Sir Alex Ferguson showed true colours after Man Utd’s brutal decision amid huge outcry

Sir Alex Ferguson’s ambassadorial role with Manchester United was ended last October and the iconic manager had a telling reaction to the controversial decision

Sir Alex Ferguson had a telling reaction to his Manchester United ambassadorial role being axed last year. The decision was made as part of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting measures and was criticised heavily.

Ineos chief Ratcliffe opened up last week about his 24 months at Old Trafford, having purchased a near 30 per cent stake in the club from the Glazer family in 2023. He addressed the financial scaleback that became synonymous with his early reign and saw iconic manager Ferguson’s role end.

After he stepped down from his trophy-laden spell as United manager in 2013, Ferguson was retained and paid a multi-million-pound annual contract as a club ambassador. Ratcliffe opted to end this agreement, enraging ex-United players, but Ferguson’s reaction said a lot.

Sources at the club stated 12 months ago that the decision to axe him was taken as part of cuts that saw around 250 employees lose their jobs.

But it was said that Ferguson himself received the news amicably and did not harbour any ill regard towards Ratcliffe for the decision, showing his class. It was reiterated that he would always be welcome at the club where he won 13 Premier League titles.

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It was also reported, originally by The Athletic, that this decision was presented to Ferguson face-to-face during a meeting with the United board. He accepted this axing without any rebuttal.

But while Fergie didn’t take issue with his role ending, some of those who once played under the Scottish manager did. Dwight Yorke exclusively told the Mirror: “I was as surprised as everyone else.

“We are going through a change at the football club from top to bottom. Everyone is looking over their shoulder at the moment. It is not really a fitting way to treat someone who has done so much for the football club, his contribution is unprecedented. They have been so successful for such a long time, the only people who know what is going on are those people who have just come in.

“I am not sure if everyone will be in agreement with the changes, but this will raise a few eyebrows. If they can do that to someone like Sir Alex Ferguson, then I suppose everyone is on a tightrope.”

Yorke was not the only one to blast the club’s hierarchy for their cost-cutting decision. Fans were up in arms about the call, and so was United legend Eric Cantona.

“Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies,” posted Cantona on Instagram. “Such a lack of respect. It’s totally scandalous. Sir Alex Ferguson will be my boss forever! And I throw them all in a big bag of s***!”

Ex-United defender Rio Ferdinand also had his say, posting to X: “If Sir Alex can be taken out, then NO ONE IS SAFE at Man Utd – anyone can get it now. Ineos sending a message to ANYONE at the club?!?”

Speaking on The Business podcast, Ratcliffe reflected on his time in Manchester and doubled down on his decision to cut costs, despite the apparent backlash it caused. He said: “The costs were just too high.

“There are some fantastic people at Manchester United, but there was also a level of mediocrity and it had become bloated. I got a lot of flak for the free lunches, but no one’s ever given me a free lunch.”

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