Jim Elms, a trustee of the Association of Former Manchester United Players (AFMUP), has criticized the club’s decision to cut funding as “disgraceful” and shared details of his conversation with Omar Berrada. This decision is part of a series of cost-cutting measures by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, which included ending the club’s £40,000-a-year contribution to AFMUP, a charity that supports former players from earlier times before the Premier League’s financial boom. Elms spoke to Berrada over the phone two weeks ago, during which the United chief executive explained that they were not providing any further funding at this time. He mentioned, “I don’t foresee any changes, but I’ll call you in January to update you.” “I was pursuing the funds (before I realized the funding had been reduced) and they kept apologizing, saying they couldn’t send it.” They mentioned that they were incurring losses. Elms elaborated on the important services the charity provides for former players and their families. “We assist with their household expenses, and if a player passes away, we support their wives and families,” he mentioned. A club source stated that United “greatly values” the efforts of AFMUP in fostering connections between former players and intends to keep collaborating with them by supporting their events and being involved in their activities. The choice to eliminate the £40,000 annual funding was due to the club’s ongoing substantial losses. The source mentioned, “We are concentrating on restoring the club’s financial stability so that we can invest in our main goals of achieving success in competitions and upgrading our infrastructure.”
