Old Trafford club.
Frenchman Cantona helped the club secure four Premier League titles in five years, while former England international Ferdinand won the Champions League and six Premier League titles.
Ineos founder Jim Ratcliffe said of Ferguson in February: “He was the first person I met when I went up there, which I think was the second week of January, and I had a meeting from 9am to 10am at his house and I left at 1pm. He never stopped. He’s got a lot of experience, a lot of stories to tell and a lot of thoughts about the club.”
In September, United posted losses of £113.2 million for the year ending June 30, 2024 – their fifth straight year of losses. However, the club said they are compliant with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
United have instigated a number of cost-saving measures, including a redundancy programme that cut about 250 jobs.
The Red Devils are 14th in the Premier League after a poor start to the season, with ten Hag under intense pressure ahead of the league game against Brentford on Oct 19. REUTERS, AFP
