SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has replaced Manchester United's £100 staff Christmas bonus with a £40 M&S voucher in his latest money-saving move.
The British billionaire, 72, continues to cut costs in a drastic bid to balance the books at Old Trafford.
And employee morale undoubtedly took another hit when news of the changes to their Christmas gifts was announced.
As reported by The Telegraph, United usually gave their staff an extra £100 at Christmas when the Glazers were running the operation.
However, as the first anniversary of Ratcliffe's 27.7 percent takeover approaches on Christmas Eve, he is not feeling very generous over the festive period.
And the cash gift was exchanged for the gift voucher, to be spent at Marks & Spencer.
The PR self-defeat disaster sparked a wave of fan backlash on social media that took aim at the club's hierarchy.
One said: 'When people fondly reminisce about the Glazers, you know things are pretty grim.'
Another wrote: “Bizarre… but an extra £10,000 a week on a player wouldn't even flinch.”
A third joked: “Anyone started a gofundme to top up Man Utd's £40 M&S gift card?”
And one end user fumed: “SJR: the billionaire who cancels Manchester United Christmas parties and swaps £100 bonuses for £40 M&S vouchers. Who needs the Grinch when you've got Scrooge Jim.”
The tightening of the purse strings follows news emerging in October that Ratcliffe had canceled the United staff's traditional Christmas party.
Elsewhere, Ratcliffe made 250 redundancies in the summer, including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie.
Staff lunch boxes on match days were demolished, with suggestions that some workers even ate their food next to the toilet.
Ratcliffe's 'back to work' policy forced all employees back to the office – even though there isn't enough space, prompting the club to temporarily convert hospitality suites into offices between home games.
Private drivers and corporate credit cards for United's top brass were also axed, while staff had to pay for their transport to the FA Cup final, where they were given just one ticket each.
Fans have also been hit when the club decided to ditch discount tickets for pensioners and children, raising the minimum price for home tickets to £66, sparking angry protests outside Old Trafford.
There were also suggestions that Ratcliffe plans to halve the £40,000 annual budget given to the Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association.
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