Manchester United Women’s players seek PFA help over club’s mismanagement

Manchester United Women players are reportedly seeking assistance from the PFA as they begin addressing grievances with the club in the wake of dramatic changes to the team. Uncertainty on the wake of the sudden departure of Casey Stoney and the exit of several key players has not gone unnoticed within the team, and concerns have been exacerbated by the second class facilities and funding assigned to them since the pandemic.

Failure to keep Casey Stoney or hire a replacement since the start of the summer have left the squad without leadership going into the new season, and to make matters worse reports continue to come out highlighting the frustrating treatment of the team by the board as expenses prioritized the men’s team and the youth and reserves.

This is a bad look for the club, who can more than afford to spend big on the men’s team this summer. Operating costs in the WSL are a fraction of what it takes to run a Premier League club, and we saw a glimpse last season of where ambitious team building can take the women’s team. United challenged Chelsea for much of the season until Tobin Heath went down injured, and saw the emergence of Lauren James as a future star. Now with Heath, Christen Press, Amy Turner, and Jess Sigsworth all leaving the club, James reportedly wants out.

Training begins next week for Manchester United women, currently led by Stoney’s assistant Martin Ho, but the staff are reportedly backing the players in their push for support and clarity from the board, according to report by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton. It is an embarrassing moment for the club, and hopefully mounting pressure to improve conditions will lead to a positive outcome for the team as they continue to add a new chapter to Manchester United’s storied history.