TheCable

Ed Woodward will step down from his role as Manchester United executive vice-chairman at the end of 2021 — after a 16-year association with the club.

According to BBC, Woodward’s resignation comes after the Red Devils were heavily lambasted by their own supporters for agreeing to join the controversial European Super League (ESL).

It was, however, gathered that the investment banker’s decision to resign was not connected to the Super League and that he had been planning to leave the club at the end of the year.

The 49-year-old has been associated with Manchester United since 2005 but became the de facto chief executive in 2013 after he replaced David Gill.

The football world was on Sunday thrown into tumult after 12 top European clubs — including the English Premier League (EPL) “big six” — agreed to join the widely-denounced league.

The “founding clubs” include Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan complete the list of teams that agreed to participate in the competition.

Chelsea and Manchester City are, however, believed to be leaving the breakaway Super League due to the widespread criticism that trailed the project.

The Manchester United Supporters Trust had earlier issued a strong-worded statement wherein it tackled the club’s “greed.”

“These proposals are completely unacceptable and will shock Manchester United fans, as well as those of many other clubs,” the statement read.

“A ‘Super League’ based on a closed shop of self-selected wealthy clubs goes against everything football, and Manchester United, should stand for.

“To bring forward these proposals without any fan consultation, and in the midst of a global pandemic when people should be pulling together not serving their own selfish interests, just adds insult to injury.

“When Sir Matt Busby led us into the European Cup in the 1950s, the modern Manchester United was founded in the tragedy and then triumph that followed. To even contemplate walking away from that competition would be a betrayal of everything this club has ever stood for.

“We urge everyone involved in this proposal including Manchester United to immediately withdraw from this proposal.”