Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Manchester United, Football
Nasir Jabbar
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been compared to a 'Christmas Scrooge' after CUTTING funding to a Manchester United player charity.
Man United co-owner Ratcliffe has made a series of ruthless cross-cutting measures and job redundancies since INEOS' arrival.
But the British billionaire's latest decision has angered many fans and critics alike, with the 72-year-old compared to a 'Scrooge'.
Ratcliffe has cut £40,000 annual funding to the Association of Former Manchester United Players (AFMUP), the charity has claimed.
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Man United previously gave £40,000 a year to the trust, which fears it will fold without the cash injection.
Trustee Jim Elms, who played for Man United's youth team and reserves from 1957 to 1960, called the move 'ridiculous' and has urged the club's chiefs to reconsider.
"We sent a letter to say we’ve not been paid. Nobody came out and told us so we had to send another letter," he told The Sun.
"That’s when we started hearing things that it was going to be the end of us."
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Elms explained how Man United's chief executive Omar Berrada called him just days before Christmas.
"It didn’t go too well," he added.
"Omar was non-committal. He’s going to meet us again in January but he said he couldn’t see it changing.
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"He didn’t seem to think that we were a necessity."
The 84-year-old continued: "We’ve ran it since 1985.
"Keeping the old players together. Looking after the ones that couldn’t pay for funerals.
“I just can’t understand them myself. It’s ridiculous."
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A source said: "Everyone knows the club needs to save money but some things just shouldn’t be cut.
"Some of the players who benefit from this organisation never earned a penny from football and aren’t in the best financial circumstances.
"Sir Jim has been clear that United need to save money, but this move has left him looking like a Christmas Scrooge."
Man United, however, state that they will continue to work with AFMUP on matters related to former players and support and participate in their events, club sources told SPORTbible.
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The club then defended their decision by explaining that their focus is putting the Red Devils back on a sustainable financial footing to achieve success on the pitch.