Finance guru shreds Man United after £3.1m Woodward update
Man United should have shown greater transparency about the manner and timescale of Ed Woodward’s departure.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the controversial Old Trafford figure.
Woodward was chief executive at United for over nine years and was pilloried by fans for prioritising profits over sporting success.
He was replaced at the helm by Richard Arnold at the start of February and moved into a consultancy role.
But per The Times last Friday (28 February), Woodward is still on the board and will receive his £3.1million CEO salary until the end of the season.
Plumley insists that the Red Devils should have been straight with supporters about the lack of a clean break from the Woodward era.
“With a little bit of digging, you can find out what’s going on here,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“They probably haven’t deliberately tried to hide it but they’re not trying to promote it either. The lines are a little bit blurred.
“I’m always one for more transparency in terms of how clubs interact with their fans. To the average fan, it might upset them a little bit.
“I also think Ed Woodward’s biggest critics might have been aware of the situation beforehand.”
Arnold was recently forced to cancel United’s £8m-a-season deal with Russian airline Aeroflot in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Red Devils posted a £5m shortfall in their Q2 accounts.
In other news, pundit issues verdict on Man United axing Harry Maguire permanently after decision made.