The Financial Gamble: Why Manchester United Can't Afford to Sack Erik ten Hag Just Yet
Manchester United faces a huge £17 million payout fee if they sack Erik ten Hag, with financial and FFP concerns playing a key role in their decision to keep him as manager for now.
According to reports, Manchester United’s board is in a serious dilemma regarding manager Erik ten Hag’s future. Ten Hag’s job is in serious risk after leading the Red Devils to their lowest-ever Premier League result last season and finding it difficult to get his expensive squad to play consistently this season. The club have not sacked the Dutchman despite all the pressure. The primary reason for this hesitation is tied to financial implications, particularly in light of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.
According to reports from Football Insider, Manchester United would have to pay a huge £17 million to sack Ten Hag. Ten Hag took a large backroom staff with him to the club, and this amount covers both his payout and their compensation. Former Everton Coach Keith Wyness believes that letting Ten Hag hire so many people was a mistake, as now the club would have to pay a lot of money to let them all go.
This financial burden is making the club hesitant. If they sack Ten Hag, it could push them close to breaking FFP rules, which could lead to limits on how much they can spend on new players in future transfer windows.
The club is worried that paying out £17 million to let go of Ten Hag could have consequences beyond just the payout. FFP rules mean that clubs can’t spend more than they earn, and paying off Ten Hag could make it harder for the club to spend on new signings. This is one reason why Manchester United’s board, including chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Dan Ashworth, are reluctant to take immediate action.
Despite the team’s struggles, some major decision-makers at Manchester United still think that Ten Hag should be given more time to turn things around for the better. During a recent meeting in London, some members of the club’s executive board suggested that it might be time to replace Ten Hag. However, Berrada and Ashworth think that after supporting him with new signings over the summer, it’s too soon to sack him.
That said, Ten Hag knows that if the team’s performances don’t improve, his job could be in serious danger. The club’s poor form has already led to internal discussions about his future, but for now, the cost of firing him has given him more time.
Although Ten Hag’s future has been the subject of a lot of discussion, it is thought that one Manchester United player may have saved his job. Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund gave United a 2-1 victory over Brentford after a poor first half. This win moved the team up to 11th place in the Premier League standing.
Chris Sutton, a former English professional footballer, feels that Jonny Evans was key part in ensuring the victory, even if Garnacho and Hojlund received praise for their goals. Evans helped United maintain control of the game by playing excellent defense. Sutton stated live on BBC Radio Five Live., “Brentford barely had a shot in the second half… Jonny Evans has been a rock at the back for Man Utd.”
Evans’ great performance contributed to the team’s improvement in the second half, which might have contributed to Ten Hag’s present stay at the club. Sutton said that United would save their season if they can continue to play with this level of energy. For now, Ten Hag has the backing of some key decision makers at the club, but he knows that results must improve for him to continue at his job.
