Legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly had to step in to protect the privileges of Sir Matt Busby’s family at Old Trafford.
United’s owners have seen a swirl of negativity develop around the club as of late with a plethora of unpopular choices being made.
They have been publicly lambasted for a hike in matchday ticket prices and they have been also widely characterised as targeting the defenceless at the club, laying off 250 members of staff in the name of cost-cutting but spending millions on compensation for coaches and managers.
The mood around the club is said to be rock bottom as a culture of fear has developed amongst the United staff.
What’s more, Sir Alex Ferguson was informed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe earlier in the season that he will lose his £2.1m-a-year contract as a club ambassador.
Adding to the bad publicity, The Daily Mail report that Ferguson had to step in “to make sure the family of legendary Manchester United manager Sir Matt Busby have kept their privileges at Old Trafford.”
Busby died in 1994 but members of his family have always had complimentary season tickets in the Sir Bobby Charlton stand with lounge access, to mark the vital role the Scot played in United’s history.
“It’s understood that the seats were moved to a different area of the stand as part of a restructure in the summer” but the Busbys’ lost their hospitality table and were left concerned by the poor communication with the club on this matter.
“Ferguson intervened and spoke to United’s chief executive Omar Berrada and chief operating officer Collette Roche to ensure the family were taken care of” and that they maintained their ability to access the directors’ bar during matches.
Sources at the club claim that there was never any intention to remove the family’s privileges but once again the optics don’t look good for Ineos.
There is said to be concern at Old Trafford for Ratcliffe and Ineos’ lack of regard for traditions at the club despite the owner growing up close to the stadium and as a fan of the team.
The British billionaire has recently given an interview where he defended some of the tough decisions his company have made to attempt to return the club from mediocrity, but it seems he is walking a fine line and is already losing a lot of the goodwill from fans that he had at the start of the year.
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
