MANCHESTER United are axing one of their reserve sides to cut down their playing staff ' a bombshell move that could save the Reds over '1m.
The Reds are quitting the Pontins Holidays League Division One (West) after only one season and a number of young Old Trafford hopeful's United careers will be shattered as the decks are cleared.
The club today also announced they are switching their FA Premier League reserve matches to Hyde United's Ewen Fields and away from Altrincham's Moss Lane.
'We made it clear when we went into the Pontins League this season that it was to cope with the number of professionals we had. But we don't anticipate the squad being as large next season," said United director of communications Phil Townsend.
United have several young professionals on their payroll out of contract in the summer and some of those will not be given new deals. The cull could see around half a dozen United reserves leaving.
Rich
In an ever-stricter financial environment in football even the richest club in the world have felt the squeeze and the Reds decided it wouldn't be viable to run two reserve sides anymore.
It could also put further question marks over the futures of seniors like Kleberson, Liam Miller and David Bellion, who have all featured in the reserve teams this campaign but have so far failed to make the breakthrough into Sir Alex Ferguson's first team.
The club announced losses last week in their half yearly report as profits dropped by 54 per cent to '12.4m from '26.8m, but they also revealed an increase in their playing staff wage bill by over five per cent.
While the salaries of the younger players expecting to be let go won't have a massive impact on United's budget, it's an indication that the club realise they are having to pull their wings in.
United lead the Pontins Holiday League by three points from Blackpool and losing the name of the club on the fixture next term will be a blow to local sides like Oldham, Macclesfield, Bury, Stockport and Rochdale who play in the division.
It will also be a major cash blow to Altrincham who have been hosting the Reds' Premier League reserve team.
Which players would you drop from the United set up? Have your say.
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I think that the idea of loaning our fledglings to other clubs, esp to those in the premiership, is a very good one. I was wondering why we hadn't done that earlier. Players like rossi, pique, blake, spector and martin are kinda too good for the reserves. They deserve a place in a premiership club.
I kinda support the idea of quitting the pontins league cos it's kinda tough to keep track the record of so many youngsters. However, i dun really see wad's the down side to that. I've heard that the club can save up on some cash by doing so. I think it would really be an insignficant amount anyway really.
If we just sell Zinedine the saving on his wages could be utilised to keep the young lads who now face having their dreams shattered.Who knows there might be a really gem amongst them.
What am I going to do with all my spare time now?
Get rid of P. Neville, Miller, Bellion, Richardson and you could probably raise about 5 to 6 million for those 4 players and if someone offered a good price for Silvestre or Brown (about 5 million) I wouldn't be sorry to see either go. The younger players who would otherwise be booted off should all be shipped out on loan to various levels of the league, their wages would be paid by those clubs and if they showed a talent then the club could retain them or eventually sell them on to lower league clubs instead of just releasing them for free.
The only problem I've had w/ SAF, aside from the goalkeeping issue, is that more of Utd.'s youngsters who don't get into the first team are not farmed out on loan to get much needed playing time. Watching the England U21 internationals over the last few days, Richardson seems to be really benefitting from his loan at West Brom. I'd like to see more of that for Utd.'s youngsters, as reserve team football just doesn't provide the same quality of experience.
Both my daughter and i are very disappointed that United are going to scrap playing their reserve games at Altrincham next season.
This is the only time that her and i get to go to the games together,not only that but she can get up close to the players for autographs and photos.
It is a safe family atmosphere with lots of regular families going who i am sure will all be as disappointed as us.
Yours sincerely Alan and Angela Parry
the richest club in the world !
odear odear odear. you have axed the ladys football team as well.tightning our belts are we a real sad sight the richest club in the world ha.when our malcom takes over you will have no money at all !
Fergie is like the old woman who lived in a shoe he has so many players he does not know what to do.Years of taking on too many young players from schoolboy upwards has now caught up with United.The majority of these players will be left on the scrap heap as clubs in the lower leagues will not take a chance on young inexperienced players.
How about looking at the "Who to Drop?" question the other way round. Who would you definately not sell?
My suggestions for a "Keep at any price" list is:
Ferdinand, Ronaldo, Rooney, Smith, Heinze. All the rest are either just past their best, or replaceable.
Miller, Kleberson, Bellion, Carroll, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy,
Fortune, Sylvestre
This desision will have terrible affect on poor old Altrincham they have only recently laid a new surface at Moss Lane, are United so short of money that they need to move to Hyde where they save a couple of hundred on ground hire fees,what a sorry state we are suddenly in!
How about offloading some of our first team squad instead? Miller, Bellion, Saha/Smith, P Neville, O'Shea could all go. I think Fortune is a solid squad player and I still hope Kleberson gets the chance he needs and finds his feet.
We should clear away a bit of dead-wood. PN is loyal and a good squad player but at 27-28 looks like he will never make the grade consistently. Kleberson is talented but has produced nothing - but also never really had the chance. Djemba is gone, Miller has done nothing but is young. O'Shea is young and sometimes does the business. I like Fortune but he too is injury prone, as is Wes. Richardson looks like he will probably fall short of the required grade. Bellion seems to have failed to step up so far and given Ronaldo and Rooney around probably never will at Utd. Tweetie is a good player but prone to brain-lapses. Howard has taken a lot of stick but i think he should stay. Cannot judge Ricardo as i have not seen enough but evn though he is a good keeper in general I don't trust Carroll enough to be no. 1.
As such Wes & Fortune should be on low salaries with an appearance bonus otherwise be sold as they are too expensive given their injury records. Caroll, Ricardo should definitely leave. In midfield we need improvement. Miller, O'Shea, Kleberson, Richardson ae all potential sales, if only to reduce wage bills. Personally I would like to see O'Shea given one more year and Kleberson given and injury-free half season but the others can go. Of course if Essien is affordable then any of the above can be sacrificed. Up front only Bellion should go now. I think Saha is an excellent player but always injured. One year for him to stake a real 1st team claim while Rossi gets stronger. Smith has been excellent since he came plus if some of the affore-mentioned are sold he can provide cover as an attacking, tenacious midfielder. As for Ruud .... sell him?? get real you clowns .... he is quite simply rusty from only playing a small number of games all season (still scored 12 though hasn't he). Ruud has the attitude of Ole, the strength of hughes and the finishing of .... well ...err ... Ruud.
Categories:
NOT FOR SALE AT ANY PRICE:
Ruud, Ronaldo, Rooney, Rio, Heinze, G Nev, Fletcher, Scholes, Smith,
COULD GO DEPENDING ON OFFERS/SITUATION/RETIREMENT:
Keane, Giggs, O'Shea, Fortune, Kleberson, Silvestre, Saha, Richardson
GET RID:
Bellion, Miller, Caroll, Ricardo,