Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

Manchester United

sportsmole.co.uk, 19 February 2025, 15:32
Manchester United paid a compensation bill of £14.5m to former head coach Erik ten Hag, his coaching team and ex-sporting director Dan Ashworth, as revealed by the club's quarterly accounts.

Ten Hag was widely expected to lose his job as manager at the end of last season, but his success in the FA Cup, which secured qualification for the 2024-25 Europa League, led to him remaining at the helm.

The Dutchman was ultimately sacked in October, though, and he was followed out of the door by Ashworth in December despite the Englishman only arriving as part of a revamp over the summer.

The second quarter fiscal period accounts were submitted to the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, and the huge compensation fees were revealed, being listed under 'Exceptional Items'.

"Exceptional items for the quarter were a cost of £14.5m. This relates to costs associated with the departure of former men's first team manager Erik ten Hag and various members of football staff," said the club.

Sacking Ten Hag, coaching staff, Ashworth cost Man United £14.5m

Broadcasting venue has dropped by 42.1% due to the team's absence from the Champions league, and the club will also not be playing in Europe's elite competition next term unless they win the 2024-25 Europa League.

"We recognise the challenges in improving our men's team's league position and we are all working hard, collectively, to achieve that. At the same time, we are pleased to have progressed to the knock-out phase of the UEFA Europa League and the fifth Round of the FA Cup," said Man United chief executive Omar Berrada.

"Meanwhile, our women's team is currently placed second in the Women's Super League, and has reached the quarterfinals of the FA Cup.

"Our redevelopment of the Carrington Training Complex remains on track. We continue to work towards a decision on the future of Old Trafford as part of a wider regeneration programme, which has now attracted UK Government support.

"This follows the work of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force in demonstrating the significant economic potential of a revitalised area around a future stadium project."

Will Man United have money to spend this summer?

Man United head coach Ruben Amorim has not been shy in revealing the club's situation, with the Red Devils needing to move players on in order to buy during this summer's transfer window.

Two new signings arrived in January, with Patrick Dorgu making the move from Lecce, while Ayden Heaven arrived from Arsenal, but the club decided against improving their attack despite allowing Antony and Marcus Rashford to leave on loan.

It is expected to be a summer of huge change for the Red Devils, with Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans set to leave on free transfers, while Casemiro, Rashford, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund are among those who could be sold.

Due to the rules surrounding profit and sustainability, serious offers for Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho would also be considered, with Man United facing a number of difficult decisions heading into the summer market.

Man United Supporters' Trust address latest figures

A spokesperson for the Manchester United Supporters' Trust said: "United has amongst the highest revenues in world football and yet we see huge financial problems in these results, driven by £19m in debt interest payments (over six months), mismanagement including paying £14.5m compensation to a manager only given a new contract a few months earlier, a disastrous record in player trading over the last decade, and now dreadful performances on the field making matters worse with every league place we fall costing a further £4m in prize money.

"In this context, it is clear that ticket prices at United are plainly not the problem with the recent £66 changes raising less than £2m. This shows big increases in prices would be futile and counterproductive, making only a trivial difference to the financial challenge whilst hugely harming fan sentiment and worsening the mood in the ground which inevitably feeds through to even worse team performances.

"Fans should not pay the price for a problem that starts with our crippling debt interest payments and is exacerbated by a decade or more of mismanagement. It's time to freeze ticket prices and allow everyone - players, management, owners and fans - to get behind United and restore this club to where it belongs."

The Red Devils will be bidding to bounce back from successive Premier League losses to Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur when they head to Everton in England's top flight on Saturday afternoon.

Written by

Matt Law

Show more

Top News

18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk For the first time in the CONCACAF Nations League, Canada and Mexico will face each other, with a spot in the final at stake on Thursday at SoFi Stadium. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In the first semi-final of the 2024-25 CONCACAF Nations League, the reigning three-time champions, the USA, host Panama on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in California. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On Thursday Jordan will look to climb into a top two position when they host Palestine at Amman International Stadium on matchday seven of the World Cup 2026 qualification cycle for both teams. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly prepared to step up their pursuit of Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen over the international break. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly included Victor Osimhen on a four-man striker shortlist for the summer transfer window. 18 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town have reportedly been impressed by Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland but could face competition from Sunderland for his signature. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The first international break of the year will see Liberia take on Tunisia at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex this Wednesday in the fifth round of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifiers. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The first clash in this international break's double-header sees the Central African Republic face Madagascar at Larbi Zaouli Stadium in neutral Morocco on Wednesday in the fifth round of the CAF 2026 World Cup qualifying series. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly prepared to consider selling Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz as it emerges they have seemingly made contact with Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak. 17 March 2025 talksport.com A Bulgarian first division team held a minute's silence for a former player... only to later discover he's still alive. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Lionel Messi has been omitted from Argentina's squad list for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil. 17 March 2025 talksport.com After some backlash to his claims that he's the greatest player of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo has some support in the opposition dugout. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reigning European champions Barcelona Women will head to Germany for Wednesday's Women's Champions League clash against Wolfsburg Women. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Just a few days after they face off in the Women's League Cup final, Manchester City Women will lock horns with Chelsea Women in the first leg of the Women's Champions League quarter-finals. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman has left the club, the Premier League side have announced. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany is a "big fan" of Oscar Bobb and is delighted to see the youngster edging closer to a first-team return after being "robbed of a year" due to injury. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool should prioritise Virgil van Dijk's contract renewal over Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, former Reds striker Emile Heskey has told Sports Mole. 17 March 2025 talksport.com The first major question surrounding Thomas Tuchel as England manager has been answered. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is allegedly attracting interest from another Premier League club. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal's Bukayo Saka is reportedly targeting a long-awaited return from a hamstring injury in time for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Real Madrid. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly identified another two potential replacements for head coach Ange Postecoglou. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Robbie Fowler is hopeful Trent Alexander-Arnold will remain at Liverpool this summer. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool allegedly have plans to entertain offers for at least one of their regular attacking players during the summer transfer window. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that the performance of Omar Marmoush against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend has sent a "slight warning" to his out-of-form teammate Phil Foden. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool should be pursuing Newcastle's Alexander Isak, regardless of Mohamed Salah's future at Anfield. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The elusive quadruple that Liverpool fans are still pining for remains out of sight for now, but come the sunshine of May, Arne Slot and his crop will surely be proudly parading their Premier League trophy. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Sergio Ramos' cheeky post on social media proved he is well aware of his reputation for being a red card magnet. 17 March 2025 talksport.com Simon Jordan dubbed Martin Keown a 'clown' during a furious clash over Liverpool and Arsenal's trophy hopes live on talkSPORT. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are likely to at least resolve the contract situations of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in the coming months, Reds expert David Lynch has claimed. 17 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly already decided whether they intend to sign Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho on a permanent basis.