According to The Telegraph, several respected and long-tenured coaches at Manchester United might lose their positions due to a significant cost-cutting initiative. Earlier reports indicated that INEOS chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe plans to cut around 250 jobs, equating to over 20% of the workforce. This news has come as a severe blow to the staff, who had been anticipating potential cuts since Interpath Advisory was brought in by Ratcliffe in March to evaluate all business, operational, and employee costs.
The revelation that several long-serving academy coaches might be affected has particularly shocked many at Carrington. Among those at risk are Stuart Leicester and Neil Harris, both of whom have dedicated over two decades to Manchester United. Additionally, academy coaches Chris Sims, Rick Ashcroft, and Chris Backhouse are believed to be in jeopardy. Graham Buckingham, who has been with the club for 34 years and recently received an outstanding staff award, is also facing redundancy.
The academy has been a cornerstone of United’s success, consistently producing talented players such as Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo, who are now key members of Erik ten Hag’s team. The potential loss of these key academy staff raises concerns about the future development of young players at the club.
This wave of job cuts is part of a broader effort by Ratcliffe and his INEOS team to streamline operations and reduce costs. While many non-football staff had been expecting such measures, the impact on the academy has been especially hard-hitting, given the significant contributions of the coaches involved. The potential loss of these experienced and respected coaches marks a challenging period for the club’s youth setup.