Man United ‘SCRAP awards dinner’ after dismal Premier League season – with coveted prizes to be handed out ‘on the pitch before final home game’

• Man United are guaranteed to finish in their lowest ever Premier League position
• Club chiefs worry an extravagant ceremony would be a bad look, claims report 
• LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Why Liverpool fans must not let Trent Alexander-Arnold row spoil their title party 

By DAVID KENT

Man United will not hold an end-of-season awards dinner this year, according to reports. 

In a tradition dating back more than a decade, Man United typically hand out prizes to their men’s, women’s, and academy team players at a black-tie soiree.

That includes the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year Award, previously won by Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs, and Roy Keane. It was won by Bruno Fernandes last season and is expected to be retained this year by the club captain.

But, according to The Times, Man United’s dismal Premier League season which has included 17 defeats and sees them just two places above the relegation spots in 16th, has convinced Old Trafford chiefs to forgo the gala event.

Instead, awards will be handed out on the pitch before the final Premier League match of the season, against Aston Villa.  

It is just the latest in a string of cutback measures from the Man United hierachy. Manager Ruben Amorim has reportedly stepped in to pay for 30 of his backroom staff and their families to attend next week’s Europa League final against Tottenham in Bilbao after the club refused to provide complementary tickets.

Bruno Fernandes is likely to win the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for a second year

Ruben Amorim’s side will end the campaign in their lowest position in Premier League history

Brazilian midfielder Casemiro poses with wife Anna Mariana at the 2023 awards ceremony

And, should Amorim’s side end the season on a high by lifting European silverware, the club will reportedly hold no open-top bus parade through Manchester but just a low-key barbeque at their training ground. 

It is not the first time Man United have decided to scrap their awards dinner. They did likewise last season when Erik ten Hag’s side finished eighth and after the 2021-22 season, when they finished sixth. 

The Red Devils have two league matches remaining but are already guaranteed to end the season in their lowest position in Premier League history. 

The report explains that Old Trafford’s decision-makers feel that throwing an extravagant event would be a bad look in a year in which the club have undergone an aggressive cost-cutting drive which has included reducing the number of staff from 1,100 to around 700. 

As with the decision not to plan a trophy parade, the club’s tight schedule has also seemingly been a factor. 

The entire first team will fly out on a post-season tour of Asia straight after their final game of the season. 

They play in Kuala Lumpur on May 28 before another game in Hong Kong on May 30 and then the players will need to report straight for international duty. 

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Man United ‘SCRAP awards dinner’ after dismal Premier League season – with coveted prizes to be handed out ‘on the pitch before final home game’

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