Kieran Maguire: Woodward has ‘snout in the trough’ after Man United behind-the-scenes news
Ed Woodward still has his “snout in the trough” despite the imminent appointment of Richard Arnold as Man United CEO.
That is the view of finance guru Kieran Maguire, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the 50-year-old chief executive-elect.
Sky Sports reported on Monday (20 December) that the Glazers are set to announce Arnold as CEO in the coming days.
He replaces the outgoing Woodward, who will remain on the Glazers’ payroll as a consultant.
Arnold’s title will be ‘chief executive’, however, and not ‘vice-chairman’ like his predecessor Woodward.
United’s share price, which is at its lowest in approximately 12 months, did not jump or fall when Sky Sports first reported the news.
Maguire claims that is because those in the know have seen Arnold’s appointment coming for some time.
“The markets have factored this in for months,” he told Football Insider correspondent Adam Williams.
“This has been an open secret behind the scenes. The fact that there was effectively no market response proves that they see Man United as a supertanker.
“You can go about changing the captain of the supertanker but that isn’t going to change its direction.
“Woodward is staying on as a consultant, so he has still got his snout in the trough, and it’s a big trough at executive level.”
United recently established a fan advisory board with the stated aim of giving supporters a voice at executive level.
The Red Devils are due to face Newcastle United on 27 December.
In other news, pundit suggest Ralf Rangnick set to “unleash” Man United academy graduates as Edinson Cavani exit “likely”.