Manchester United refuses to pay Alex Ferguson. And he does the right thing
Grigory Telingater October 15, 2024, 20:00 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
In case you forgot, he has worked as an ambassador for the club for the last 11 years.
On Tuesday morning the news appeared in the sports media: Manchester United were terminating Alex Ferguson’s contract. The legendary coach has worked as an ambassador for the club for the last 11 years. It seems like a lot of people only found out about this now, but oh well. There was immediate outrage on social media. Why is there money for failed signings and the wall next to the training ground, but not for the Manchester United legend? Let’s explain.
Alex Ferguson and Jim Ratcliffe
Photo: Getty Images
First of all, it should be noted that the news appeared in The Athletic, the most authoritative sports website in England. And there are important nuances that accompanied the news:
1. It is reported that Ferguson will remain a non-executive director of the Club. And he will continue to be invited to Manchester United matches.
2. According to The Athletic, the parties agreed everything peacefully.
3. Sky Sports and Adam Crafton (author of the original article in The Athletic) clarified that Ferguson will stop working as an ambassador only at the end of the season. That is, they warned him well in advance, more than six months in advance.
Alex Ferguson
Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images
Ferguson’s salary also matters. Newspaper reports put it in the millions of pounds. The only official description of Ferguson’s services as an ambassador can be seen in the club’s 2014 accounts under Related Party Transactions. On 17 October 2013, Manchester United indicated that the Scot had signed an agreement whereby he would become a global ambassador and receive £2.16 million for his services. El Athletic points out that this agreement lasted more than 10 years.
Alex Ferguson’s services to Manchester United are evident. Not only a club legend, but overall the coach with the most titles in British history. However, there are questions about how prepared he was to participate in ambassadorial activities at the age of 83. And furthermore, the salary reduction not only affects Ferguson, but also many other employees. The club announced its intention to lay off 250 people from the club structure.
Alex Ferguson
Photo: Neville Hopwood/Getty Images
And separately, about Manchester United’s spending. The fact that a wall is being built at the base at a cost of £230,000 is reported by The Sun and the Daily Mail. These sources should be treated with caution. The Manchester United base wall did indeed appear, judging by training photographs, but there is no confirmed information on its cost. There shouldn’t be many questions about the need for a wall, because it is normal for a top club to conduct training behind closed doors so that no one can spy on what combinations the team is playing.
Well, about Manchester United transfers. The new management is not responsible for Anthony or all the others who were bought out before 2024. It is naive to expect all transfers to be successful. This doesn’t happen to anyone. Like all big clubs, Manchester United is forced to pay many millions for players: that’s the market. And this doesn’t make Ferguson’s decision any more or less fair. It’s generally strange to look for a connection here. Respect for a great coach does not have a specific amount that the club is obliged to pay. Is £24 million over 11 years a lot or a little? Respect is not measured like that.
And in general, if you want to criticize Manchester United, the club gives many other reasons for this. You just need to open the nuclear submarine table.
And this is how the fans of another Manchester club live:
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