Man Utd employee made redundant by Sir Jim Ratcliffe hits back with poignant message

Manchester United relieved performance analyst Steve Brown of his duties earlier this week as Sir Jim Ratcliffe oversees cost-cutting initiatives at the club. And Brown has now hit back at the businessman in an internet post.

Ratcliffe was handed the reins to take charge of United’s football operations after the Premier League ratified his deal to acquire a 27.7 per cent stake in the club for £1.25billion in February.

The 71-year-old is in the process of cutting 250 jobs - a quarter of the club’s workforce - following a thorough financial review.

And United have been warned against “losing the soul of the club” by Brown after the former employee took to LinkedIn to air his views.

“So after 23 years of loyal service, my time has come to leave Manchester United, not by choice but via a redundancy program. Not the way I had dreamed, but these things are sent to test us,” wrote the 52-year-old.

“I have enjoyed some of the most fantastic times, met absolute legends of the game, and been part (only a small part) of some legendary moments.”

Brown worked as a scouting administrator after initially being handed a job by Sir Alex Ferguson in February 2001. He then worked as first-team assistant analyst alongside a role as performance analyst of the reserves and under-18s for a decade between 2003 and 2013.

Brown moved to the academy department after Ferguson’s departure, with his final role coming as the club’s loans analyst. But he is now seeking alternative employment after adding: “Not sure what doors will open or what path to take at 52, but I will keep knocking on doors.

“I would like to think that my skill set is suitable for recruitment and would love to follow that route. Any ideas would be gratefully appreciated.”

And he sent out a stark warning to club chiefs as he ended his post by exclaiming: “I wish Manchester United all the best for the future. It has changed so much in 23 years, some good, some not so.

“Don’t lose the soul of the club to save a few quid. The people who were there made it such a special place, rich with history. Onward to the next chapter.”

United staff were reportedly informed during a series of meetings at the start of July about the redundancy process as they were told costs had risen to unacceptable levels. And Ratcliffe is said to be keen to reinvest any money saved to fund the club’s endeavours in the transfer market.