Manchester United: Ed Woodward promises to support Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after 'turbulent' season

Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, admitted that the club had endured a 'turbulent' season

Ed Woodward has promised to support Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following the release of Manchester United’s latest financial results.

Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, admitted in his commentary on the results that the club had endured a “turbulent” season.

But Woodward said he was confident that the club will recover under Solskjaer’s stewardship and assured investors that the United manager would be backed.

United finished sixth in the Premier League this season, thereby failing to qualify for the Champions League for the third time in six years.

“After a turbulent season, everyone at Manchester United is focussed on building towards the success that this great club expects and our fans deserve,” Woodward said.

“Preparations for the new season are underway and the underlying strength of our business will allow us to support the manager and his team as we look to the future.”

Jose Mourinho was sacked as United manager in December after a poor start to the season and a deteriorating dressing room atmosphere.

Solskjaer’s appointment as caretaker manager was successful, with United winning 14 of their first 17 games under the Norwegian.

However, since being hired on a permanent basis, Solskjaer has seen United’s form dip dramatically, with only two wins in their last 10 games.

In a conference call to discuss United’s latest earnings report, Woodward said: “The season that has just ended clearly didn’t end the way we hoped, finishing in sixth place and with a disruptive managerial change part way through.

“However, Ole and the squad battled back from mid-December to put us in contention to qualify for the Champions League next season, but ultimately we came up short.”

Woodward added: “Everyone at the club – the board, the manager, the squad and all the staff are resolute in our desire to get United back to the top of English football. We continually look to improve staff on and off the pitch to achieve this.

“The strength of our business means we have the financial resources to continue to provide a solid foundation for backing the manager and creating success on the pitch. This, as ever, remains our number-one goal.”

United posted revenues of £152.1million for the quarter, up 3.4 per cent from the corresponding period last year, meaning their total income to the end of March is £495.7m.

Around 17.5 per cent of that figure comes from match-day revenue (£87m), while increased broadcasting revenue (£200.3m) accounts for 40.4 per cent, with the remainder coming from commercial revenue (£208.4m).

Under ‘employee benefit expenses’, United revealed they had paid £84.8m for the quarter, an increase of £9.7m, largely because of “investment in the first-team playing squad”. Net debt, meanwhile, increased by £400,000 to £301.7m.

Additional reporting by PA