Following the breaking news of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City's decision to leave the European Super League, Manchester United have followed suit in becoming the fourth and final English club to leave the new competition.
Ed Woodward has left his role as executive vice-chairman at the club after eight years. According to Talksport, Woodward was due to set step down at the end of the calendar year, but the decision was brought forward.
The fan backlash from the Super League is said to have been the reason why Woodward decided to resign from his role immediately, as opposed to leaving at end of the calendar year.
Woodward spoke to MUTV the club following his resignation.
“I would like to thank United’s passionate fans for their support during the good and bad times. I know this has been a challenging period in our history, but your support for the team has never, ever been in doubt.”
“I will treasure the memories from my time at Old Trafford, during a period when we won the Europa League, the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. I am proud of the regeneration of the club’s culture and our return to the Manchester United way of playing.”
“We have invested more than £1bn in the squad during my time here and I am particularly delighted with the progress the players have made under the astute leadership of Ole Gunnar Solskjær and his coaching team in the last two years.”
“The last 16 months have brought so many unique challenges and the club's work in the community and around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic has been heroic.”
“The financial impact on football clubs has been severe, but United have been one of the most robust and resilient in the face of extraordinary financial pressures.”
“I would like to thank United’s passionate fans for their support during the good and bad times. I know this has been a challenging period in our history, but your support for the team has never, ever been in doubt.”
Over the past three days, heavy criticism was shown towards United after they became part of the twelve sides involved in the competition.
Chelsea fans mass revolted outside Stamford Bridge before their game against Brighton last night.
The populated protesting act of the Blues fans is said to have caused a domino effect in the clubs choosing to leave the Super League.
United held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss their withdrawal from the Super League. Woodward was said to have not consulted by United's owners with their plans to become one of the founding members of the league - which appointed Joel Glazer as the vice-chairman.
The Glazers have been a force in the creation of the Super League but following the huge collapse today and Woodward resignation, it could see the Glazers sell the club they have owned since 2003 - in the coming days.
There have been no reports to suggest who could replace Woodward as executive vice-chairman of the club. The former United executive of David Gill, who Woodward replaced in 2013, had been re-elected to UEFA’s Executive Committee.
United players Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw and Bruno Fernandes were said to have revolted against the idea of the Super League and confronted Woodward about it. The players were made aware of Woodward's resignation before the news was leaked last night.
Pep Guardiola's comments in his press conference may have had a huge say in United's arch-rivals City's decision to leave the Super League.
“Sport is not a sport when success is guaranteed, and when the relationship between the effort and reward don’t exist. It’s not a sport when it doesn’t matter if you lose. It's not fair if teams fight at the top and cannot qualify” Guardiola said.
With the four British clubs and both Milan clubs out of the super league, only the Spanish sides remain in Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Whether they decide to leave the competition is currently unknown.