Sir Alex Ferguson was a notable absentee at Old Trafford as Manchester United hosted Brentford in the Premier League.
The legendary former manager’s non appearance comes after INEOS dropped him from his role as a club ambassador, which he had held since 2013.
The Red Devil’s new part-owners made the decision to end his contract, which paid the Scot around £2 million per year, at the end of the season as part of a wider cost cutting campaign.
In July Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s team informed Man Utd staff of their intention to make over 250 workers redundant in a move the club expect to save about £10m a year.
Additionally, they have senior executives have had their club credit cards revoked, free travel for staff to May’s FA Cup final against Manchester City was removed, and the club’s employee Christmas party has also been cancelled.
Removing Ferguson from his ambassadorial position has drawn the ire of former players such as Rio Ferdinand and Eric Cantona, who called the decision “totally scandalous”.
Ratcliffe informed the 82-year-old that the club are “no longer prepared” to continue paying him during a face-to-face meeting at Old Trafford and the split was said to be amicable.
Ferguson has been a regular at Man Utd games since retiring 11 years ago, but was not present for their meeting with Brentford on Saturday.
Why Alex Ferguson was absent at Old Trafford after leaving Man Utd role
BBC Sport claim that his absence has been “known about for a long time due to a prior engagement.”
Indeed, Ferguson was at Parkhead attending the clash between Celtic and Aberdeen, the club he managed prior to taking over at United in 1986.
📸 Former Aberdeen manager Sir Alex Ferguson watches on at Celtic Park.#WHPREM | #CELABE pic.twitter.com/XnsNwIeLK9
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