MAN United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been branded Scrooge after cutting funding for a charity that helps former players.
United previously donated £40,000 a year to the trust, which fears it will go bankrupt without the lifeline.
Supporters said it was a “kick in the teeth” after tycoon Sir Jim's £23 billion ticket price hike and a Christmas ban.
It follows a series of significant moves by Sir Jim, Britain's richest man, who is worth an estimated £23 billion.
The club had previously given an annual sum to the Association of Former Manchester United Players, which was founded in 1985 to help footballers from a bygone era who earned nothing like the megabucks of today's superstars.
Four events are held each year where ex-players can team up with others who have signed professional forms with the club but never played for the first team.
But when the charity contacted Old Trafford after two quarterly payments of £10,000 were missed, it was shocked to learn it plans to stop all funding as part of Sir Jim's cost-cutting efforts.
Trustee Jim Elms, 84, who played for United's youth team and reserves from 1957 to 1960, branded the move “ridiculous”. He said the charity “does so much good for the club for so little”, and has urged the club to reconsider this.
He told The Sun: “We have sent a letter to say we have not been paid. No one came out and told us, so we had to send another letter.
“Then we started hearing things that this would be the end of us.”
He told how United chief executive Omar Berrada called him just days before Christmas.
Jim, who played for an England youth team with Bobby Moore, said: “It didn't go so well.
“Omar was non-committal. He's going to meet us again in January, but he said he doesn't see it changing.
“He didn't seem to think we were a necessity.”
Jim, from Bramhall, Cheshire, added: “We've been running it since 1985.
“Keeping the old players together. Caring for those who could not afford the funeral.
“I just can't understand them myself. It's ridiculous.”
He added that each event was held in Old Trafford's Manchester suite, which they pay to rent out.
Its 300 members include former skipper Bryan Robson, Alex Stepney, Denis Law, Brian Kidd, Arthur Albiston, Frank Stapleton, Denis Irwin and Arthur Albiston.
Jim continued: “We give away around £10-20,000 to charities, mainly children's charities in the area. This year we received £20,000 but not the rest.”
He has written a follow-up letter to the CEO, telling him: “We are doing so much good for the MUFC name for so little. Please look again.”
The cuts were also condemned by Dan Coombs, editor at supporters group United In Focus.
He said: “After a summer in which United spent a net £101m and continue to pay incredibly high wages, the savings from this latest cut is a drop in the ocean and a kick in the teeth for many of the club's former greats .did not receive the excesses that today's footballers receive.”
A source added: “Everyone knows the club needs to save money, but some things just shouldn't be cut.
“Some of the players who benefit from this organization have never earned a cent from football and are not in the best financial circumstances.
“Sir Jim has made it clear that United need to save money, but this move makes him look like a Christmas Scrooge.”
Party demolished
The chemicals magnate, 72, has launched a ruthless cost-cutting drive since his minority takeover of the club was announced 12 months ago.
More than 250 employees have been made redundant, while management legend Sir Alex Ferguson's £2million-a-year ambassadorial role has been axed.
Staff also saw their traditional Christmas party scrapped and their bonuses reduced.
Employees no longer receive free tickets for the FA Cup Final and had to pay for their own transport to Wembley in May this year.
Ticket discounts for young people and people over 65 were also abolished.
A club source said United “highly appreciated” AFMUP's role in fostering relationships between former players and would continue to support events.
They added: “We are no longer able to make charitable donations to AFMUP while the club is suffering significant losses.
“Our focus is on returning the club to a sustainable financial footing so that we are in a position to invest in our priorities of achieving success on the pitch and renewing our infrastructure.”
The move comes at a turbulent time on the pitch, with new manager Ruben Amorim taking four defeats in his last five Premier League games.
There were protests from fans against the rise in ticket prices during last month's match against Everton at Old Trafford, with banners reading “Stop Exploiting Loyalty”.
A spokesperson for supporters group MUST said it was “insulting” to ask them to pay their “fair share” after decades of mismanagement.
He continued: “We did everything we were asked to do. We encouraged the players even despite the underperformance.”
But United have defended their cuts, saying: “We have focused on cost savings to put us on a stronger financial footing.”
Sir Jim has also insisted that 'hard choices' are needed. He added: “I want to have the freedom to buy really good footballers and not spend so much money on infrastructure.”
United were contacted for comment.
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