Ed Woodward to step down as Manchester United’s Vice Chairman

Ed Woodward is set to step down as Manchester United’s Chief Executive at the end of 2021 following the controversy surrounding the European Super League proposal.

It was reportedly due to be announced at the end of this current campaign following eight years in his role, but it is understood that the 49-year-old played a significant role in the build up to the widely unpopular Super League announcement this past Sunday, so confirmation of his resignation was subsequently brought forward.  Plans for this league proposed by United and 11 other ‘leading European clubs’ have now been called off. 

Woodward’s association with the Red Devils began in 2005 when he helped the Malcolm Glazer buy the club as an adviser. He then took charge of United’s commercial and media activities in 2007 before being named executive vice-chairman in 2013, replacing David Gill. 

The vice-chairman has come under increased scrutiny in recent years over the perceived failings of United in the transfer market. 

During his tenure managers David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho had all reportedly had issues with Woodward following his failed pursuits of the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Leighton Baines and Gareth Bale. Van Gaal even went as far as describing him as ‘an evil genius’. To address this the club has recently undergone a restructure by appointing John Murtough as football director and Darren Fletcher as technical director.   

In addition, the Glazer family’s ownership has always been a contentious among United’s fan base. Speaking on Sky’s Monday Night Football regarding his old club’s current owners and inclusion in the European Super League, Gary Neville said: 

“They have stepped over the mark. They are scavengers and need booting out of this football club and booting out of this country. We have got to come together. It might be too late, there’ll be people at Manchester United, fans 15 years ago who will say it’s too late. It’s never too late, we have got to stop this. It is absolutely critical we do.”

It is already rumoured that Richard Arnold could perhaps replace the outgoing Woodward ahead of the 2021/22 season, amongst United’s fans on Twitter, however, Gill’s name has already been trending far and wide in the hope that he can bring back the glory days to Old Trafford again.

European Super League: The Brexit of Football?

After the controversial introduction of VAR into the Premiership, on Sunday the whole football world was talking about the threat of six English clubs threatening to take part in a breakaway Super League.

The so called big six comprising of Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham confirmed that they had joined with six leading clubs in Italy and Spain over a highly selective and largely closed tournament that would in effect replace the Champions League.

The move, which represents a huge challenge to the Premier League, The Football Association  and UEFA, paves the way for the biggest shake up of club football in a long while.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Inter Milan are also committed to joining the Super League, although certain clubs in France and Germany have not yet signed up.

Understandably this has caused outrage in the football world with the Premier League urging their clubs to walk away from this idea before serious damage will be done.

Indeed, the FA and UEFA have warned that they would not sanction a breakaway, referring to the fact that players and clubs could no longer compete in official competitions. Players could also be banned from International tournaments as well.

This whole idea is completely out of order and just feels that the so called ‘big six’ are wanting to make even more money than they already do so. They are plain and simple greedy owners. They don’t have the wishes of the fans at heart. They are only interested in getting even greedier than what they already are.

This is about big money, not football issues anymore. The rebel clubs still want to continue playing in domestic competitions, but we all know that would be just a good excuse to play a B side.

On a personal note I totally agree with Gary Neville’s points made on Sunday. They don’t have the fans interest at heart. They should be punished heavily, which I totally agree with.

Points deduction would be the best punishment possible, or an even better idea would be to relegate all six of the clubs. They certainly wouldn’t like that thrown at them.

How on earth can the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham seriously consider themselves to be classed as one of the ‘Big Six’. Both have had a bad season and in fairness haven’t won anything of significance for a long time.

Fans would clearly not want to watch a Super League with the ‘Big Six’ playing the same sides on a regular basis as this would become very boring. 

It appears that even managers are not happy about this stupid idea. Today there was a big rumour doing the rounds that Mourinho was sacked by Tottenham for refusing to take training on the back of the proposed Super League.

Let us hope and pray that this doesn’t take off as it will have massive implications. 

This is terrible news for the rest of the football clubs that have been hit hardest by the pandemic. Clubs in the EFL Championship, League One and Two and Non-League clubs– some of which have now dissolved- desperately need financial help. Surely the owners of the ‘Big Six’ should realise this and think about other clubs and not themselves. Unfortunately in today’s crazy world of football that won’t be the case.  They only want to line there ever rich bulging pockets even deeper.

This is further proof that chairman of the ‘Big Six’ really haven’t got a clue about how football should be run. To them it is about making as much cash as possible before they walk away. This story certainly has the makings of the Brexit of Football.

Swansea City boycott Social Media following online abuse

Following recent online abuse, Championship side Swansea City have decided to take club-wide stance by boycotting all forms of social media for one week.

This boycott will include players in the first team, academy sides, women’s team as well as the club’s official accounts, who will stop posting from 5pm on April 8. 

The Swans have become the first club to take this stance against racial abuse on social media. Indeed, over the past two months the Welsh sides players’: Jamal Lowe, Ben Cabango and Yan Dhanda have all been targets of discrimination online.  

Swansea City has chosen to take a club-wide stance in the battle against abuse and discrimination of all forms on social media.

From 5pm today we will not post any content on our official social media channels for seven days.#EnoughIsEnough

👉 https://t.co/rmHXB0j2l7 pic.twitter.com/fKqKqHl8Ag

— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) April 8, 2021

The club made this historic announcement via the official twitter account this week and Swansea City captain Matt Grimes said: 

“As a close and diverse group of players this is something that we are extremely passionate about.

“Social media has provided so many positives over the last decade, however, the sickening and vile abuse that we are seeing on a daily and weekly basis is wholly unacceptable, and we hope that this stance across the club will be supported by everyone.

“We are a family, and we will always stand shoulder to shoulder with each other, whether that’s on the pitch or helping to fight injustice off it.”

The club’s chief executive Julian Winter, meanwhile, has sent letters to Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, and Facebook’s founder, chairman and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, to ask for “more stringent policing and punishments for those guilty of the appalling and cowardly abuse”.

This club-wide stance will cover the Swans forthcoming matches against Millwall on April 10 and their trip to Sheffield Wednesday on April 13. During this period the club news will be posted via the official website before a return to social media activity at 5pm on April 15.

Following this announcement, should more clubs follow Swansea City’s example to get Social Media platforms to do more to prevent online abuse? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below…. 

Gunners’ fans voice displeasure at rumoured ‘Ajaxenal’ kit

Arsenal’s reported new home kit for the 2021-22 season has been shared online and many fans have already made their feelings known regarding the new design.  

The shirt was shared by FootyHeadlines and will be mainly red, with white sleeves and side panels.  It will also feature navy stripes on the collar.  The kit is reportedly set to go on sale in July. 

The strip has prompted much talk among Gunner’s fans, however, who are comparing it to the Dutch side Ajax’s famous colour. Indeed, many believe that the strip looks more like four-time Champions League winners rather than the team from North London. 

One fan has already tweeted saying: 

“Dressing up as Ajax won’t get us playing in the UCL lads” 

Another, meanwhile, named it:

“Ajaxenal”

While one supporter even went as far as praising the Dutch side, who are set to face Roma in the Europa League quarter-finals this week. 

They wrote:

“It’s Ajax FC we’re by far the greatest team the world has ever seen.” 

Finally, another said: 

“If we’re going to commit to relying on a bunch of youngsters, may as well go 100% Ajax.”

Arsenal's 2021/22 leaked home kit [@Footy_Headlines] pic.twitter.com/j3f3QxkJQD

— AFTV (@AFTVMedia) April 7, 2021

Some supporters have also jokingly suggested that it was in fact a ploy to get fan favourite Marc Overmars to return to North London.  

Overmars is currently the Director of football at the Dutch club, but is rumoured to be leaving before too long and fans would clearly welcome the chance for the Dutch winger to replace their current Director Edu, whose position has come under intense scrutiny.  

The Gunners reported third kit design, meanwhile, has gone down much better with the supporters as it is invoking memories of a classic jersey from 1994-1996, referred to as ‘Blue Lightening’. It will perhaps rekindle memories of the likes of Dennis Bergkamp and Ian Wright. 

https://twitter.com/Footy_Headlines/status/1379664054323666946

For the current crop of players and manager Mikel Arteta, they will hope that this new kit change sparks a substantial improvement and better things to come next season. 

What are your thoughts on the rumoured new kits Arsenal fans? Feel free to give us your thoughts in the comments below….

Leicester City Win Promotion to FA WSL

Leicester City Women secured promotion to the WSL with a 2-0 win over London City Lioness on Sunday 4th April. Goals in the second half from Samantha Tierney and Natasha Flint ensured them of a historic win. It means the club will play in the WSL for the first time in their history.

Goodnight, Foxes fans! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/5aUqyGA9XT

— LCFC Women (@LCFC_Women) April 4, 2021

With two games to go the Foxes have run away with the league having lost just one of their 18 games. They have been on a run of 12 straight wins as they secured the title at the weekend.

Leicester City Manager Jonathan Morgan, told LCFC TV after Sundays game:

“To say we are officially WSL, it’s awesome really. We’ve got to the pinnacle of the women’s game in England and we just want to keep pushing ourselves and getting further and further with it and getting better and better.

“It’s been a long journey. It’s been seven years, where we were playing, in all honesty, off parks and out of tin sheds for changing rooms. I remember when I first started, I didn’t have even a squad. I think we only had 12 players, so to see that growth, it’s been a fantastic achievement.”

The club turned professional in August 2020 after being taken over by King Power (parent company of Leicester City). Leicester City will now be able to look forward to playing the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal in the WSL next season.

Morgan hopes this will inspire more local girls to take up football saying:

“I think, for me, with the women’s game, it’s still about growing it,” he explained. “It’s still about encouraging the next generation of young female athletes and now the girls of Leicester have got a top team in the best league to look up to and to aspire to.

“I think that does more wonders than anything that we can ever think about really.”

Leicester born defender Ashleigh Plumptre admitted to becoming emotional as they closed in on the victory against London City telling LCFC TV:

“I literally looked at the badge before I walked out and then, with five minutes to go, I looked at it again and I ended up tearing up when I was on the pitch with five minutes left!

 “I don’t just play football just because I want to do well in it. I like to represent something that’s bigger than me and I’ve grown up here.

“I had to go away and then to America and then I’ve come back I’ve been able to come back to the only team that I wanted to come to. I’ve managed to do it with literally my hometown team. I have shirts [from] when I was like four years-old, going to games when the men were in the Championship.

“Now to think I’m representing my club, where I’m from, and to win… like I said, I play for something bigger than me and I play to win and to think that I’ve done that here, I literally cannot ask for anything better.”

Being the only fully professional side in the league gave Leicester added pressure, but Plumptre stated that just made the squad come together:

“Nobody wanted us to win really because we’re the only team that are fully professional. We’re provided with everything. So people want to get a one up on us and we’ve just got through all of it and now we’ve come out winners.

“Everybody’s in there celebrating together, and rightly so. It’s a season to be celebrated because I definitely think we deserve it. We’ve worked so hard and there were times where you can see it in the way that we play and the way that we talk to each other on the pitch.

“We gear each other up because we know that we can’t just win with 10, we just can’t win with 11, we have to win with everybody and, I put it out to all the girls, within the first five minutes, we were doing headers and clearances and I could hear the subs from the off.

“I really think, for me personally, it’s hard to get through a season with everything we’ve been through without things like that, without people being there when you need them. It’s not just the players, it’s the staff, too. It’s just been a huge collective effort and it’s finally come to fruition.”

Leicester can look towards next season and playing in England’s top flight as they test themselves against some of the best players in the world.

😁🏆 pic.twitter.com/dL7y3o6LaT

— LCFC Women (@LCFC_Women) April 5, 2021