“It’s been difficult to see”: Jonny Evans opens up on Manchester United staff cuts | OneFootball

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has opened up on the ongoing staff cuts and admitted that it’s been hard on him and his teammates.

Earlier this month, it emerged that United were keen on a club-wide redundancy programme that would see about 250 employees made redundant.

Some of these members of staff learned their fate in a series of meetings the day before Erik ten Hag’s men jetted off to Los Angeles for their pre-season tour.

It’s understood that others who were set to be part of the travelling contingent to the US were stood down a week earlier.

The process is part of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’ efforts to reduce operational costs at Old Trafford and ensure that United are in compliance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Evans – who has a long association with United having spent 18 years at the club after joining when he was nine, and then returned to the club last summer aged 35 – spoke to reporters (via The Telegraph) and expressed his sadness at the current state of affairs.

Evans’ father served as an academy coach at United while his brother Corry came through the ranks at the club before he left for Hull City in 2011.

The veteran defender also met his wife Helen while she was working for MUTV.

The United star said, “I think they’ve [INEOS] got an idea of how they want the structure but as someone who’s been at the club a long time – [even though] I had a spell away – a lot of people have lost their jobs this last couple of weeks and it’s been hard and difficult to see.”

“The new owners feel that’s the direction that they want to go. But, you know, it’s not been easy for everyone at the same time.”

“I mean, there’s people you’ve known for 20 years and I think the timing of it happened when we came away on tour pretty much. So we were all a bit in the dark and I’m sure everything will be sorted out, things will be a bit more clear when we get back.”

“But it’s been a difficult thing to see – people I’ve known for a long, long time. One thing about working in a club like Man United, you’re all in and everyone’s always been all in, it’s a massive staff. But I think that’s just been the culture of the club.”

The 36-year-old added, “For a club of such a huge size and the staff turn over, you have family members working there. People [who work there] are married and my wife has been working at the club, my brother has been at the club, my dad’s been at the club.”

“So it’s always had that feeling of people giving everything they have for the club and it’s such a huge credit to them. That’s just because they love the place so much.”

Evans explained that the players have always had a connection with the staff and the relationship built over the years has been instrumental in setting the club culture.

When asked whether his teammates have been discussing the impending changes, the North Ireland international responded affirmatively and indicated that there’s no doubt they’ve also been affected.

Evans further stated about Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, “They’ve been very approachable and are always trying to make conversations, and I’m sure they want to make connections with the players too.”

“There’s sort of so much upheaval at the club at the minute and they’re still getting their foot in the door … I’m sure they want to put their own protocols in place and ways of doing things. So there’s a lot of things to be sorted still.”

Evans and United return to action on Thursday when they take on La Liga side Real Betis in yet another pre-season friendly.

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