One Premier League chief executive has slammed stories claiming Ed Woodward resigned from Manchester United because he was against the European Super League as “laughable”.
The 49-year-old, who joined the club in 2005, was the first high-profile departure since plans for the breakaway league were unveiled on Sunday evening.
Woodward was a key figure behind the controversial competition and his exit was confirmed around an hour-and-a-half before Man United said they would not be participating in it.
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His exit is apparently unrelated and understood to be amicable with the club’s owners, the Glazer family, with the plan for him to continue in his role until the end of 2021.
There have been reports since, though, that claim Woodward – who was initially in favour of a European Super League – backtracked on the idea when the proposals received a huge backlash.
It was reported that Woodward was left with no option but to resign after going against the wishes of his bosses, who were at the time still committed to the breakaway proposal.
And now Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has revealed how the ‘Big Six’ executives have tried to “kiss and make up” with the other 14 Premier League clubs with one executive laughing off the latest Woodward stories.
Solhekol wrote on Twitter: “The six clubs who signed up to join the Super League are having a hard time trying to kiss and make up with the other 14 PL clubs. One chief exec says: ‘The six of them are scrabbling around spouting all sorts of rubbish to try and defend what they did. They are getting short shrift.’
The 6 clubs who signed up to join the Super League are having a hard time trying to kiss & make up with the other 14 PL clubs. One chief exec says: “The 6 of them are scrabbling around spouting all sorts of rubbish to try and defend what they did. They are getting short shrift.”
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) April 23, 2021
“Executives from six breakaway clubs have been saying sorry to their own players. One exec received a frosty reception when he arrived at his club’s training ground to apologise to his first-team squad. Players’ reaction was a mixture of anger, disbelief and, in some cases, laughter.
Executives from 6 breakaway clubs have been saying sorry to their own players. One exec received a frosty reception when he arrived at his club’s training ground to apologise to his first-team squad. Players’ reaction was a mixture of anger, disbelief and, in some cases, laughter
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) April 23, 2021
“Growing feeling among 14 clubs that heads must roll at six breakaway clubs. 14 are particularly unhappy with behaviour of Buck, Soriano, Levy & Woodward. One exec says: ‘Stories saying Ed Woodward resigned because he was against the ESL are laughable. He was involved from day one.’”
Growing feeling among 14 clubs that heads must roll at 6 breakaway clubs. 14 are particularly unhappy with behaviour of Buck, Soriano, Levy & Woodward. One exec says: “Stories saying Ed Woodward resigned because he was against the ESL are laughable. He was involved from day one.”
— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) April 23, 2021
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