Ratcliffe’s whole PR when he was purchasing his shares in Manchester United was that he was a local lad, boyhood fan, and that he came from a working class background. 

But the truth it seems is that Ratcliffe is worse than the Glazers.  

Since he’s taken control of football operations all we’ve seen is the club trying to push the working class out, an insult to match going fans.

He’s already demoralised United’s non playing staff by slashing jobs and working conditions.  

He even sacked Sir Alex Ferguson from his ambassadorial role. 

Now he’s targeting former players.

Cutting of the annual 40K the club pays to the AFMUP will kill off the former players association if the funding is not restored. 

This is absolutely disgusting as the former players prepare to celebrate their 40th anniversary year 

Quoted in the Sun, trustee Jim Elms says: 

“We sent a ­letter to say we’ve not been paid. Nobody came out and told us so we had to send another letter.

“That’s when we started hearing things that it was going to be the end of us.”

The charity contacted Old Trafford after two quarterly payments of £10,000 failed to arrive. 

The former players are shocked to learn the club plans to end all funding as part of Sir Jim’s cost-cutting drive.

Elms, 84, who played for United’s youth team and reserves from 1957 to 1960, called the move “ridiculous”. 

He said the charity does “so much good for the club for so little” and is urging the club to reconsider.

Harry Gregg was one of the main drivers behind the AFMUP being established in 1985. And the organisation has been supported and encouraged by Sir Alex Ferguson ever since he was appointed manager in November 1986.

Among its 300 members are former skipper Bryan Robson, Alex Stepney, Denis Law, Brian Kidd, Paddy Crerand, Arthur Albiston, Frank Stapleton, Denis Irwin and David May.

- @JohnGubba