Manchester United ending Alex Ferguson’s role as club ambassador labelled ‘totally scandalous’ by club legends

It will be the end of an era for Premier League giants Manchester United at the end of the season with legendary former manager Alex Ferguson's role as club ambassador set to end next summer.

The 82-year-old, who helped United win a staggering 13 Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League twice, had been drawing a salary of £2 million ($2.6 million) a year as ambassador since bidding an emotional goodbye as manager in 2013.

United’s decision to end Ferguson’s ambassadorial role at the end of the ongoing season is part of the club’s wider cost-cutting measures, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS reportedly making 250 staff members redundant since becoming minority shareholders of the club in February this year.

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🚨 INEOS have decided to cut Sir Alex Ferguson’s multi-million-pound ambassadorial contract with Manchester United, reports @AdamCrafton_ on @TheAthleticFC.

Ferguson will remain a non-executive director at the club, still obviously welcome to attend Man United games. pic.twitter.com/4uOjJQZqwE

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 15, 2024

A report on The Associated Press, quoting a person who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that the decision was an “amicable” one and that Ferguson would “always be welcome at Old Trafford.” This despite the club’s latest directive that barred members of the Manchester United’s football board, Ferguson included, could no longer enter the players’ dressing room.

United’s decision to remove the iconic Scottish football manager though, has not been well-received by former players and fans.

Cantona, Ferdinand slam United’s ’totally scandalous’ decision

French footballer-turned-actor Eric Cantona for one isn’t happy with the club’s decision to terminate Ferguson’s ambassadorial contract.

The former forward, who represented the ‘Red Devils’ 143 times between 1992 and 1997 and was one of Ferguson’s best-ever signings, added that the Scotsman should be able to do “anything he wants” at United till his dying breath.

“Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies. Such a lack of respect. It’s totally scandalous. Sir Alex Ferguson will be my boss forever! And I throw them all in a big bag of s***!” Cantona wrote in a post on Instagram in which he shared a picture of himself with his former manager.

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand, who made more than 300 appearances during his 12 years at United between 2002 and 2014, added that “no one is safe” at the club if someone of Ferguson’s stature can be removed.

“If Sir Alex can be taken out, then NO ONE IS SAFE at Manchester United – anyone can get it now. Ineos sending a message to ANYONE at the club?!?” Ferdinand wrote on X on Tuesday.