Cost cutting continues at Old Trafford
The cost cutting at Manchester United continues under minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe, with Denis Irwin’s good name dragged into the latest situation at Old Trafford that saw a £40,000 annual charity fund for ex-players discontinued midway through 2024.
The Association of Former Manchester United Players was founded in 1985 to help ex-Red Devils in financial difficulties.
“We sent a letter to say we’ve not been paid,” revealed charity trustee Jim Elms (84). “Nobody came out and told us, so we had to send another letter. That’s when we started hearing things that it was going to be the end of us.”
Eventually, Elms spoke to the club’s chief executive Omar Berrada.
“It didn’t go too well. Omar was non-committal. He’s going to meet us again in January but he said he couldn’t see it changing. He didn’t seem to think that we were a necessity.”
According to The Daily Mail, Irwin is among the 300 former United players the charity has supported but the Irish legend is hardly suffering hard times as his DJI Promotions Limited published a €269,284 profit in 2023, leaving him with retained earnings of almost €1.8 million.
By the numbers
€12,500 – Uefa fine the FAI after Irish fans booed God Save The King at Wembley in November (an increase of €2,500 as it was a repeat offence – see September at the Aviva).
In words
“When a coach of Colin Healy’s calibre wants to stay involved I think it’s common sense to do whatever you can to keep him on. Major loss for the team. I’m disappointed to say the least.” – Denise O’Sullivan reacts to FAI cutting ties with Healy from the WNT set-up, following the departure of head coach Eileen Gleeson.
Word of mouth
“Colin went above and beyond his role as an assistant coach and for me personally, he couldn’t have done much more to help me settle into a team, that was very daunting at the beginning. I would be doing all that I could for him to stay if it was up to me” – Ireland defender Caitlin Hayes agrees with O’Sullivan.
“Jesus is also a nepo baby.” – Cruz Beckham responds to the suggestion that his music career has benefited from nepotism. He deleted the social media post.
“It was only one month ago we were one point behind City and look what has happened. This can happen to any team. It is far too early to be celebrating.” – Liverpool manager Arne Slot refuses to claim the Premier League title in December.
“Tactically he is brilliant. I have rarely been so impressed by a coach. The way he communicates all his football ideas and gets his players to play exactly in that way, is really impressive. Everything about him is calm, because he is mega intelligent.” – Marco van Basten on Slot
Walters seeking another new gaffer for Stoke
Stoke City has an Irish flavour of late, what with six players in the squad including Andrew Moran, Tom Cannon and Bosun Lawal, along with sporting director Jon Walters, who just sacked his second manager this season following a nine-match winless streak under Narcís Pelach.
“Narcís is a talented coach with huge potential, he works relentlessly hard and I have no doubt that he will go on to achieve success in the future,” said Walters, before the former Ireland forward noted that the Spaniard “has proved not to be the right fit for this club at this time”.
“I take full responsibility for that and I’m absolutely determined that we will now make the right choice to take us forward.”
Stoke are currently one point clear of the EFL Championship relegation zone. Over to Walters.
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