'Blundering' Man United chiefs have made another gruesome mistake - Ex-PL CEO

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Man United have “clumsily handled” the end of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure as a global ambassador for the club.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted Sir Jim Ratcliffe and United chiefs “blundered in” and made it clear that the termination was “only about saving money”.

The Athletic first reported on 15 October that Man United’s part-owner INEOS ended the 82-year-old’s ambassadorial contract, which it claims was worth £2.16million a year.

The move has come at a time when the English giants are making up to 250 members of staff redundant as part of a determination to slash costs and scrap some “non-essential“ activities.

However, in a new twist – reports have suggested Gary Neville has recently been representing the club in India in a freelance ambassador position.

Neville is on United’s stadium task force and has grown closer to the new regime despite his critical views about the club’s on-pitch performance while working as a broadcaster.

Man United slammed for ‘clumsy’ Ferguson termination

Wyness insisted he will remain “highly critical” of Ratcliffe because the ending of Ferguson’s contract “could’ve been handled so much better”.

He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It was something like £2million a year, a deal he has had for several years now.

“I’m trying to make my mind up on this.

“If you’re going to be sacking 250 staff, stopping lunches for casual staff – why is it right to pay Sir Alex £2million?

“On the other hand, having him available for sponsor lunches and to talk to parents of kids about to sign as an ambassador is valuable.

“He still has great value.

“The big thing was for INEOS to say he isn’t allowed in the dressing room any more, even though he’s still a non-executive director.

“Overall, I think it could have been handled so much better.

“I’ve been highly critical of Ratcliffe and I’ll continue because Sir Alex could have taken a back step himself considering his age and health.

“That would have been the way to reduce his fees, but they’ve blundered in and it’s clear that it is only about saving money.

“I don’t think it’s a fitting way to bring an end to Sir Alex’s affiliation with the club. It’s been clumsily handled.”

In other news, Man United plan to accept winger offer.

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