OLE FEARS AXE
Heavy defeat by Liverpool could spell end for United boss
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER fears that a heavy defeat in Manchester United’s next game at home to bitter rivals liverpool could put his job in jeopardy.
Solskjaer has described it as the ‘perfect game’ for United after the international break following the club’s worst start to a season in 30 years. however, it is understood the 46-year-old is concerned that executive vice-chairman ed Woodward will come under huge pressure to sack him if United lose heavily to table-topping liverpool at Old Trafford a week on Sunday. defeat by Newcastle on Sunday saw Solskjaer’s side drop into the bottom half of the Premier league, just two points off the relegation zone after eight games. liverpool, on the other hand, are on a run of 17 league wins in a row. United’s 3-1 defeat at anfield last december sealed Jose Mourinho’s fate, and an embarrassing repeat could put Solskjaer’s future in doubt. having replaced Mourinho as caretaker boss, the Norwegian was installed on a permanent basis in March, but has won only five of the 21 games
DARIO GRAdI — suspended by the FA three years ago — has finally stepped down from his role as Crewe’s director of football.
The League Two club announced the 78-year-old former manager’s departure in a statement yesterday.
Gradi has been suspended by the FA since 2016 in connection with the investigation into historic sexual abuse in football.
He denies any wrongdoing in regard to the activities of the jailed paedophile Barry Bennell, with whom he worked at Gresty Road.
A separate independent inquiry, carried out on behalf of Chelsea, concluded Gradi had information that may have stopped another serial abuser who worked as a scout at the London club during his time there.
According to the QC-led investigation, Gradi failed to report Eddie Heath in the 1970s when they were both at the club, after receiving a complaint that his co- worker — feared to have preyed on 25 victims — assaulted a boy in the showers.
Instead, he visited the boy’s parents and admitted he did not wish the matter to go any further. Heath would go on to abuse a number of other victims. Gradi was accused by Charles Geekie QC, who oversaw the inquiry, of providing ‘somewhat unlikely and unconvincing evidence’.
In a gushing statement, Crewe hailed Milan-born Gradi for his contribution to the club.
It read: ‘Crewe Alexandra would like to thank dario for his outstanding 36 years of service and are pleased to know that he would be happy to continue to assist the club’s senior coaching staff with his invaluable experience in the future.’
Cheshire Police are continuing to investigate 65-year- old Bennell, a former Crewe youth coach. He was jailed for 30 years last February and branded the ‘devil incarnate’ by a judge for abusing 12 boys.
However, a large number of other former players have come forward to say that they were abused by Bennell at Crewe and Manchester City — another of his former clubs.
detective Inspector Sarah Oliver said: ‘This is very much an ongoing investigation.’