Sir Jim Ratcliffe slammed as ‘new Mike Ashley’ as he slashes Man Utd’s backroom staff

INEOS supremo Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to cut Manchester United's staff by 25 per cent - and football fans have joked he's the new Mike Ashley after the report

Football fans have slammed Sir Jim Ratcliffe as the new Mike Ashley as Manchester United announced cuts.

Sir Jim is set to slash United staff by 25 per cent as he continues his overhaul of the football club - with the news coming less than 24 hours after United agreed to pay around £8million in compensation to Dan Ashworth.

According to the Daily Mail, 250 of the Red Devils’ 1,100 workforce will be made redundant in the cost-cutting measures. And football fans have taken to social media to joke Sir Jim is the new Ashley.

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“Sir Jim Ashley,” and “Manc Ashley” were thrown around by Newcastle fans on X, formerly known as Twitter. While another added: “Jim is just Mike Ashley with bigger portfolio and Strava on his phone. Give it a year before they’re calling for Ineos out…”

“Can't convince me this guy isn't Mike Ashley,” a second said. While a third replied: “This is most definitely going to end in tears for them!”

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Ashley tried to cut costs when he took over Newcastle and its spiralling wage bill - in 2009, he cut around a third of the workforce. The ex-Newcastle owner sold the club in 2021, when they were taken over by the Saudi Arabian PIF group.

Ratcliffe is still in his early days following his minority takeover of the Red Devils.

He had hired one of the world's leading consultants to review a significant restructuring of the club's football operation after he believed United were overstaffed in several areas - and that the club would benefit from being more streamlined.