Sir Jim Ratcliffe closes Old Trafford canteen and tells employees to eat fruit as cuts proceed

Manchester United’s chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe has continued to cut costs at Old Trafford by shutting down the canteen and limiting the menu at Carrington

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has continued to cut costs at Manchester United.

And the INEOS chief has now closed the staff canteen at Old Trafford – replacing the free lunches currently on offer with fruit.

The staff canteen at Old Trafford, which usually opens from 11.30am to 1.30pm, is expected to be shut down at the end of the week, according to The Guardian. Currently, employees are entitled to free hot meals and tea and coffee.

The cuts have also been extended to Carrington. And the INEOS chief’s latest attempts to slash the budget have seen him scrap lunch options for everybody but the first team to just soup and sandwiches.

Even coaches and analysts have been told they can only have the limited lunch menu, according to The Sun.

The latest reports come with with crucial team meeting taking place today (Monday, February 24). Daily Star Sport revealed last week how staff have been summoned to a meeting on Monday at 2.30pm to be told of the club’s plans to make more people jobless.

Ratcliffe has cautioned that United are now at serious risk of breaching the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, having been on thin ice in recent years.

The Red Devils have had to find ways to frantically cut costs.

INEOS’ chief also cancelled the club’s annual Christmas party, raised ticket prices and cut funding for a charity helping former players to try and cut costs.

The U18s team were even denied the chance to play at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup fifth round.

Traditionally, United would stage the clash at Old Trafford, but instead it was played at the 12,000-capacity Leigh Sports Village, saving the club a total of £8,000.

United declined to comment when approached by Daily Star Sport