'No one knows who will lose their jobs, it's sad'

STAFF STUNNED AS UNITED ANNOUNCE 250 REDUNDANCIES

- THOMAS GEORGE

MANCHESTER United have announced 250 members of staff will be made redundant.

The announcement came yesterday following a cost-cutting review instigated by the club's new coowner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who secured a minority stake in February.

As workers went about their business in the shadow of the Theatre of Dreams yesterday, the mood was a sombre one.

Ground staff carried goalposts while security personnel greeted tourists at the entrance to the club museum.

At first glance, all may seemed well but beneath the surface lingered a sense of anxiety and dread. One United employee said he had learned about the redundancies via email, but said the club had not specified which areas would be affected by the job losses.

"Maybe there is a surplus of staff but 250 seems excessive," he added. "It feels like finger-wagging at the lower staff.

"If you need to save money, maybe look at the dividends the owners are taking out."