To add insult to injury following a fourth defeat in seven games this Premier League season (five in all competitions), footage of the Old Trafford roof leaking onto supporters’ seats mid-match has gone viral as fans are labelling it a symbol of the Glazers’ much-maligned ownership.
The clip in question was taken on Saturday, 30 September during Manchester United‘s 1-0 home loss to Crystal Palace — the same side they had beaten 3-0 in their previous Carabao Cup fixture — and shows fans sitting in the Stretford End having to grin and bear it as water drips all over them.
Old Trafford has received some renovations over the past couple of seasons, but they were mainly related to the installation of the digital ticket system, replacing doors after the infamous fan protests saw them invade the stadium, and updating the scoreboard with live added time — which pretty much every other team has also been given this season.
However, despite the stadium’s leaking roof having already been raised as an issue by fans in recent years, it would appear that there have been little to no repairs made, as these lot unfortunately found out first-hand.
A member of The Manc office also sits around this section of the stadium and often has to tend with occasional rainwater falling on him.
As you can imagine, social media was filled with Reds clearly disappointed but by no means surprised, commenting, “Scandalous this… The Glazers are using this club as their personal bank but no funds being spent on maintaining the roof”, “this is a disgrace”; “How embarrassing! Yet our club is somehow worth multiple billions. Pathetic”, and countless other replies to a similar effect.
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Many have also noted that they had or are still experiencing similar in various other areas around the ground: “had the same in K stand last season, “same in the South stand”; one person even shared a video of a leak from inside the concourse (not the first time such footage has been shared).
Another went so far as to remark: “Unbelievable, all that success under Fergie and they seem to be light years away from being a modern club. When you compare to [Real] Madrid you have to question why [Man United] have seemingly been left behind to rot. I can see ‘the rise and fall of utd’ coming to cinemas soon.”
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While safe-standing in the ground was increased back in July ahead of the new campaign, a large chunk of those seats were installed in the away end, so most fans elsewhere in the ground will likely never see the benefit and those who attend week in, week out know all too well how outdated the stadium is.
Although the prospective United takeover has been stalled for months now after neither Qatari bidders nor Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s offers met the Glazer family’s asking price, both bidders cited redeveloping the stadium as one of their main priorities.
Stockport County defender Brad Hills ruled out for the rest of the season
Danny Jones
In a big blow to their promotion push, Stockport County have been hit with a major injury and loss to their first-team squad, as defender Brad Hills has been ruled out for what looks to be the remainder of the season and then some.
Not what Hatters will want to hear with crunch-time in and around the playoffs now well underway.
Having emerged as even more of a starring centre-back this year, following his initial loan spell with the club during the previous campaign, Brad Hills has arguably been one of Stockport’s best and most reliable players in 2025/26 thus far – but not County will have to do without him.
Although the exact severity is yet to be fully revealed, the former Norwich City youth academy graduate is said to have hurt his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Confirming the news on social media, the Greater Manchester side stated: “We regret to inform supporters that Brad Hills sustained an ACL injury in Saturday’s draw at Luton Town that will rule him out for the foreseeable future.
“Our full focus is on supporting Brad throughout his recovery – we know he’ll come back stronger”
For anyone unaware, ACL tears/ruptures are among some of the worst injuries in football, and depending on the extent of the damage, it can take anywhere between six months and a full year to bounce back.
Safe to say, therefore, that supporters have been left gutted by the update, with one commenting, “Awful, awful news”; another simply wrote, “FFS”.
After typing a very long expletive following the show news, fan podcast The Scarf Bergara Wore wrote: “Wishing Bradley Hills a speedy recovery – come back stronger!
Since becoming a permanent signing back in August, he’s earned multiple man-of-the-match awards in blue and white, not to mention contributed to a decent number of clean sheets. He’ll be a big miss in their backline.
While it’s no doubt a big setback as the League One team looks to get promoted into the Championship, the absence could see manager Dave Challinor reshuffle the pack and perhaps even the formation for the remaining fixtures.
One option is Louie Barry, who – depending on the setup – could finally be set for a return to the pitch after he was signed on a third loan deal this past January, but is still continuing his own rehab following a knee operation.
Put it this way, with not many games left, lots of County fans are probably wishing that the pending and potential further changes in the EFL could have come sooner…
Salford RLFC issue statement as head coach Mike Grady departs after less than three months
Danny Jones
Salford Rugby League Football Club have issued an official statement following the departure of head coach Mike Grady, who has left the role after less than three months in the job.
It has been insisted that this is not a sacking, but rather a joint decision to terminate his contract.
Grady, who took up the mantle at the start of this project following the end of the Salford Red Devils era, was only appointed on 5 January.
He had previously been in charge of the Red Devils’ women’s side over the past couple of years, but moved over to hopefully lead this new era forward.
As you can see, the club confirmed in a statement that they and Grady have “mutually agreed to part ways due to changes in his personal circumstances.”
They go on to write: “We are forever indebted to Mike for his unwavering commitment to the club. We want to thank him for all his hard work since taking on the role as Head Coach in very challenging circumstances in December.”
Also sharing a comment from former player turned CEO, Ryan Brierley, he said: “Mike came in as Coach at a time when the club had just come through one of its toughest times with the double impact of relegation and liquidation.
“He was willing to roll up his sleeves and bring stability to the club on the pitch. The fact we were able to field a team against Oldham in January, after only three weeks, speaks volumes about his commitment and determination. To beat Hunslet at home only four weeks later was a fantastic achievement.
“Mike will always be remembered as the person [who] strived and achieved the objective of sending out the first Salford team of this new era. A team running onto the pitch, after so much hard work, gave us all something to cheer about. We also remember how well he successfully guided our women’s team to third and fourth place finishes in the Championship.”
Sharing his own farewell message, he went on to add: “I want to thank Ryan for the opportunity to represent this great club and fan base. What we created at the start of the year was pretty special, and I’m proud to have built that.
“I’m happy to leave the club in a better place than I found it and wish the club all the best for the future.” Salford RLFC have already assured that they are now recruiting for his replacement.
Danny Jones -
2nd October 2023 
