January 06, (THEWILL) – Richard Arnold has big aspirations for Manchester United as he prepares to succeed outgoing executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward as United’s new Chief Executive.
In the aftermath of the European Super League (ESL) controversy in April, Woodward, who has led the club since replacing David Gill in 2013, stated that he will stand down by the end of the year, as THEWILL reported.
That moment has come. Arnold, who has served as Group Managing Director since 2013, is likely to take over the position, despite the lack of a formal statement to that effect.
Woodward has been a divisive figure at Old Trafford throughout his tenure as manager, praised for his economic skills but not for his administration of sporting operations.
The main cause that has made him immensely unpopular with supporters is his perceived failures in the transfer market, which began with the “urgent transfer business” that led him to abandon the 2013 pre-season tour of Australia prematurely but never truly materialised.
When his home was targeted in January 2020 and April 2021, some fans went too far with their rage.
Woodward’s departure has been dragged out for eight months, since he first announced his intention to resign – claiming he could not support plans to join the so-called Super League, despite the fact that he only resigned after the league’s launch and United had withdrawn in the wake of the backlash.
He was also afterwards reported to be aiming to step down in 2021 at some point. There were even rumours in November that he may stay on at Old Trafford in some sort of advising role to help with the search for a new manager.
Only time will tell if such rumours are genuine, but Arnold is now prepared to take over the club’s day-to-day operations. Woodward’s exit is nearing completion, with his former PriceWaterhouseCoopers colleague “ready to take over.”
The job title is the first indicator of how things might be different. Arnold will be referred to as “Chief Executive” implying that he prefers the business side of things to Woodward’s slightly bigger and more all-encompassing function as “Executive Vice-chairman.”
Woodward may not have been as hands-on with football matters as he has been portrayed, but he was still very influential – the ill-advised handing out of new contracts to fringe players to “protect value” is thought to have been his strategy, and close contact with agents has regularly led to recruitment, including the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane, and Edinson Cavani.
But, Arnold aims to be less involved in football affairs and provide more liberty to people like football director John Murtough to run the show. Unlike Woodward, who normally worked from United’s London office, he will have a permanent base at Old Trafford.
It is a big job to take on at a tough moment, but fans will see it as one of the many new beginnings the club requires.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
