Next we’ll cut the MUSTARD

SIR JIM: I WAS SAVAGED FOR SCRAPPING FREE LUNCHES BUT BRUTAL SAVINGS WILL PUT UNITED BACK AT TOP TABLE

- BY DAVID MCDONNELL

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has defended his brutal cost-cutting measures at Manchester United and said they were needed to cut out “mediocrity”.

Ratcliffe has presided over a huge raft of cuts since spending £1bn to acquire a 27.7 per cent shareholding in February 20, 2024.

The billionaire INEOS chief has overseen the culling of up to 450 jobs, as well as stopping the policy of free meals for club staff.

Defending his decisions, Ratcliffe said: “The costs were just too high.

“There are some fantastic people here, 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.”