'Man Utd and Ed Woodward rated me but Erik ten Hag had other ideas - now I'm jobless'

Manchester United academy graduate Brandon Williams now finds himself without a club after being ousted by under-pressure boss Erik ten Hag

'Man Utd and Ed Woodward rated me but Erik ten Hag had other ideas – now I'm jobless'

Once favoured left-back Brandon Williams is now without a club after being exiled from Manchester United by Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman's tenure at the helm of the Red Devils has come under fire in recent weeks. And after mustering just seven points from six league games - as well as a 3-0 embarrassment last time out to Tottenham - he has reportedly been given the club’s next couple of fixtures to save his job.

One man who would may be glad to see the back of the Dutchman in English football would be ousted defender Williams, who joined the Old Trafford ranks at the age of seven.

Despite being held in high regard at the club, notably being announced as the club's best left-back over England international Luke Shaw by former executive Ed Woodward, Ten Hag chose to force out the youngster and some of his fellow Carrington grads upon arriving in Manchester. And Williams has now been jobless since his contract expired in June.

Having been guided through the ranks with the promise to one day defend the left flank for his beloved United, Williams looked to the world as though he would become a mainstay in Manchester.

The club's former CEO, Woodward, even backed up this claim, reportedly telling associates during a trip to Astana in Kazakhstan for a Europa League clash that the Englishman had replaced Luke Shaw as the club's top left-back in 2019.

Former academy head Nicky Butt also supposedly held Williams in high regard. And as the 2019/20 season drew to a close, the combative defender had made 36 appearances for United, having featured in a Europa League semi-final.

Yet, perhaps the limelight shone on Williams too soon. After loan spells at Norwich City and Ipswich Town - the latter of which was cut short - his future seemed bleak.

Upon touching down on English soil in 2022, Ten Hag reportedly told a range of stars – including Williams, Phil Jones, Axel Tuanzebe and Teden Mengi – to train with the reserves to make room for new arrivals, deeming them surplus to requirements.

Injury-plagued Jones departed a year later and chose retirement at the age of 31. Mengi and Tuanzebe also left, joining Luton Town and Ipswich respectively - where they have impressed to date.

Image: Joe Toth/REX/Shutterstock) Joe Toth/REX/Shutterstock)

Williams, after his loan in Suffolk, despite the promise he once showed after being thrust to the forefront, saw his contract wind down in June of this year, and he has been clubless ever since.

To make matters worse, the 24-year-old would be slapped with a driving ban earlier this year too, after a court heard he failed to provide officers with information regarding who was driving his top of the range Mercedes on two separate occasions.

Such a disappointing end to what seemed like a solid defensive career was epitomised by forgotten man Williams' agony-filled message after he departed the club.

"I always hoped I would have never had to make this post, but here we are,” Williams began. “Since the age of seven, this Manchester United football club has been part of my life.

"But to have been able to make brothers which will last a lifetime I want to thank my teammates, especially the ones I’ve shared the past 17 years with.

"Thank you to the staff the kitmen, maintenance workers, security, and physios I could go on and on you were all amazing and of course the coaches. Then, most importantly, thank you to you fans, the backbone of the club, the reason we work so hard to be able to perform at the highest level because you all deserve it. Watch this space! Once a red, always a red.”

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