Six years ago, those opposing Sir Jim's cost-cutting at the billionaire's sports teams protested across the stands. They wore a Sir Jim mask and a pair of horns, along with Devil-like incense teeth.
Since then, the richest man in the UK has been known for his thrift. Up to now, that habit has not changed and he is fully implementing it at Man United.
Sir Jim and his colleagues at INEOS have managed Man United for about 12 months. The recent past has witnessed a series of bad records set on the pitch. Along with that, fans also saw Sir Jim tightening his management at Old Trafford more than ever.
Earlier this week, Man United's staff received bad news that from now on, there will be no more free lunches. How to eat for staff at Carrington will be announced from now until the end of the season.
According to calculations, cutting this lunch will help the club save about 1 million pounds. At other teams, having a light lunch for staff is normal, but at a team described as "of world stature" like Man United, it will no longer be there.
According to Manchester evening News, the team's professional situation is currently very low. Another incident of having employees' lunch cut, everything is being likened to a disaster.
In the drastic cut at Man United, Sir Jim and his management team will release more personnel. Over the past 12 months, the team has cut 250 personnel globally and will soon be about 100 - 200 people. This would put a maximum of about 450 United employees out of work in just over a year of taking over by INEOS.
"We are extremely sorry for our colleagues who have lost their jobs at this time. However, the club have no other choice at this difficult time. It is the only way to stabilize the financial situation" - CEO Omar Berrada shared.
INEOS is very strict in perfecting personnel. They only add people when it is really necessary or that person brings in a tangible value that can be exchanged.
All of Sir Jim's cuts at Man United have always been compared by fans to the salaries of useless stars. The 2024 Christmas budget estimated at £250,000 was also cut, it was not even as high as Marcus Rashford's once-week salary at that time. Therefore, the anger increased, from within the team.
Therefore, saving 1 million pounds does not have much financial significance. Even in the opposite direction, it is considered the exhaustion of Sir Jim, losing the image of the club. They spent hundreds of millions of pounds on useless stars but felt 1 million pounds on the staff who were left behind after the recent forced dismissal.
Sir Jim and his team have laid off hundreds of people but cannot ensure minimum working conditions for those who remain. So will there be a storm that will explode within Old Trafford and Carrington in the near future?
For those who stay, how many people want to continue to be associated with Man United? Worse, how many people want to apply to work at the "biggest team in the world" as advertised in the media?
