Calls for ‘Marc Skinner out’ are beginning to grow amongst some Manchester United supporters following another loss for the women’s team, this time in the shape of a derby defeat against Man City in the cup.
Skinner’s recent results have seen protests from a section of Man United Women‘s fans, with the disappointment against City in the FA Women’s Continental League Cup just days after their Women’s Super League defeat to Chelsea making it three losses in the last five games.
The women’s coach insisted “he will get it right” and is “absolutely secure” in his job after the result last Sunday, but given this latest loss to their local rivals and title challengers once again this season, it seems the patience of some supporters is starting to slip.
Replying to United Women’s post on X, fans had plenty to say: “Skinner out. This is disgraceful”, “Uslelss clown”; plenty also called for the return of previous head coach Casey Stoney.
Nevertheless, speaking after the game last night, the 40-year-old said every player and member of staff was “excellent” and that they simply need to be more clinical when it comes to taking their chances. Whether the majority of fans agree remains to be seen.
Commenting underneath The Manc‘s own full-time post on Wednesday night, fans doubled down in the criticism by suggesting that despite what they perceived as a “shocking” performance from the refer, a 2-1 scoreline ultimately “flattered” United.
The former Birmingham City and Orlando pride manager was appointed as the United Women’s boss in 2021 and led them to the FA Cup final last season, ultimately finishing as runners-up, and only just missed out on a first WSL title as they fell two points short of 22/23 winners Chelsea’s tally.
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Sports writer Kathryn Batte says that the “loud calls for Marc Skinner’s head at Manchester United are like nothing we’ve heard before in the women’s game”.
The chanting and signs witnessed in the way end from last week alone certainly seem to suggest so.
Despite the man himself defending their right to be frustrated of late, many of the fans have grown even more staunch in their opposition after they were reportedly told to stop chanting ‘Skinner Out’ at a recent league game.
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As per The Athletic, a group of supporters who travelled to Malta to see United play in a friendly against PSV say they were told by club security to refrain from the chants at half-time and went on to issue an official complaint via the Manchester United Women Supporters group via email.
There are still plenty of games left to play and the team’s performance in the group stages of the cup was enough to see them qualify but the sentiment amongst the stands seems to be shifting.
Perhaps it’s because these are the kind of scenes we more readily associate with men’s football but the atmosphere around Leigh Sports Village is far from ideal at the moment.
Featured Image — BBC Sport (screenshot)/Man United Women (via X)
Sport
Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
Sport
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has claimed he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.
It’s a ban that’s been in place in the top five tiers of men’s football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands – or ‘drinking in sight / view of the pitch’, as it’s known formally – is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don’t apply to fans of other sports.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.
He continued: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.
“I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
The Prime Minister’s comments have been met with mixed response.
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it ‘totally agrees’ the legislation is ‘outdated’ and ‘deserves to be reviewed’.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.”
However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be ‘incredibly rash’ to change the rules without proper consultation.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” it said in a statement on the matter.
The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that ‘there are different ways it could be done’, hinting that it could be done ‘on a trial basis’ perhaps.
The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be ‘receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch’.
No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.
Danny Jones -
25th January 2024 
