United Beyond Manchester

Manchester United has canceled its annual £40,000 donation to the Association of Former Manchester United Players as the next cost-cutting measure by Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The charity, founded in 1985, supports former players and academy members who earned little or nothing from football during less lucrative times. It includes former players such as Bryan Robson, Brian Kidd, and Dennis Irwin.

Previously, Ratcliffe cut 250 staff members, ended Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassadorship, and canceled the annual club Christmas party, among other penny-pinching actions. The latest cut of the donation money has led to fans describing Ratcliffe as “Scrooge.”

Jim Elms, a Trustee of the charity, told The Sun, “We sent a letter to say we’ve not been paid. Nobody came out and told us so we had to send another letter. That’s when we started hearing things that this was going to be the end of us.”

It’s one thing for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to cut costs. It’s a whole other issue for the £30 billion man to cut charitable work and end established traditions that destroy club morale and hurt former United players and academy members. Also, to do it without any notice is disgraceful, and the United part-owner deserves the criticism he is receiving.

While the AFMUP is urging the club to reconsider its position, another solution would be for Sir Jim Ratcliffe to pay out-of-pocket to keep the charity operating. Surely the man who just added to his stake in the club could pay out £40,000 to support former club players, right?

Either way, former Manchester United players deserve better, and the club or Ratcliffe needs to understand that this charity is valuable to the United community.

United Beyond Manchester is sponsoring a petition to try to force the club to reconsider its petition. If you want to get involved, sign here.