Debt-ridden Manchester United has discontinued free hot meals and soft drinks to their loyal workers' on match days as part of their cost cutting measures.
The Old Trafford workers now have to settle for a sarnie and tap water, and have been told that they would have to pay three pounds for match programmes, which they used to get for free.
“Everything at the club is now about how we can save money. Over the past year staff have noticed the penny pinching,” News of the World quoted a United insider, as saying.
“On match days we used to be given a meal from the kitchens and allowed soft drinks from the bars but that has now been stopped. Now we are only allowed tap water and a packed lunch of a sandwich, fruit and a sugary snack,” the insider added.
Earlier, it was revealed that the debts of Manchester United’s parent company, the Red Football Joint Venture Ltd, had swollen from 699 million pounds to 716.5 million pounds.
Several workers have also voiced strong discontent over the club’s methods to try and save money on lower-paid staff.
“It's stupid because the kitchens throw out huge amounts of uneaten food every weekend. Staff were also allowed to take home match programmes, but now they have to be surrendered,” the insider said.
“We were often allowed to keep some of the hospitality gifts people left behind like cufflinks, mugs and pens. Again they have to be surrendered and are all used again. Everyone who works for the club is a Manchester United fan and we all worry about what is happening to the club,” insider added.
