Ineos has made an important decision about Sir Alex Ferguson’s role at Manchester United. Ferguson, the club’s most successful manager, will step down as a United ambassador at the end of this season, a move tied to Ineos’ cost-cutting measures since they invested in the club earlier this year. His final appearance as an ambassador comes as United seeks to break their winless streak when they face Brentford at Old Trafford this weekend. United, currently ranked 14th in the Premier League, extended their winless run to five games after a goalless draw against Aston Villa last week.
Off the field, Ferguson was recently seen meeting with senior United officials, likely to discuss his future. Ineos’ owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, took a minority stake in United in February, gaining control over football operations, but has implemented strict cost-reduction strategies, resulting in staff layoffs. Ferguson’s ambassadorial role, which he took up after retiring as manager in 2013, is another casualty of these financial cuts.
Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag is facing mounting pressure after a poor start to the season, with five games without a win. Former United first-team coach Benni McCarthy defended Ten Hag, praising his relentless work ethic, saying the Dutchman often works late into the night. McCarthy expressed frustration that Ten Hag’s hard work hasn’t yet translated into success on the pitch.
In other news, Jadon Sancho’s admiration for Edin Terzic, who is rumored to be a potential replacement for Ten Hag, has resurfaced. Despite Ten Hag still being supported for now, speculation about potential successors like Terzic and Thomas Tuchel remains, with Tuchel also being linked to the vacant England managerial position. Ten Hag faces the challenge of fixing United’s issues while dealing with an injury crisis, particularly at left-back.
The upcoming Brentford match will be critical, as Ten Hag looks to get United back to winning ways amid the growing uncertainty surrounding his future.
