Sir Alex Ferguson seen for first time since axe as Man Utd ambassador as he dines with former member of staff

SIR ALEX FERGUSON has been spotted for the first time since having his £2million-a-year salary cut by Manchester United.

New Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is currently on a major cost-cutting spree at Old Trafford.

PASir Alex Ferguson has been removed from his lucrative ambassadorial role at Manchester United[/caption]

GETTYRed Devils co-owner is on a major cost-cutting spree at Old Trafford and removed Fergie from the £2million-a-year role[/caption]

EAMONN AND JAMES CLARKEFergie didn’t seem to be down in the dumps as he left the plush Cheshire restaurant on Tuesday night[/caption]

EAMONN AND JAMES CLARKEFergie, 82, stopped to take a selfie with a giddy United fan[/caption]

And the INEOS chief has made the decision to remove legendary club manager Fergie from his lucrative ambassadorial role.

But the Scot didn’t look down in the dumps about losing the job as he was spotted leaving a plush restaurant on Tuesday night.

The 82-year-old looked chipper as he left the Cibo Restaurant in Cheshire’s plush Hale Village.

He even took the time to take a selfie with a United fan who spotted him outside of the eatery.

Fergie, who is understood to have been at the Italian eatery with one of United’s kit men, got into a black Mercedes after taking the snap.

Fergie has had the role – which paid him £2.16m a year – since October 2013 – five months after he retired from management.

He will, however, act as a non-executive member of the board and be permitted to attend games.

Ratcliffe’s decision to remove Fergie from his ambassadorial role has stunned the Old Trafford faithful.

Several Red Devils supporters have accused the billionaire of showing “disrespect” to the club’s legendary manager, who will cease to be paid by the club at the end of the season.

And that view is shared by Fergie’s former player Eric Cantona.

The Frenchman wrote on Instgram: ” Sir Alex Ferguson should be able to do anything he wants at the club until the day he dies.

“Such a lack of respect. It’s totally scandalous.

“Sir Alex Ferguson will be my boss forever! And I throw them all in a big bag of s***!”

Former Red Devils defender Rio Ferdinand also chimed in on the shock decision.

He wrote on X: “If Sir Alex can be taken out, then NO ONE IS SAFE at Man Utd – anyone can get it now.

“Ineos sending a message to ANYONE at the club?!?”

Manchester United will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, welcoming Brentford to the Theatre of Dreams.

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..

The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.