Manchester United have received allegations that ‘scumbag’ fans are posing as disabled supporters to gain access to away matches this season.
The club are given dedicated wheelchair spaces for every away fixture but Chas Banks, secretary of the Manchester United Disabled Supporters’ Association, told the latest meeting of the Fans’ Forum there has been ‘widespread misuse’ of these tickets by a group of disabled fans.
These have either been passed on to non-disabled supporters directly or through a third party in breach of United’s ticket rules.
The club confirmed it was aware of claims able-bodied fans have been ‘sitting in wheelchairs in order to access matches’.
Banks gave an impassioned update on the issue at the meeting. According to the minutes, he said: ‘I have seen with my own eyes evidence of these scumbags doing this, and I have the photos.
‘To the extent of them twice having been seen watching the match whilst sitting in a wheelchair on the wheelchair platform, and then the next game being seen standing in the able-bodied section bouncing up and down when United score a goal.
‘This is not a victimless crime, and I find it very sad that some of the people who are losing out to these horrible selfish fans really are the least deserving of being robbed of their chance to get a ticket that they are entitled to.
‘Because I promise you, for many of them, time is not on their side.’
Ten Hag’s home comfort
Erik ten Hag won’t have to look too far for a new job – or a new place to live – if United decide to make a managerial change at the end of the season.
He is Ajax’s No 1 choice by some distance to return to his old post in Holland where he won three Eredivisie titles and two Doubles in five years – as well as reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League – before leaving for United in 2022.
Confidential understands that Ten Hag still has an apartment in Amsterdam, although the family home is in Oldenzaal is in the east of the Netherlands.
New Ajax chief executive Alex Kroes is best friends with Ten Hag’s agent Kees Vos, having launched the Sports Entertainment Group together, the agency that represents Erik as well as employing his son Nigel as an analyst.
Ajax have endured a torrid season and are currently in fifth place, 35 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven, having slipped to the foot of the table at one point.
The 36-time Dutch champions have gone through three managers and are looking to replace interim boss John van ‘t Schip.
They also suspended Kroes earlier his month over allegations of insider trading before he was reinstated last week.
Ten Hag would be the standout candidate if he leaves United, but Ajax are not prepared to pay compensation and will only make their move if he is sacked or quits Old Trafford with one year left on his contract.
The club are prepared to wait until the end of May, with United due to face Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley again on May 25.
Murtough bolts back to OT
Usain Bolt got all the attention when he turned up in the directors’ box for United’s draw with Burnley at Old Trafford on Saturday, but another familiar face was back in town.
John Murtough looked tanned and refreshed after a holiday as he returned to United just two weeks after stepping down as football director.
The 50-year-old dined in the directors’ lounge and then got together with staff after the game to say his farewells, having not seen some of them since the official announcement was made earlier this month.
Murtough spent more than a decade at the club but decided to step down even though United have yet to agree compensation with Newcastle to appoint Dan Ashworth as his successor.
It’s unlikely to be Murtough’s last appearance at Old Trafford with United committed to welcoming him back as a friend of the club who has been a fan since childhood.
Garnacho agent nabs Amad
Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo may be competing for a place on the wing at United, but Confidential understands that Amad has just signed with Garnacho’s agent Carlos Cambeiro.
The Ivorian celebrated the highlight of his United career last month when he scored a sensational late winner in the FA Cup quarter-final victory over Liverpool.
However, Amad’s four appearances since then have come off the bench, highlighting the challenge he faces to become a United regular.
The 21-year-old signed a contract until June 2025 when he joined United in 2021 for £19million in a deal that could be worth up to an additional £18.2m.
It includes an option to extend for another year, and it will be interesting to see how Cambeiro guides Amad’s career from here.
Sir Jim’s doubled up
Sir Jim Ratcliffe made it for the second half of United’s FA Cup semi-final win over Coventry City after finishing the London Marathon in a personal best time, but the evergreen Ineos owner will be hard pushed to double up for the club’s next Wembley appearance.
United face Tottenham in the FA Women’s Cup final under the arch a week on Sunday. Even if it doesn’t go to extra-time and penalties, the game will barely have finished by the time United’s men kick off against Arsenal 200 miles away at Old Trafford.
Does Sir Jim head north or south? Or take the diplomatic route and just go for another run?
Ten Hag joins U18s party
Say what you like about Ten Hag’s second season as United manager, he has not been afraid to give youth a chance.
It was no surprise to see the Dutchman turning up at Carrington for a celebration in honour of the all-conquering Under-18s team.
Adam Lawrence’s side wrapped up the Premier League North title with victory at Wolves earlier this month before going on to complete the double last week when they beat Manchester City in the Premier League Cup at Leigh Sports Village.
Ten Hag attended the title celebration at the training ground to congratulate the players, and captain Finley McAllister is said to have given a great speech to the group.
As well as blooding Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo during his two years in charge, Ten Hag has promoted a number of youngsters onto the bench.
Ethan Wheatley became the sixth academy graduate to make his senior debut under the manager – and 250th in the club’s history – when he came on against Sheffield United.
Kai gets Fletcher masterclass
Diverting eyes away from the pitch for a moment the other night at Leigh Sports Village, it was fascinating for Confidential to see Kai Rooney being talked through the Under-18’s Premier League Cup win over Man City by Darren Fletcher.
Fletcher spent much of the first half sat alongside 14-year-old Kai, who is in United’s academy, talking Rooney Jnr through key moments in the action as United celebrated a 2-1 win.
It was telling that despite having no involvement in the final, the entire Rooney family were in attendance, sat alongside new technical director Jason Wilcox, who had a long chat with dad Wayne.
There’s a long way to go for Kai to emulate his dad in the first team, but even on nights off he’s putting in study time – and that can only be a good thing.
Lacey in line for Utd debut
Ethan Wheatley was one of five academy players on the bench against Sheffield United, but the next cab off the rank could be another star of the Under-18s who has yet to be part of United’s senior squad.
Although Wheatley and Omari Forson both got on against the Blades, Harry Amass, Louis Jackson and Habeeb Ogunneye are still waiting for their first-team breaks.
However, Confidential understands Shea Lacey could jump the queue after signing his first professional contract earlier this month a day after his 17th birthday.
There are huge expectations for the Liverpool-born winger who has been compared to Phil Foden, and he is being tipped for a place on the bench before the end of the season with the possibility of a first-team debut.
Erik’s critics add insult to injury
There was some unsympathetic sniggering when Erik ten Hag complained he’d only been able to name his strongest XI once in almost two years, but closer inspection underlines how tough it has been for the Dutchman, particularly this season.
Only 11 players have started 16 or more Premier League games and the composite line-up of his most-used players – Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Maguire, Dalot; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund, Rashford – hasn’t started together at all.
Due to injury, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw have only started five times together in all competitions and United have won four.
Right now, United’s best XI in Ten Hag’s eyes this season would probably be: Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund.
That team has only started once in the chaotic 4-3 win at Wolves, although it should be pointed out United were comfortably winning 3-1 when Martinez was substituted after 86 minutes.
Even with that team, Ten Hag would argue Mainoo’s progress has had to be fast-tracked due to the long absences of Mason Mount.
Though Mainoo has been a revelation, he would love his career to include a match-winning assist in a Champions League final, and a starting appearance for England in a major final, both of which have been achieved by Mount.
Luke loss hits United hard
Of all those injuries, none seem to have hit United quite as hard as the loss of Luke Shaw.
The England left-back missed three months at the start of the season with a thigh muscle tear and has been out of action since mid-February with a hamstring injury, managing just 15 appearances in all competitions.
Shaw’s partnership with Marcus Rashford is crucial to United’s balance, as Ten Hag acknowledged last week, but unfortunately for the Dutchman Shaw and Rashford have been on the pitch at the same time down the left-hand side just four times in the Premier League this season – away to Wolves, Aston Villa and Luton, and at home to West Ham.
United won all four games which is by far the best return in terms of the left-back/left-winger combinations Ten Hag has deployed this season.
United have racked up 10 points out of a possible 18 with Shaw behind Alejandro Garnacho, and nine out of 15 when Victor Lindelof has been deployed at left-back with Rashford as left winger.
The combination of Diogo Dalot and Garnacho, which was selected against Burnley on Saturday, has returned just two wins and one draw in six Premier League outings. United, meanwhile, have picked up six points out of a possible nine when Dalot has started at left-back with Rashford in front of him.
But when Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been deployed at left-back behind Rashford, United have been far less efficient, winning just four points out of a possible 12.
Remarkably, the only combination with a 100 per cent record saw Sergio Reguilon start at left-back with Rashford as left-winger in the 1-0 away at Burnley in September.
It means United have won 28 points from 13 games when Ten Hag has deployed a left-footed player at left-back, but just 26 points from 20 games when a right-footed player has been asked to deputise for Shaw.
Sweet Carolina for United
United will be assured of some local support when they face Liverpool on their US tour this summer after South Carolina launched the team’s 300th supporters’ club worldwide.
United face their old rivals at the 77,500-capacity William Brice Stadium, home to the University of South Carolina, in the state capital of Columbia on August 3.
The new fan club will be aiming to make their presence felt after becoming one of eight to open in American in the last year alone.
Fergie’s still top of the Klopps
Sir Alex Ferguson may have been retired for more than a decade, but he still tops a list of the most successful managers of all-time, finishing ahead of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola.
The new study, carried out by Casino Encyclopedia, ranks the bosses based on trophies won, number of clubs coached and net worth.
Even though Mourinho is said to have raked in £95million – more than twice Ferguson’s income – the former Chelsea and United manager still finishes runner-up.
Guardiola is third followed by Carlo Ancelotti, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Giovanni Trapattoni, Marcello Lippi and Arsene Wenger. Outgoing Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is down in 13th place.
For the full results click here.
Old boy Wilson leaves port
Once considered the future of United after scoring twice on his debut, James Wilson this week learned he has been released by Port Vale.
Interim manager Ryan Giggs first introduced 18-year-old Wilson almost exactly a decade ago in a Premier League fixture against Hull, and the forward starred in a 3-1 win.
The game was also memorable because it marked the 963rd and final appearance for United of Giggs himself.
Injuries and managerial changes halted Wilson’s progress at United, and he was sent on loan before being let go in 2019. He appeared to find a home at Port Vale who won promotion to League One last season.
Alas, relegation has followed and Wilson is one of those not retained at the end of his contract by manager Darren Moore for the rebuild. Confidential wishes Wilson well. The 28-year-old first joined at United at the age of seven and was a popular figure throughout.
