Successful Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will step down from his ambassadorial role at the end of the season.
Since retiring as manager in 2013, the 82-year-old has acted as global ambassador and director of the club and has regularly attended matches each year.
Manchester United no longer want to pay Ferguson
The club says United’s most successful manager will still be welcome at matches, even if he leaves the post. The decision was made following a direct conversation between the Scot and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe last week.
Ferguson has been paid several million pounds by United since taking the job and now that Ratcliffe is looking to cut the club’s costs in order to invest more money into the team, there was always an option to cut ties with the iconic Scottish manager.
Last month, United announced a net loss of £113m. More than 250 staff have been made redundant, which could save the club more than £10 million a year. With the team in 14th position and without a title since Ferguson’s retirement, this could come in handy in the upcoming transfer market to help strengthen the squad. The decision to fire the Scottish coach still caused a stir. Eric Cantona, for example, stepped up to denounce this scandalous treatment.
