Woodward not involved in United sponsorship deal

Malcolm Glazer’s new "chief of staff" will play no role in negotiating Manchester United’s new shirt sponsorship deal.

The Glazer camp have confirmed 34-year-old former merchant banker Ed Woodward has been appointed to look after the family’s business interests in the UK.

Through his previous company JP Morgan, Woodward played an extensive role in Glazer’s controversial £790m (€1.1bn) takeover of the Red Devils last summer and after initially being approached last May, finally took up his post in November.

However, while Woodward will liaise extensively with the Glazer family and United chief executive David Gill, he will not be involved in negotiating staff contracts or discussions over a new sponsor to replace Vodafone, whose £9m (€13.1m)-a-year deal is being terminated early at the end of the season.

“Bryan Glazer and Manchester United’s commercial director Andy Anson are handling the sponsorship situation and that is not going to change,” said a source close to the Glazer camp, who added the club were still confident of securing a replacement deal by the end of the season.

The news of Woodward’s appointment has come as Sir Alex Ferguson has publicly backed Glazer's ownership of the club.

Twenty-four hours after claiming the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner was doing an “excellent” job, Ferguson offered more forceful praise for the American business tycoon, whose involvement with the Old Trafford outfit has led to mass protests and the launch of breakaway club FC United.

While Ferguson’s jokey “why should I worry” dismissal of the £540m (€790m) debt Glazer took on to compete his £790m (€1.1bn) purchase in the summer should not be taken literally, the Scot did enough to whip up yet more fury among the section of supporters so implacably opposed to the club being back in private hands.

“I look at it from my perspective,” said Ferguson, when asked to clarify his previous day’s comments.

“They (the Glazers) have supported me 100%. They have never caused me one bit of a problem and they have given me the money I wanted (to sign players). What do I do? Tell lies?

“They have been great. It is much better than a PLC I can tell you that. We don’t have to go through all the procedures of a PLC board meeting and football club board meetings. We don’t have to inform the Stock Exchange.

“The whole thing is far more straightforward now and it is much quicker. You can get an answer – yes or no – without going through the whole procedure.”