“Completely unnecessary…” David Ornstein admits he’s stunned by “bizarre” Manchester United report

Famed transfer journalist David Ornstein has admitted he’s stunned by a “bizarre” decision reportedly set to be taken by Manchester United.

Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired 27.7% of Manchester United in December 2023, multiple drastic changes have been made at the club.

The British billionaire completely revamped the club’s board, with Omar Berrada joining as CEO, Dan Ashworth as sporting director, Jason Wilcox as technical director, as well as a host of other appointments.

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However, the biggest change yet has been in the managerial role, with Erik ten Hag making way for new head coach Rúben Amorim earlier this month.

Ten Hag has not been the only man to lose his job at United, with Ratcliffe also set to axe around 250 staff members in an effort to streamline costs.

Ornstein shocked at “bizarre” decision

With respect to streamlining outgoing costs, Ratcliffe and his INEOS team have taken several other drastic decisions, including axing former manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassadorial contract worth upwards of £2 million a year.

However, the latest reports from Mike Keegan of the Daily Mail have explained that United are also considering slashing the club’s £40,000-a-year payment to the club’s disabled supporters association, MUDSA, in half as a way to cut further costs.

Athletic writer and well-respected journalist David Ornstein has expressed his shock at the decision on Sky Sports’ Back Pages Podcast, pointing out that it has “terrible optics” for the club.

“Terrible optics, unfortunately, with this story,” he said. “No decision has been made, as Mike points out in the story, so they might not go through with it.

“But the fact they’re considering it doesn’t reflect well. It’s not going to play well toward the public, as it may do with investors. I think everything’s on the table – No stone being left unturned.”

He continued: “Sir Alex Ferguson’s lost his ambassadorial role at £2 million per year. I mean, this feels like peanuts. The amount Manchester United have spent on transfers that haven’t worked out, on contracts, on staff, managerial severance, it feels completely unnecessary.

“But times are tough financially at Old Trafford, and they’re looking at every sort of avenue. So this feels bizarre. And it’s one that they didn’t need publicly, but perhaps they feel privately it’s something they need to consider.”

As Ornstein mentioned, no final decision has been made, but considering the fact that the club would save just £20,000-a-year on the decision, it would be rather ridiculous to cut such vital funding to the disabled section of United’s fans.

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