Quote:MANCHESTER UNITED'S problems have spread from the pitch to behind the scenes with the owners the Glazers demanding cuts of 15 per cent in most departments.

Despite the club’s value spiralling to around the £3billion mark and sponsorship deals flooding in the axe has been sharpened by the controversial Florida based family.

While they continue to take money out of the club – it’s estimated that £15million a year is transferred into the various family banks – the Glazers are insisting on their employees cutting back, ordering that budgets be trimmed.

The only area to survive the cut backs is Louis van Gaal’s first team squad who have their own problems, a lack of entertainment and little sign of any likely silverware.

At least Friday night’s FA Cup victory at Championship promotion chasing Derby County has given the under pressure Van Gaal valuable breathing space.

But surprisingly for a club which has enjoyed a tradition of producing a conveyer belt of young talent, the youth academy hasn’t escaped the red pen of the Old Trafford bean counters.

The class of ’92 provided the bedrock of much of the success under Sir Alex Ferguson but the academy like other areas of the club is being asked to reduce their costs by 15 per cent.

That has caused consternation and instability with United yet to replace academy director Brian McClair who left to take a job with the Scottish FA last May.

The scouting system has also been drastically reduced to save money – something which Ferguson painstakingly built up after arriving as manager and being appalled at the absence of a credible youth policy.

United are unable to compete with the bigger and more lucrative contracts on offer for aspiring young players at clubs like neighbours Manchester City and Everton.

The decision to cut costs throughout Old Trafford has undermined spirit in many departments and contributed to the sense of a crisis gripping the famous club.

(12-10-2022, 11:40 AM)Noucamp99 Wrote: Not good news:

Britain's richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe says the Glazer family told him they do not want to sell Manchester United - but he is still interested in buying a Premier League club.

Ratcliffe, 69, was unsuccessful in his bid to buy Chelsea in May.

The billionaire, whose Ineos group owns Nice in France and Swiss club Lausanne, met brothers Joel and Avram Glazer.

"It is owned by the six children of the father and they don't want to sell," Ratcliffe said.

He told told a Financial Times Live conference: "I met Joel and Avram and they are the nicest people. They are proper gentlemen.

"If it had been for sale in the summer, yes, we would probably have had a go following on from the Chelsea thing.

"But we can't sit around hoping that one day Manchester United will become available."

United have been owned by the Glazer family since 2005.