Sir Alex Ferguson, the legendary former manager of Manchester United, has had his lucrative role as a global ambassador for the club terminated as part of a brutal financial overhaul led by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
The Brutal Financial Decision
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the football world, Manchester United ended Sir Alex Ferguson's £2 million-a-year contract as a global club ambassador in October 2024. The decision was taken by part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS leadership team in a bid to dramatically reduce the club's overall spending.
Ratcliffe reportedly handled the termination of the long-standing agreement in person during an amicable meeting with the 84-year-old Scot. Despite being understandably "grumpy" about the decision, Sir Alex is said to have accepted it with characteristic class, demonstrating his continued dedication to the long-term health of the club he managed for 27 glorious years.
Backlash from Legends and Wider Fallout
The cost-cutting measure has provoked intense criticism from some of the club's most iconic former players. Eric Cantona labelled the move "totally scandalous," while former England defender Rio Ferdinand issued a stark warning, suggesting that if the club's greatest manager is not safe, then no employee's position is secure.
Ratcliffe has defended these aggressive financial strategies, stating that United's operational costs had become unsustainably high. He believes such difficult choices are essential to move the club away from a recent history of what he terms "dumb money" and poor investment.
The removal of Ferguson's paid role is not an isolated incident. It forms part of a much larger redundancy programme that has seen approximately 250 employees lose their jobs as INEOS seeks to streamline operations and ensure every department contributes efficiently to on-pitch success.
Ferguson's Future and a Club in Transition
Despite the loss of his formal ambassadorial salary, Sir Alex Ferguson will retain his position as a non-executive director on the club's board. He remains a regular and supportive presence at matches at Old Trafford.
Under the new INEOS management, United are undergoing a complete top-to-bottom transformation of their footballing and scouting operations. This radical process includes replacing key executives and overhauling a recruitment policy that has been heavily criticised for years.
While some fear the club is losing its traditional identity and heart, others argue these ruthless changes are a necessary evil to end a prolonged period of mediocrity. The new leadership is unequivocally focused on building a modern, high-performance environment capable of challenging for the game's major trophies once again.
