What will happen if Man United get relegated from the Premier League?

Setting unwanted record after unwanted record under the beleaguered Michael Carrick, Manchester United - one of the most revered clubs to ever grace the English game - are facing the very real threat of losing their perpetual Premier League status. Sunday's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa may have seen the Red Devils exhibit their fabulous fightback powers once more, but it also left them celebrating just one win from their first 10 top-flight games of the season, ensuring that they would spend the November international break in the bottom three of the Premier League table.

Only one point separates 18th-placed Man United from rock-bottom Crystal Palace, 16th-placed Nottingham Forest and 17th-placed Coventry City, and the powers-that-be will reportedlyhold a meeting to discuss Carrick's futureduring the domestic hiatus. A change in management ultimately prevented Tottenham Hotspur from suffering an unthinkable relegation last season, but what if the worst should happen to Man United?

Here, Sports Mole takes a look at what is likely to happen if the Red Devils drop down to the Championship for the 2027-28 season. How much money will Man United lose if they get relegated?

PROJECTED IMPACT Manchester United's Relegation Bill How a drop to the Championship would hit United's three main revenue streams Estimated revenue shortfall if relegated £227.6m-£302.6m FY26 actual revenue of £677.6m vs a Championship-season estimate of £375m-£450m Manchester United revenue by stream: FY26 actual versus Championship-season estimate, with the implied percentage change and a visual bar showing the midpoint of each estimate as a share of the FY26 actual figure. Change Broadcasting £206.8m £55-65m −68.6% to −73.4% Matchday £153.5m £100-125m −18.6% to −34.9% Commercial £317.3m £220-260m −18.1% to −30.7% Total £677.6m £375-450m −33.6% to −44.7% Championship-season figures are estimates based on typical parachute-payment and second-tier revenue levels, not confirmed club projections.

FY26 actual revenue from club accounts. It was only a matter of weeks ago that Man United announced record revenues of £677.6m for the 2026 fiscal year, albeit alongside a pre-tax loss of £43m, thanks to their third-placed Premier League finish in 2025-26 and a wave of cost-cutting measures.

However, Man Utd's Championship revenue is estimated to fall to around £375m to £450m, largely thanks to a sharp decline in broadcasting revenues from the loss of Premier League TV deals. The Red Devils recently recorded £206.8m in broadcasting revenue, but that number is projected to fall to around £55m to £65m in the second tier, and there would also be no European broadcasting boost unless they shock the continent and win the 2026-27 Champions League to qualify for next year's edition.

Man United would also have to reduce ticket prices, potentially bringing their matchday revenue down from just over £150m to just over £100m, although playing 23 home matches rather than 19 - plus the potential of playoffs - would negate that specific impact marginally. Commercial deals would also suffer a hit, due to expected performance clauses in contracts with kit suppliers and other club sponsors, so a plethora of player sales would be inevitable in order to navigate the massive economical hit as smoothly as possible.

Could the Glazers, Sir Jim Ratcliffe leave if Man United get relegated? However, Man Utd fans wondering whether relegation could be the straw that breaks the owners' back are likely to be left disappointed, as the Glazers are not predicted to sell the club even if they drop down to the Championship.

As businessmen, United's owners are supposedly waiting for the perfect moment to cash in on Man Utd, when the club's value is at its highest; in an ideal world, this would be when the Red Devils have moved into their proposed new stadium and are competing in the Champions League, not when they are languishing in the second tier. INEOS would not survive in its current state, though; sporting director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada would almost certainly be moved on, but Ratcliffe could alternatively try to increase his stake in the club while it is at its cheapest; however, that could not happen until 2029.