Manchester United to cut jobs, bonuses and free lunches to restore profits

LONDON – Manchester United will cut around 150 to 200 more jobs as part of an overhaul to return to profitability after five years of losses, the English Premier League club said on Feb 24.

The plan is in addition to 250 jobs removed in 2024, the club said.

United have been restructuring and cutting costs since British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe took a 28.94 per cent stake in 2024 and took charge of football operations to try to revive the team’s fortunes on the pitch. They have also increased ticket prices, despite a backlash from supporters.

In September, the 20-time English champions reported their fifth straight annual loss after they missed out on the lucrative Champions League football.

“We have lost money for the past five consecutive years. This cannot continue,” chief executive Omar Berrada said in a statement.

“Our two main priorities as a club are delivering success on the pitch for our fans and improving our facilities. We cannot invest in these objectives if we are continuously losing money.”

The restructuring plan includes an end to free lunches for staff in the Old Trafford canteen to save more than £1 million (S$1.7 million) a year, a source close to the club told Reuters.

Some staff will move from Old Trafford to the new training facility at Carrington near Manchester and all the club’s leadership will be based in Manchester, the source added.

Executive bonuses will be paid at a reduced rate in 2025 and then transition to a revised scheme based more firmly on the club’s football and financial performance.

The club’s charitable donations will be focused on Manchester United Foundation and Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association, the source said, and they are in talks with the former about the level of their contribution.

United will also stop donations to other charitable causes, the source also said. The foundation, which provides educational and community outreach programmes aimed at young people, raised £608,000 from season ticket holders and online donations in 2023-24, according to its website.

“At the end of this process, we will have a more lean, agile and financially sustainable football club,” Berrada said.

The Red Devils finished eighth in the league last season. The team currently sit in 15th place in the Premier League.

Last week, United admitted challenges after reporting an adjusted net loss of £6.2 million in the second quarter.

The shares, which have lost about 16 per cent so far in 2025, were up 0.5 per cent on Feb 24.

When Ratcliffe paid around £1.3 billion for a stake in the club, it was met with excitement by fans but that enthusiasm has ebbed away over the past 12 months after poor showings on the pitch. REUTERS, AFP