'He understands' - Sir Jim Ratcliffe makes bold Sir Alex Ferguson call in latest Man Utd cuts

Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson will officially step down from his role as Red Devils ambassador at the end of the season after an in person meeting at Old Trafford. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos have made a number of cost-cutting decisions since becoming minority investors back in February.

Two hundred and fifty staff have been made redundant since then, with time consuming responsibilities cited as the reason's behind Ferguson's 12-year stint as ambassador. It's a role the former Red Devils boss, who turns 83 in December, has held since retiring from the dugout back in 2013.

Sir Alex earned a reported £2.165million during his first eight months as a United ambassador after making the move upstairs. The Manchester Evening News understands the decision was entirely amicable and the Red Devils' legend will always be welcome at Old Trafford.

During a 26-and-a-half-year spell in the dugout, the Scot won 13 Premier League titles within 20 years. Winning five FA Cups, four League Cups, two Champions Leagues, the Club World Cup and a World Club Championship. The club renamed the north stand the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand in 2011, before unveiling a statue of the iconic boss outside the stand in 2012 with Sir Alex Ferguson Way opened adjacent to the stadium in 2013.

Speaking back in February, Ratcliffe said of Sir Alex: “He was the first person I met when I went up there which I think was the second week of January and I had a meeting from 9am to 10am at his house and I left at 1pm. He never stopped. He's got a lot of experience, a lot of stories to tell and a lot of thoughts about the club.

“I don't think he has been encouraged to get involved but he is still very thoughtful about the club and he has an immense amount of