Success on pitch ‘top priority’ insists departing Woodward
ED Woodward insists success on the pitch is United’s ‘top priority’ despite their delay in sacking beleaguered manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
The Reds have lost four of their last six Premier League matches, including the 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool and a 2-0 schooling by City, conceding 12 goals in the defeats.
Although United are top of Champions League Group F, they are level on points with Villarreal and can’t afford to lose to the Spaniards when the sides meet in Spain next week.
The Reds’ were eliminated from the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle by West Ham in September as part of what has been a disappointing start to the campaign.
Despite the dire form of just five wins from 11 league games, United have resisted sacking Solskjaer but M.E.N. Sport understands high-ranking figures have privately accepted a change of manager will be required. Solskjaer could still cling on until the end of the season, when Woodward will have vacated his post as executive vice-chairman. He tendered his resignation in April following his support for the doomed Super League concept. Woodward was quoted yesterday in United’s financial results for the first quarter, in which the club posted an increase in revenue by 16 per cent up to £126.5m - due to the return of matchgoers to Old Trafford.
In a statement attached to the results, Woodward said: “While these financial results demonstrate our resilience through the pandemic, our top priority is success on the pitch.
“The manager, players and everyone at the club are determined to achieve that objective.”
United’s net debt is down slightly to £439.7m while £17.4m was recouped from the transfer of Daniel James to Leeds United, as well as the sell-on fee from Romelu Lukaku’s move from Inter Milan to Chelsea.
The 23pc increase in wages to £88.5m is a consequence of the signings of Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo.
United have chosen to host halfyear and full-year conference calls, so will not run through specific statistics surrounding the seismic re-signing of Ronaldo on transfer deadline day in August.
United have confirmed they will make dividend payments to their shareholders in January – the majority being paid to the six Glazer family members who hold shares in the club.