The director of women’s football at Manchester United has defended the club’s recruitment strategy, as he gave an insight into how things work behind the scenes.
Manchester United has faced criticism over its backing of the women’s team in recent years.
This past summer saw the women’s side bring in Jess Park, Julia Zigiotti Olme and Fridolina Rolfo. This compares to the men’s side, who spent £170 million on six players.
The Red Devils had a particularly thin squad at the start of the season, with injuries to key players meaning they were unable to fill out a full bench in certain games.
Head coach Marc Skinner, meanwhile, has reasserted his call for January signings after his side’s unbeaten start to the WSL ended with a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend.
Manchester United director opens up on club’s recruitment strategy
Matt Johnson, director of women’s football at Manchester United, said the recruitment strategy of the women’s team replicates that of the men’s.
He told the club’s website: “The way we do transfers is exactly the same as men’s team. We go through the same processes that the club has, we go through the same director of negotiations in Matt Hargreaves. Everything is joined up and it is 100 per cent the same.”
Discussing the cross-city switch that saw Park head to Manchester United, and Grace Clinton go to Man City, he said: “We’ve always identified Jess Park as a player that has the profile, and Jason [Wilcox] talked about how the profiling of players is really important when you are bringing them in, with the right personality and character.
“Jess always fitted that but, obviously, with the red-and-blue rivalry, moving players between the two teams is extremely difficult, stroke impossible. But what we are doing now is renegotiating contracts a lot sooner because we want to retain our best players.
“Unfortunately, Grace wanted to move on… then it allowed us to [think], ‘actually we don’t want to lose Grace but she wants to move on, let’s learn from the past.”
Johnson added that the club switched to focusing on experienced players this past summer, bringing in players with Champions League experience. He added that the club is proud at the number of homegrown talent in their side, including the likes of Ella Toone and Gabby George.
Criticism aimed at the Red Devils
Carla Ward is among those to question the commitment of Manchester United to women’s football.
This came after United travelled to a WSL match against Liverpool with just 16 players from a possible 20 in September.
She said: “I think when you only name that many on the bench – and I’ve been there – you’re sending a message to the board.
“I think Manchester United have let the women’s team down this year. There’s an opportunity to bring more bodies in – they’re in the Champions League and playing across all competitions, so [Skinner] has got his hands tied.”
Ian Wright last November also claimed United are not invested in how well their women’s team performs.
