Manchester United ready to be ‘patient’ with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, says Ed Woodward
Executive vice-chairman believe club has 'building blocks for success'
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Your support makes all the difference.Ed Woodward has stressed that Manchester United will be patient as the club rebuilds under the management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
United have taken just eight points from their opening six games, suffering their second defeat of the new Premier League season on Sunday.
Solskjaer’s difficult start to the season follows a sixth-place finish last term and unrest among sections of the support with the Glazer family’s ownership.
United announced record revenues of £627.1m for the 2018-19 season on Tuesday, and Woodward claimed that the club is on the right track with Solskjaer at the helm.
“We and our growing fan base demand success. Success means winning trophies. That target and that standard has never changed for Manchester United,” he said.
“The progress we have made on the business side underpins the continued investment in the football side.
“Much of the progress made around that investment, in the academy, the recruitment department and the training ground facilities, is behind the scenes and therefore isn’t immediately apparent to those on the outside looking in.
“These investments, together with the commitments we made to Ole and his coaching staff in March, have given us the building blocks for success.
“Whilst we are confident this investment will deliver results, it’s important that we are patient while Ole and his team build for the future. We will continue to focus on the long-term strategy and won’t be influenced by short-term distractions.”
United’s £627.1m in revenues for the 2018-19 season was an increase of around 6 per cent from 2017-18, predominantly due to a rise in broadcast income from participation in the Champions League.
Failure to qualify for this year’s Champions League is expected to result in a reduction in revenues, which are expected to fall between £560m to £580m.
The club’s wage bill increased to £332.3m last year, due to ”investment in the first team playing squad”. It is approximately a 12 per cent rise on the previous year’s wage bill and 53 per cent of the club’s turnover.
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