Ed Woodward has resigned as vice-chairman of Manchester United, it reports The Athletic and talkSPORT. His decision follows the storm of criticism over the club’s participation in the Super League. It is not yet clear whether Woodward will leave immediately or at the end of the season. Manchester United has not yet formally reported anything about his departure.
Woodward, 49, became involved with Manchester United in 2005. Through his experience as a banker at JP Morgan & Co., he acted as financial advisor to the Glazer family on the acquisition of Manchester United. He was subsequently appointed to the club by the Glazer family in a role as ‘financial planner’. In 2007 Woodward was put in charge of the commercial and media departments. He concluded several lucrative sponsorship deals: sales from commercial activities increased between 2005 and 2012 from approximately EUR 56 to approximately EUR 136 million.
Woodward was on the board since 2012. He became vice-chairman and was not undisputed in that role. In the summer of 2013, when Manchester United only managed to present Marouane Fellaini as a major purchase despite a large list of transfer targets, some fans called for his resignation. After the transfer summer of 2018, it was speculated in the media that Woodward had vetoed the transfer targets of then trainer José Mourinho. The latter then criticized the lack of new players.
Tensions reached a new peak in January 2020, when Woodward’s Chesire home was besieged by a group of angry supporters who called for the vice president to die. Similar chants were heard during Manchester United matches. Woodward was seen as an ally of the Glazer family and some supporters prefer to see the American owners leave as soon as possible.
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