Ian Wright delivers damning Man United verdict after major Ineos decision

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TV football pundit and former Arsenal star Ian Wright has slammed Manchester United and co-owners Ineos for not caring enough about the women's team, while he also criticised manager Marc Skinner following the team's recent run of subpar results.

It''s been a mixed start to the 2024/25 Women's Super League (WSL) campaign for Skinner's side. Despite an unbeaten run of six games, three of those ended in disappointing draws against a Brighton, Arsenal and a struggling Aston Villa side.

The Manchester club have been heavily criticised in recent months following reports the women's team had been moved out of their training facilities to accommodate the men's side. Comments from minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe also sparked controversy as he admitted plans were still a "work in progress" in an interview with Bloomberg back in June.

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A summer of high-profile departures followed their FA Cup triumph at Wembley back in May. The team made history as they secured the club's first piece of major silverware in the women's game, but Mary Earps, captain Katie Zelem, Irene Guerrero, Nikita Parris and Lucia Garcia were among the high-profile departures during the transfer window.

Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Celin Bizet were just some of those to come through the door, while starlet Grace Clinton also returned from her loan spell with Tottenham Hotspur. Yet, despite the boost to the playing squad, United have already lost significant ground in the title race after six games.

Now, Wright has weighed in with his views on the club's handling of the women's side. The 61-year-old insists the ownership do not care enough about the team for them to be a success.

He said on women’s football podcast Crossways: "When you hear murmurings of Man United saying 'once we sort out the men’s, we’re gonna focus on the women’s' - when is that going to be? You look at the men’s and how far they are off it at the minute.

"When are they actually going to take notice of the women’s? I genuinely believe, especially with how Man United Women are playing, they do not care. They genuinely do not care enough."

Following United's recent draw against Villa in the WSL, Skinner emphasised he is working with a new team this season due to the high turnover of players. However, it's an excuse that didn't stick for Wright, as he added: "Unfortunately for him, the interview he did the other day didn’t stand him in good stead.

"What he’s saying, in respect of new players, the team gelling - he’s had this team for long enough now where they should be doing a lot better. You talk about the four new players, [Celin] Bizet - she’s played in the WSL before, [Dominque] Janssen has been there before, [Elisabeth] Terland and then Grace Clinton who had to go to Tottenham to get herself better and in the England squad.

"You listen to that interview, no plan B, no real structure of what they’re doing. They were playing against a Villa side that were bottom of the league and he’s talking about they got a good result - at home. This is why I was quite pleased to see Man United fans pull him up about that interview and how David Brent-ish it was for me."

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