According to The Guardian, Richard Arnold leads the race to replace Ed Woodward at Manchester United.
Woodward’s departure will officially take place at the end of the year after he announced he was stepping down last month.
Now is it reported, somewhat disastrously for United, that Arnold is the Glazers’ top choice, as he leads a field of three totally uninspiring internal candidates.
The Athletic reported last month managing director Arnold could be promoted, as his background on the commercial side would appeal to the current ownership.
Other candidates named include Cliff Baty, United’s chief financial officer, and Hemen Tseayo, head of corporate finance.
The Glazers prefer an internal candidate, which speaks volumes to their resistance to change, and plans to keep the status quo, in the face of United fan protests.
Edwin van der Sar has similar experience of a role at Ajax, and unlike Woodward, he is a football man. Whether he wants to leave, or work under the Glazers, is another matter.
Not the new man United need
United need a hire to replace Woodward who is not currently in post at the club. Arnold has been working closely alongside Woodward, and he is very often quoted sounding out of touch with first team affairs.
Speaking just last month to the Associated Press after the new sponsorship deal with TeamViewer was confirmed, he said of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: “No one in the world is happier than me with the phenomenal success he is bringing.”
Phenomenal was going way too far for a manager who has made solid progress, without a trophy.
Arnold was also the man quoted boasting about social media impressions when United signed Odion Ighalo, quoted by iNews: “Shortly after we concluded the loan signing of Odion Ighalo, he was the top trend worldwide on Twitter.”
It was even Arnold who unveiled United’s new noodle partner back in 2014.
He was quoted by The Drum: “We are delighted to welcome Nissin into our family of Global Partners. The worldwide demand for its instant noodles is over 105bn servings per year and Nissin has a long tradition of innovation, challenging the industry with their products and setting a standard that has been emulated the world-over.
“Nissin also has a proven record of supporting leading sports organisations, making them a fitting global partner for Manchester United. We look forward to working together.”
So in this scenario, United would just end up replacing Ed Woodward with his right-hand man.
The real change will come if the Glazers go. And there is real pressure on the unpopular American owners to do so.
It feels like there is some momentum at the moment. But if they double down, and then hire Arnold as Woodward’s replacement, then United fans will really be back to square one.
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