It seems we’re now even less likely to get another ‘Class of 92’, with reports suggesting Manchester United’s academy will become the victim of cuts from the club’s owners.
The departure of academy chief Brian McClair had already been felt, with suggestions his role would be split between two new recruits.
And now a significant 15 per cent budget cut has been ordered by the Glazer family, according to the Sunday Express.
The paper claims almost all areas of club operations will be hit by the measures, though the first-team squad will survive the crackdown as the push for Champions League football continues.
Since Louis van Gaal took over from David Moyes in the summer of 2014, the club has invested more than £200million on new players.
The response from Manchester United fans has been almost uniformly negative.
https://twitter.com/trevhrd/status/693758464984752128
How can the Glazers cut back budgets including the academy by 15% when the club is valued at £3 billion and one of the richest in the world?
— – (@IconicUtd) January 31, 2016
https://twitter.com/DatShoulderDrop/status/693793379608502272