Snub on ‘retired Ferguson’

When talking about emotions in English football, the Manchester United is always at the top of the list. It is a reference club in every sense. It has always been this way, respectful of its past, grateful to its legends, committed to the values ​​of football and proud of its historic city, which it never missed the opportunity to pay tribute. The various directives of the ‘red demons’ were indicated, over time, by their master. And that is why the disrespectful decision made by the new management team, led by its shareholder and co-owner, is so surprising. Jim Ratcliffeto recover the salary he received Sir Alex Ferguson as a club ambassador.

The reason for ending the financial commitment to the former Scottish coach who marked United’s most glorious years was the club’s new retrenchment policy. The new managers wanted to accommodate it in a new phase of economic challenges, centered on the ambitious challenge of building a new multipurpose stadium to replace the old one. Old Trafforda project that Ratcliffe boldly referred to as ‘the Wembley of the North’. Manchester United is playing this Saturday against Brentford, at Old Trafford, and there is no doubt that fans will be talking about ‘shunning’ or shunning the figure of Ferguson. And, just in case, a former club player just as important Eric Cantona He wants to warm the atmosphere.

Cantona, who won four league titles with Ferguson in the 1990s, has slammed what he considers a “scandalous” decision by Jim Ratcliffe and Omar Berrada, the new general manager, formerly of Manchester City. He appreciates it as a dismissal of a club legend. “Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do whatever he wants with the club until the day he dies,” Cantona posted on Instagram. “The lack of respect. This is an absolute scandal. Sir Alex Ferguson will be my boss for life! And I threw them all in a big bag of shit!” Outspoken and unruly, as the Frenchman always was in his playing days, he was marked for a penalty, after delivering a ‘kung fu’ kick to a Crystal Palace fan.

‘Ambassador’ and reference

Ferguson, 82, He has become a global ambassador for the club since ending his extraordinary 27-year spell as coach. He retired in May 2013. Has 13 titles from Premier League and two European Cupsthe Scot became the most successful manager in United’s history. For the role of institutional representation, he received an annual salary of 2.3 million pounds. His financial separation is the latest move by the Ineos group, which is spearheading United’s revival, to cut costs at a club that has posted losses for the last five consecutive seasons and is struggling to meet profit margins. and sustainability (PSR). Premier League.

Ratcliffe informed Ferguson of the decision in a face-to-face meeting last week. Source of United They commented that the matter was dealt with in a friendly manner and without acrimony. United did not make public comments. Ferguson has remained in retirement, discreet and away from the media spotlight, and is thought to miss Saturday’s Premier League clash against Brentford. He always reserved his seat in the box.

He misses the banks

In a recent interview with BBC Breakfast, one of his few media appearances, Ferguson revealed that he had never forgotten his coaching days: “Sometimes I miss it” said the emblematic Scottish coach, recalling as a rare retiree the memories of his more than two decades at the club, and enduring how the main enemy of the ‘blue’ part of the city, the City of Manchesternow exercises undisputed hegemony.

Ferguson also spoke about his fear of losing his memory after other club icons such as Bobby Charlton and Denis Law suffered from degenerative mental illnesses. He was shocked by the emotional blow he felt when he became a widower, after the death of his wife Cathy, a year ago, when they asked him what life was like and how he was dealing with these times, he answered: “Well, yes, I’ve been retired for 11 years, so “You have to find a way to adapt and survive.” One of them is to act as the image of the club, but that also ends. Ferguson expressed his sadness at seeing longtime friends and colleagues lose their jobs.

The North Stand at Old Trafford is now the Stand Sir Alex Fergusonbut little has changed at United’s former ‘palatial home’ since their glory days. The last major improvements were made in 2006 and the stadium entered a post-industrial decline that matched the team’s decline. The new co-owner’s vision is big and bold — “The Wembley of the North” — but to make it happen, he’s asking for the support of the city and public funds to make it possible, in addition to bidding of all kinds of adjustment.

Those worried Ferguson would remove, after eleven years, a working symbol, global ambassador and image of the club. The decision to end it, with coolness and little emotion, was recommended by an outside company, Interpath Advisory, a corporate restructuring firm. He was appointed in March by Ineos chiefs to see where the club could save money. Since then, United have cut 250 jobs, although Alex Ferguson’s, for what he represents, is not the most respected. ‘United style’. It will leave wounds. It is not another.