LOS ANGELES, California — Jonny Evans said it has been “tough” to watch Manchester United staff lose their jobs as part of INEOS-led cuts.
Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is set to make 250 redundancies at Old Trafford in a bid to cut costs.
Several staff members were told their jobs were at risk in the days leading up to the club's pre-season tour of the United States and Evans, who has been linked with United since he was nine, said it had been a difficult period.
“A lot of people have lost their jobs in the last few weeks, it's been tough and difficult to watch,” Evans said.
“The new owners believe that this is the direction they want to take, but it has not been easy for everyone at the same time.
“There are people you've known for 20 years and I think the moment of that happened when we went on tour. So we were all a bit in the dark and I'm sure everything will be sorted out, things will be a bit clearer when we get back.”
Evans is in his second spell at United after coming through the academy and making his first-team debut as a 19-year-old in 2007.
His brother, Corry, played for United and his wife, Helen, works for the club's in-house television channel, MUTV.
His father, Jackie, also worked as a coach at the academy.
“It's been a tough thing to watch,” Evans said.
“I've known people for a long, long time. One of the things about working at a club like Manchester United is that you get involved as much as possible and everyone always has been, it's a huge team. But I think that's been the culture of the club.
“It's a club of such size and the staff is rotating, there are family members working there. My wife has been working at the club, my brother has been working at the club, my father has been working at the club.
“There's always been that feeling that people give everything they have for the club and that's a big credit to them. That's simply because they love the place so much.”
The dismissal process is expected to be completed next month.
Players and first-team staff have not been affected, but Evans said cuts have still been an issue in the dressing room while the team has been in the United States.
“Yes, of course,” he said.
“Some of the staff are here, they are friends, people they have worked with, colleagues for a long time and I'm sure they will feel that way, there's no doubt about that.”
