- Former United boss opposed INEOS’ plans to end home working
- He would leave the club as part of Old Trafford’s restructuring.
- United to lay off a quarter of its workforce and cut up to 250 jobs
Manchester United’s former interim chief executive has reportedly opposed plans by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS to stop allowing staff to work from home.
Reports suggested Ratcliffe told United workers to go to the office or “seek alternative employment.”
The Red Devils co-owner wanted to abolish working from home as he sought to boost productivity levels behind the scenes, and the British billionaire aimed to transform the club from top to bottom, on and off the pitch.
However, the measure was not to everyone’s liking, as reported by the Athletic that former interim executive Patrick Stewart opposed the plans.
Stewart replaced previous chief executive Richard Arnold but, like his predecessor, became a victim of INEOS’s restructuring.
Former interim chief executive Patrick Stewart opposed plans to end home working at Old Trafford, ahead of leaving the club by mutual consent at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe wanted to make the change to increase productivity levels at the club.
Mail Sport reported in April that both Stewart and finance director Cliff Baty would resign by mutual consent at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Meanwhile, The Athletic’s report claimed that those who are not prepared to adapt to INEOS’ way of working typically push forward with the message: “Either you’re in it and you understand what the mission is or it’s not for you.”
At INEOS we are sceptical about working from home and are used to having “open plan offices, designed to encourage collaboration between colleagues”.
Ratcliffe is also said to have been unimpressed that some employees worked a 9/80 schedule, where staff worked 80 hours over nine working days and earned every Friday off.
Manchester United fly to Los Angeles on Wednesday for a pre-season tour of the United States, at a time when job cuts are expected.
Employees were told in a series of meetings on Tuesday which departments and individuals are under threat as part of a layoff process that will result in up to 250 job cuts.
Staff members who will no longer be touring because they risk losing their jobs are understood to have been told the news last week.
United are said to be trying to handle a difficult situation with as much empathy as possible, which was the message when interim chief executive Jean-Claude Blanc spoke at an all-staff meeting earlier this month to confirm the 250 job cuts.
Manchester United will fly to Los Angeles for their pre-season tour on Wednesday morning.
His trip comes amid an ongoing redundancy process led by new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
But it is inevitable that the mood around United has been badly affected by plans that could save up to £10m a year to invest in football operations and infrastructure.
Stewart joined United in 2006 and has been interim chief executive since Arnold stepped down in February, while Baty began working at Old Trafford in 2016. They were key figures in handling Ratcliffe’s £1.3bn investment, and the Ineos owner has paid tribute to both executives.
“I would like to personally thank Patrick and Cliff for their support in helping us get to know the club and making us feel welcome and I respect their decisions to move forward as we put a new management team in place for the club,” Ratcliffe said.
