Manchester United bosses have confirmed that they are currently engaging in discussions about Mason Greenwood’s future with key stakeholders. The club has also revealed who the final decision-maker will be, in conversations with The Athletic.
Mason Greenwood’s Future Hangs in the Balance
Man Utd Forward Awaiting Results of Internal Investigation
The 21-year-old was arrested in January 2022, following social media posts that appeared to show the player committing alleged acts of domestic and sexual violence. Greenwood was charged by police in October of the same year with attempted rape, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and controlling and coercive behaviour.
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Mason Greenwood has denied all allegations in relation to the matter.
The Crown Prosecution Service discontinued their prosecution following “the withdrawal of key witnesses and new material which came to light”. These factors led to the CPS’ conclusion that there was no longer a realistic chance of conviction.
The club began its internal investigation into the matter shortly after the CPS’ decision to discontinue legal action was made.
Man Utd Chief Operating Officer: ‘That Decision is On Us’
United’s Chief Operating Officer, Collette Roche has insisted that while the Fan Advisory Board and the club’s women’s team will be informed and asked for feedback about a decision on Greenwood’s future, the final decision will rest with Chief Executive Officer Richard Arnold.
United’s CEO has been delegated the responsibility by owner Joel Glazer, who will still need to sign off on any decision made by Arnold.
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In discussions about the process, Collette claimed “We’ve done a really detailed and thorough internal investigation and we’ve asked as many people as we can around what happened and try to understand it beyond the original investigation done by the police”.
Manchester United were expected to make a decision about the striker’s future before their Premier League season opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday, however, this was delayed. It has been reported that this was, in part, because the club wanted to consult the women’s side as a group and will be waiting for their England Internationals to return from World Cup duties.
It is undoubtedly concerning that the women’s players do not appear to have previously been asked to discuss the matter.
Head of Fan Engagement Emphasises Club’s Control
Rick McGagh, the club’s Head of Fan Engagement has emphasised that while the Fan Advisory Board will be involved in conversations about the player’s future, they will not sway the club’s decision: “It’s not accurate to say we’ve had full consultation with the Fan Advisory Board on what decision we’re making. This is not a consultation.’
While it is important that the club takes responsibility for any decision they make, McGagh and Roche’s statements suggest that fans and the women’s team will be involved in discussions but are unlikely to be able to play a seriously influential role. This, if true, raises the question as to whether the club has simply involved them in the process for appearances.
Some fans have taken matters into their own hands, forming groups and organising protests before games outside of Old Trafford. One group in particular, Female Fans Against Greenwood’s Return have received widespread coverage after they released a statement urging the club to drop Greenwood permanently from the squad.
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No Timeline on Man Utd Decision
The club have reportedly been tracking data from the one-time England international’s individual training sessions, although he has not been invited to train at the club’s facilities or with other members of the first team or academy squads.
For now, the United Academy graduate’s future remains uncertain, with no deadline set for any decision on his future.
Main Image Credit: Image Credit: Ardfern on Wikimedia, CC BY SA 4.0
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