SIR JIM RATCLIFFE has replaced Manchester United's £100 staff Christmas bonus with a £40 M&S voucher in his latest money-saving measure.
The British billionaire, 72, continues to cut costs in a drastic attempt to balance the books at Old Trafford.
And morale among employees no doubt took another hit when news of the changes to their Christmas gifts was announced.
As reported by The Telegraph, when the Glazers ran the operation, United usually gave their staff at Christmas an extra £100.
However, as the first anniversary of Ratcliffe's 27.7 per cent takeover on Christmas Eve approaches, he is not feeling very generous during the festive season.
And the cash gift was swapped out for the gift card to spend at Marks & Spencer.
The PR own goal disaster prompted a wave of reaction from fans on social media hitting out at the club's hierarchy.
One said: "When people are reminiscing fondly about the Glazers, you know things are properly grim."
Another wrote: "Bizarre… yet an extra £10k a week on a player wouldn’t even be flinched at."
A third joked: "Anyone started a gofundme to top up the Man Utd's £40 M&S gift voucher?"
And a final user fumed: "SJR: The billionaire who cancels Christmas parties at Manchester United 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 that broke in October that Ratcliffe had cancelled the traditional United staff Christmas party.
Elsewhere, Ratcliffe made 250 redundancies in the summer including popular media man John Allen, historian Cliff Butler and kitman Alex Wylie.
Matchday staff lunchboxes were scrapped, with suggestions that some workers even ate their food next to the toilet.
Ratcliffe's "back to work" policy forced all employees back into the office - even though there is not enough space, prompting the club to fork out to temporarily convert hospitality suites into offices between home matches.
Private chauffeurs and company credit cards for the United top brass were also cut while staff had to pay for their transport to the FA Cup final, where they were only given one ticket each.
Fans have been hit, too, with the club deciding to ditch concessions tickets for pensioners and children, raising the minimum home ticket price to £66 - sparking furious protests outside Old Trafford.
There were also suggestions Ratcliffe plans to half the £40,000 annual budget given to the Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association.
