Ed Woodward is in talks to take on a consultancy role at Manchester United when his eight-year tenure as club chief ends next month – in blow to section of support who blame him for struggles since Sir Alex Ferguson left
- Ed Woodward is leaving his role at Manchester United at the end of the year
- Woodward has been the executive vice-chairman at Old Trafford for eight years
- However, he could return to the club in a consultancy role when called upon
- Woodward has come in for severe criticism for his role in the club’s struggles
Ed Woodward is in talks over taking a consultancy role at Manchester United following his departure.
Sportsmail understands that discussions are ongoing over what would be a controversial move that would see the departing executive – set to leave at the end of next month – retain some form of influence at the turmoiled club.
Such a development may not go down well with sections of United’s support, who blame Woodward for United’s struggles since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Ed Woodward could remain on Manchester United’s payroll – this time in a consultancy role
Woodward is due to leave as executive vice chairman next month but could find another role
Since then, the fallen giants have failed to win a Premier League title and have slipped behind the likes of rivals City, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Saturday’s 2-0 derby humbling, which followed a 5-0 thumping at the hands of Liverpool on their last outing at an increasingly restless Old Trafford left under-pressure Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men nine points behind leaders Chelsea in sixth – and level on points with Brighton and Hove Albion.
Woodward has come in for severe criticism for his role in the club’s struggles and should the executive vice chairman remain in the fold, albeit in a limited capacity, it could be viewed as a controversial move by the owners, the Glazer family.
He has been blamed by a lot of United fans as the reason for their struggles over the years
Insiders say it is commonplace when chief executives leave a company to strike an agreement which allows the firm to call upon their knowledge if required. Should Woodward take a role, it is likely that it would be on that basis, rather than a position that would see him working extensively at the club on an ongoing basis.
Woodward played a key role in the Glazer’s leveraged buyout in 2005 and has been in his current role since 2012.
A successor is yet to be named although current managing director and Woodward ally Richard Arnold has been strongly linked with the post.
Richard Arnold (left) has been strongly linked with succeeding him as executive vice chairman
Advertisement
