Manchester United`s esteemed writer, Wayne Barton, has spoken about the challenges he is facing as he prepares to launch his new and deeply personal book, following his redundancy by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Wayne Barton, a celebrated author of 20 books, has been lauded by prominent figures at United, including former chairman Martin Edwards, who recognized him as the club`s “pre-eminent writer.”
Barton has a significant history with Manchester United, having served as an editorial consultant for the club from January 2023 until recently.
He described himself as “one of the statistics” affected by the second wave of job cuts initiated by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the minority shareholder of the Red Devils.
Barton shared his “heartbreak” on social media upon announcing his dismissal, acknowledging other staff members who were also made redundant.
As he gears up for the release of his latest book, “Football, Taught By Matt Busby” on Thursday, he confessed on social media to being in a “low place.”
He mentioned that the past six weeks have been “heartbreaking” and expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support from his readers.
In a tweet, Barton wrote about feeling “in a low place” on the eve of his book launch, a project deeply personal to him.
He explained that he hasn`t fully processed the events of the last six weeks and feels “heartbroken” and “damaged in confidence.” He also expressed concern about self-promotion of his book during this sensitive time.
Barton apologized in advance for any self-promotion and requested patience, reminding readers of the human element behind the promotion, as he is currently “struggling with different things.”
He concluded by expressing immense gratitude for the positive aspects of his life, including the support he receives, the privilege of being published, and many other blessings. Thank you.”
Last summer, Manchester United underwent a significant restructuring, resulting in 250 staff redundancies as part of cost-saving measures under Ratcliffe.
This recent round of cuts saw between 150 and 200 positions eliminated as part of the club`s ongoing transformation plan, which also included changes to staff benefits.
