Manchester United Women’s manager Marc Skinner is set to stay on at the club after signing a new contract extension following their historic FA Cup win.
The decision to keep him on has split opinion amongst the supporters as many have been calling for Skinner to be sacked for several months now following a difficult domestic season.
Man United Women lifted the Women’s FA Cup for the first time in their history this past Sunday, with an impressive 4-0 win over Spurs to prove the kind of football they can play at their best but, for some, it simply isn’t enough to make up for the performances in the Women’s Super League.
Nevertheless, the club confirmed that they have given the 41-year-old a new one-year deal, with the option to extend for a further 12 months.
As you can see, it hasn’t gone down well with everyone, as even despite the landmark piece of silverware it appears the ‘Skinner Out’ section of the fan base is still dead set on starting a new chapter.
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WHAT?! That FA cup has clouded judgement here, he’s been subpar in the league😐 we can do better sorry
Many of those calling for a change in leadership aren’t even so set on moving forward per se either, as a good chunk of the suggestions are to simply bring back the previous Man United Women‘s coach and former player, Casey Stoney, who stepped down in May 2021 after more than three years in charge.
Having won the FA Women’s Championship title and promotion to the WSL in the club’s inaugural season after reforming following a 13-year absence, she still has a lot of fans around the club.
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Meanwhile, Skinner’s side failed to make it through the Champions League group-stage qualifiers against PSG in October last year and can finish no higher than fourth if they win their final game of the season this weekend – and that’s only on goal difference and if Liverpool fail to pick up points in their closer.
Speaking on the contraction extension, Marc Skinner said: “It’s an honour to extend my stay at Manchester United. I’ve always felt at home here, with our excellent players, staff, and fans.
“Being able to secure the team’s first major trophy at Wembley was a real career highlight for me and another sign of our continued growth, on and off the field. Thanks to everyone who has supported me on this journey, and I look forward to creating many more winning memories together.”
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Casey has signed a new long term deal with SD, she isn't going home anywhere.
His detractors have remarked, “This guy should have gotten the sack he is not the manager to take this team forward that FA Cup win has helped him scale through”, with another writing: “Ohhhhhhh no we never winning WSL then. This club is clueless”.
However, there are still plenty rallying to his defence, with several commenters congratulating him on the renewal, while others have been trying to find the middle ground.
As one user put it: “I don’t believe you can sack a manager after having won your club’s first cup final 4-0. But it’s very telling that it’s only a one-year extension. Let’s see what the future brings.”
The Red Devils take on title hopefuls Chelsea in the last game of the season and will be hoping to round off the year on the highest note possible following the jubilant scenes at Wembley.
What about you, Reds – do you think it’s the right decision?
Ruben Amorim reacts as Manchester United are booed off after Malaysia friendly
Danny Jones
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has delivered a fairly brutal response after his club were booed off by supporters during a friendly in Malaysia.
The Red Devils recently embarked on a post-season tour following a calamitous 2024/25 campaign, both domestically and continentally, with that limp loss in the Europa League final, but have already resumed what has become alarmingly normal service with yet another defeat.
Finding themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against ASEAN All-Stars in Kuala Lumpur – a squad comprised of various talents from around the region who had never played together before and were only founded as an actual team back in 2014 – it was all far from clean slates and fresh starts.
In the wake of the shock result, Man United were booed off by the Malaysian and other international fans inside the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, which saw more than 70,000 in attendance.
It’s the end and that’s it. Man United got boo’ed by the fans after the final whistle.
They got beaten by non-full team Asean All-Star who just trained together as a group few days before the match. pic.twitter.com/fBxnMiZPN8
For context, the ASEAN All-Stars had only trained together for the first time just days before the game itself, but the de facto exhibition outfit still managed to break the deadlock in the 71st minute against a United side that rarely looked like scoring.
All that being said, Amorim had some choice words for his own players in his post-match duties after their first post-season tour fixture, insisting that while he always remains accountable, those out on the pitch perhaps received somewhat of a deserved reckoning too.
He began by stating, “I’m always guilty of the performance of the team, no matter what. [I have been responsible] since the first day”, but went on to argue: “The boos from the fans, I think it something that we need, maybe.”
Citing that the Old Trafford faithful and die-hard away fans have always been loyal and supportive despite frustration in the league, he suggested that “maybe they will change the way they behave” following this latest reality check.
Despite adding that he has seen reasons for optimism in performances against Man City and Liverpool, for instance, where he felt he saw “belief” and seeds of what’s to come, he’s made very few excuses for the poor displays up to now.
United face the Hong Kong national team in their next friendly on Friday, 29 May, and it’s fair to say anything less than a win would be beyond bad for the predictably unpredictable Premier League club.
You can see his full post-match press conference down below.
Featured Images — Manchester United (screenshot via YouTube)/Edward Kuruvilla (via X)
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Stockport County to introduce safe standing at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County will soon be introducing safe standing at Edgeley Park as part of the pending stadium development plans.
The Hatters may have just missed out on promotion to the Championship, but it’s still been an exciting few years for the club that has seen a fresh surge in young new supporters in addition to their passionate lifelong followers.
In more fantastic news for fans, County have announced that brand new safe standing sections will be installed across the ground.
Confirming the news on Wednesday, the club said: “After receiving all necessary approvals and working closely with safety authorities, we are set to install rail seating in two designated areas of the stadium.
Stockport County is thrilled to announce the introduction of safe standing areas at Edgeley Park ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Visit the club site for more details on this exciting new development ⤵️#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 28, 2025
As detailed on the club website, there will be two new dedicated safe-standing/rail-seated zones – one in each main stand: the back five rows of seats in the Cheadle End’s upper tier and the back two rows of the Vitality Railway End.
With Stockport Council greenlighting plans for League One side to expand their home capacity, this reconfiguration is set to accommodate a total of 849 County fans and/or supporters.
Although this all depends on final approval from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the aim is to deliver a “vibrant and dynamic environment for both home and away fans at Edgeley Park.”
The official statement goes on to explain that the push for safe standing is not just to provide more matchday options for those in attendance, but in hopes of further “enhancing the atmosphere and improving the overall matchday experience for those who prefer to stand.”
Couty has insisted that “The rail-seating system incorporates a barrier for every seat, ensuring that supporters are protected from a sudden surge or crowd movement.”
Safe standing is part of the larger Stockport County stadium redevelopment plans.
Addressing early concerns in a ‘What This Means for You’ section, they go on to add: “Season ticket holders currently in the affected rows will be contacted directly by the Club over the coming weeks with details on their options, including relocating to a seated area if they prefer not to stand.
“Information regarding new season tickets and matchday tickets in the safe standing areas will be released in due course.
“We believe this is another significant step forward for Stockport County and will further enhance the already incredible atmosphere at Edgeley Park. We look forward to seeing and hearing the renewed energy in these new sections.”
The safe standing plan is set to be introduced for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with the administration hoping to make this their last in the third tier. Do you see them going up next year?
Danny Jones -
17th May 2024 
