Joe
Manchester United’s academy has seen the departure of four long-serving staff members as part of ongoing job cuts within the club.
The staff, with a combined tenure exceeding 50 years, are leaving amid a broader redundancy program initiated by new owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
In June, Manchester United began notifying employees of potential redundancies, leading to individual consultations. Ratcliffe’s controversial decision to reduce the workforce is expected to impact around 250 employees, with many already having left the club.
The review of club operations revealed that United had the highest employee count in the Premier League, prompting the decision to cut nearly 20% of the workforce.
The academy has been particularly affected by the cuts, which aim to streamline operations and enhance the efficiency of the youth system. Despite the club’s stated goal to build a more agile and high-caliber staff, the changes have divided opinion among fans.
Among those departing are Neil Harris, the lead youth development phase coach who served at United for 21 years, and Stuart Leicester, who worked for 23 years as the lead coach on the Manchester United Schoolboy Scholarship Scheme (MANUSS). Both have played crucial roles in developing players such as Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, and Scott McTominay.
Also leaving are Chris Blackhouse, the foundation phase lead goalkeeping coach who joined in 2016, and Rich Ashcroft, the lead youth development phase coach who started in 2021 after joining from Rochdale.
