Sir Jim Ratcliffe will close the staff canteen at Old Trafford and replace the free lunches currently on offer with fruit.
Manchester United’s largest single minority shareholder will also implement a similar move at United’s Carrington training base, with only players receiving lunch for free. Non-playing staff there will be offered soup and bread.
The news emerged before an all-staff meeting at Old Trafford’s Manchester Suite on Monday when, the Guardian understands, the club’s chief executive, Omar Berrada, confirmed the closure of the staff canteen and other key decisions, including confirmation that there will be more redundancies. No questions were taken at the briefing.
Other directives from Ratcliffe include moving some employees from Old Trafford to Carrington and reduced numbers at the club’s London office, with all of the executive to be based in Manchester, including Marc Armstrong, who started as chief business officer on Monday.
Bonuses will be paid at a reduced rate this year before changing to incentives predicated on the club’s on- and off-field performance. United’s sole charitable donations will be to Manchester United Foundation and Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association, with the £40,000 annual contribution to continue.
