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Health Secretary says he is writing off £13.4bn of NHS debt

Sam Ridgway - 2nd April 2020

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Junk food adverts are now banned on TV before 9pm in the UK to ‘protect’ kids’ health

Emily Sergeant Burgers and chips

Junk food advertisements are now banned on television before 9pm in the UK in a bid to help protect children’s health.

In what is being considered a ‘landmark’ move by the Government, as of today, adverts for less-healthy food and drinks will be banned on television before 9pm and online at all times, as part of world-leading action that is expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets each year, and reduce the number of children living with obesity by 20,000.

It’s also expected that this ‘decisive’ action will deliver around £2 billion in health benefits over time.

According to the Government, evidence shows that advertising influences what and when children eat – shaping their preferences from a young age, and ultimately increasing the risk of obesity and related illnesses.

At the start of primary school, 22.1% of children in England are overweight or living with obesity, and this rises to 35.8% by the time they leave.

Pizza Hut pizza — Junk food adverts are now banned on TV before 9pm in the UK / Credit: Alan Hardman | Kobby Mendez (via Unsplash)

Doughnut stack — Junk food adverts are now banned on TV before 9pm in the UK / Credit: Alan Hardman | Kobby Mendez (via Unsplash)

This change is part of a range of measures that the Government is taking to ‘lift children out of poverty’ and help give them the ‘best start’ in life – with other measures being the introduction of the Healthy Food Standard, and giving local authorities the power to stop fast food shops opening outside schools.

“We promised to do everything we can to give every child the best and healthiest start in life,” explained Health Minister Ashley Dalton, as the junk food advert ban comes into force.

“By restricting adverts for junk food before 9pm and banning paid adverts online, we can remove excessive exposure to unhealthy foods – making the healthy choice the easy choice for parents and children.

“We’re moving the dial from having the NHS treat sickness, to preventing it so people can lead healthier lives and so it can be there for us when we need it.”

Featured Image – Karolina Kołodziejczak (via Unsplash)

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Amorim replacement: the three top candidates being linked with the Man United manager’s job

Danny Jones Next Man United manager potential candidates

Following the news of Manchester United sacking head coach, Ruben Amorim, a number of potential replacements are already being linked with the role.

The question is – who, if anyone, can crack the latest ‘impossible job’?

After Amorim was let go by the board on Monday, 5 January, a flurry of names quickly began floating around online as to who could step in as a replacement.

The club have also made it clear that they don’t plan for interim Darren Fletcher to be in post for too long, nor for him to be the caretaker until the end of the 2025/26 campaign, with a full-time appointment expected in the summer.

Manchester United aren't planning to hire a permanent manager until the summer 👀 pic.twitter.com/srfc1zRmND
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 5, 2026

But once again, there appears to be no tougher task in world football (perhaps other than England gaffer) at present than getting the Red Devils back on track, so who do football fans, pundits, bookies and more think has the CV and/or the belief to take it on next? Well, here are a few suggestions…

Head coaches who could become the next Man United manager

Enzo Maresca

The first on the list and seemingly everyone’s lips, at first glance, appears to be the former Chelsea manager, Enzo Maresca, who quit the club in rather spectacular fashion earlier this month.

Maresca, 45, won the 2025 Club World Cup and last season’s UEFA Conference League title during his time at Stamford Bridge – not to mention the Championship with Leicester – but recently resigned following a rift between him and the board – not unlike the man he could potentially succeed.

what trophies has maresca won — He was a big hit with the Foxes…

maresca chelsea win record — He was a big hit with the Foxes…

However, the manner of the Italian tactician’s exit from his last club has raised several red flags, and he is said to have held talks with both Manchester City and Juventus to become their next boss when the time comes. It seems that merely convenient timing could be behind much of the Maresca-Man United talk.

Xavi

Xavier Hernández, to give him his full name, is one of the other big names to be connected with the club over the past year or two, especially as he has also won a couple bits of silverware since retiring and moving into management.

The Barcelona and Spain legend lifted the La Liga trophy and the Spanish Super Cup in 2023, helping them get back to winning ways after a tricky albeit relatively brief blip in their long period of supremacy.

Also 45, Xavi wanted to step down from the role, but was eventually convinced to stay, only for him to be ultimately let go by Barca back in May 2024. He’s also one of the few candidates who not only boasts some proven pedigree but is currently a free agent. Could 2026 be the year they actually bring him in?

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Oliver Glasner

Third on the list of supposed favourites is Crystal Palace manager, Oliver Glasner, who has impressed at Selhurst Park and also famously shares the most similar kind of system.

At 51 years old, he is the most senior of the apparent frontrunners currently being tipped for the top job at Old Trafford, and has won things of late: the 2022 Europa League, Palace’s first major trophy EVER after beating Man City in the FA Cup, as well as besting Liverpool in last year’s Community Shield.

Though the Austrian head coach has been no way near as tied to one formation as Amorim appeared to be, the principles of play seemed to be more like what the now ex-United boss envisioned as his proper ‘3-4-3’, meaning he could be a good fit for the squad now in place.

On the other hand, is this the kind of setup INEOS want to try and stick with after struggling to make things click thus far?

“Glasner plays the same system as Amorim.”pic.twitter.com/XNTkAMvPKl https://t.co/hUBrW19gJ4
— Bart (@UtdBart) January 5, 2026

Some other individuals being suggested include Roberto De Zerbi, who was reportedly touted by Man United in the past during his tenure at Brighton, as well as Thomas Tuchel.

However, both are still at the relative start of their own sporting projects with Marseille and the Three Lions, respectively.

Rumours have also been rumbling around two other very FA-esque picks, such as Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe and, rather fittingly, the former national team leader, Gareth Southgate.

It’s far from the first time that the latter has been hinted at, but it is worth noting that he has currently stepped back from coaching for the foreseeable.

We’re sure a few others will crop up in the coming weeks and months, but who would you like to see take on the role of Manchester United manager next, Reds?

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Featured Images — Timfilbert/Sven Mandel (via WikiCommons)/Doha Stadium Plus Qatar (Flickr)