Members of the INEOS group overseeing Manchester United are reportedly frustrated with the constant references to Sir Alex Ferguson’s successful tenure. Ferguson, who managed the club for 26 years until 2013, led United to an unparalleled 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles.
Following his retirement, Ferguson served as a global ambassador for the club until his £2.16 million-a-year role was terminated last October amid cost-cutting measures implemented by INEOS CEO Sir Jim Ratcliffe. This decision came shortly after INEOS laid off 250 staff members, with an additional 200 positions potentially at risk in an upcoming round of redundancies.
As INEOS strives to restore Manchester United’s on-field success while also improving financial stability, the club currently faces debts exceeding £500 million to various lenders and over £400 million owed to other clubs for player transfers. Significant cuts are anticipated in the scouting department, shifting towards a data-driven approach that contrasts sharply with Ferguson’s traditional methods.
According to The Mirror, INEOS director of sport Sir Dave Brailsford and his team have grown weary of hearing about Ferguson’s dominance in English football during the 1990s and 2000s. Some executives even attribute United’s stagnation since Ferguson’s departure to his reluctance to adapt to modern coaching and scouting practices.
An insider shared with The Mirror: “INEOS wants nothing to do with the past. They don’t want to hear how things were done when United were winning titles and won’t accept that lessons can be learned from Ferguson’s era.”
Despite no longer holding his ambassadorial role, Ferguson remains a non-executive director at the club and was present at Goodison Park during Saturday’s match, where United managed to draw 2-2 against Everton after trailing 2-0.
David Moyes, who succeeded Ferguson in 2013 but was dismissed less than a year later, continues to be a point of reference for the club’s struggles post-Ferguson. Since his retirement, Manchester United has not added to their Premier League title count, securing only two FA Cups, two EFL Cups, two Community Shields, and one Europa League title.
Current manager Ruben Amorim is the tenth individual to take charge since Ferguson’s departure. Following Saturday’s match—Amorim’s 22nd game in charge—he expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s performance despite their comeback. “We need to win three points… We’re losing the ball without pressure and not executing what we need to do,” he stated.
Amorim acknowledged the need for improvement and consistency moving forward as United currently sits 15th in the Premier League table, far from their former glory.