Man Utd training ground 'turns toxic' after Sir Jim Ratcliffe rattles Carrington staff

The atmosphere at Manchester United’s Carrington training complex has reportedly turned ‘toxic’ after a brutal email Sir Jim Ratcliffe sent to staff last week. Ratcliffe called out untidy premises following a tour of the facilities.

The INEOS chief was particularly unhappy with the apparent cleanliness of the IT department and two academy dressing rooms. He said that the levels of untidiness would not be acceptable at INEOS – a petrochemicals company.

“I am afraid I was struck in many places by a high degree of untidiness,” Ratcliffe is reportedly to have written in an all-staff email.

“In particular the IT department which frankly was a disgrace and the dressing rooms of the U18 and U21 [teams] were not much better.”

According to the Sun, the email has not gone down well among staff, with one source reportedly claiming that the atmosphere is now ‘toxic’. The IT department in question is reportedly staffed largely by young individuals who feel ‘scapegoated’ for a problem that transcends their work. IT staff are claimed to be on the bottom end of the club’s pay grade and do relatively ‘menial’ tasks, the report continues.

There could be similar upset within the academy, where staff are more familiar with praise over their development of young players. Striker Rhys Wheatley recently became the 250th academy graduate to make their senior debut for United. The club’s academy has saved the Red Devils millions of pounds in transfer fees over the years.

Ratcliffe is trying to shake up the club’s culture in a bid to return success to Old Trafford. Staff who worked from home have been told to return to offices in Manchester or London.

Individuals who protested the decision were reportedly told by Ratcliffe: “If you don’t like it, please seek alternative employment.”

Austerity measures designed to save money for a major spend on playing resources have seen staff stripped of their usual benefits for the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester City. where staff would usually have been afforded free travel and tickets for friends and family, they have been told to pay for their trip to Wembley, including food.

The report continues that Ratcliffe labelled United’s museum “crap” in a move that is unlikely to go down well with the people who founded and maintain the space. Staff, of whom 1,000 are reportedly fearing for their jobs, were initially said to have been given a ‘bounce’ by INEOS’s £1.3billion takeover but that feeling has now dissipated.