Manchester United's new part-owners INEOS has made its first big managerial decision since taking control of the club's football operations with a new contract offered to first-team women's manager Marc Skinner.
The 41-year-old was appointed to the helm following Casey Stoney's resignation. Skinner led United to a fourth-place finish in his first season in charge, followed by an historic second-place finish last season.
But an underwhelming campaign thus far this season, in which United sit 15 points off the pace of league leaders Manchester City and six points off Arsenal in the final European spot, has left question marks hanging over his future at the club.
During pre-season friendlies, United fans could be heard chanting 'Skinner Out!', chants with which players and staff were reportedly said to be uncomfortable. The antagonism towards Skinner has continued throughout the disappointing term. Skinner's current contract expires at the end of the current season.
And according to the Athletic, the club have offered the United boss a new contract. Terms have not yet been agreed but it is reported that negotiations remain ongoing.
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The contract offer represents the second action taken for the women's football team since INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe took over the club's football operations after purchasing a minority stake in the club from the Glazer family for £1.3billion. The first was the appointment of Matt Johnson as the new head of women’s football on an interim basis last month, taking over from Polly Bancroft.
According to the Athletic, the decision to extend Skinner's contract was made by United’s incumbent football leadership, along with oversight from INEOS.
Marc Skinner manages the Manchester United Women's team (PA Archive/PA Images)John Murtough was United's football director, also overseeing the women's team. However, Murtough is stepping down from his position this week in another top-down shake-up since INEOS' minority purchase.
Skinner's contract is the first managerial decision to be undertaken by the club's new minority ownership, with much attention also drawn to United men's boss Erik Ten Hag's future at the club. Rumours have swirled that Ratcliffe may decide to sack Ten Hag at the end of the season, with United currently 11 points off the top four and also struggling to compete in the upper echelons of their league.
Skinner has repeatedly defended his position at the helm of United Women, arguing that pressure is inescapable at a club like United.
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