Woodward shows support for Red Devils boss Ole

ED Woodward has pledged his faith in Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as the Norwegian bids to get the club “back to the top of English football”.

United announced record revenues of £627.1million for the year ending June 30, 2019, up 6.3% from 12 months ago, with the new Champions League broadcasting deal swelling the figure.

However, their sixth-place Premier League finish last season saw them fail to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition, meaning turnover in 2020 is expected to drop to between £560m and £580m.

The Red Devils are already 10 points adrift of Liverpool after only six top-flight matches this term but Woodward set out a long-term vision.

United’s executive vice-chairman said on the club’s quarterly investors’ call: “We and our growing global fan-base demand success. Success means winning trophies. That target and that standard has never changed.

“The progress we’ve made on the business side underpins the continued investment in the football side.”

Despite a significant outlay on the likes of defenders Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka and winger Daniel James over the summer, United’s inability to replace striker Romelu Lukaku has been scrutinised.

The three additions and a number of first-team players signing new contracts means United’s wage bill reached an eye-watering £332.3m, an increase of £36.3m on the previous year and accounting for 53% of their turnover.