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Manchester United manager David Moyes will have money at his disposal as executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward admits there will be big changes in the summer

Woodward address United's current decline in form and reveals that fans can expect a higher than average turnover of players when the summer transfer window opens

Jack de Menezes
Wednesday 12 February 2014 17:02 GMT
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Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward speaks with manager David Moyes
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward speaks with manager David Moyes

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has insisted that the club should maintain their challenge for silverware despite the poor start to life under David Moyes.

Woodward was speaking to the club’s shareholders after revealing record second-quarter revenue results, in which he admitted that the entire club is “disappointed” by their current form and league position.

He did go on to reveal that funds would be made available for Moyes to significantly strengthen his side when the summer transfer window opens, in an effort to rectify the unusual position that the club finds themselves in.

“The long-term strategy is to build a competitive squad that can challenge for trophies,” Woodward admitted.

“We have the ability to do that. We can buy players to compete at the top level, which is what we should be doing.”

Woodward went on to confirm that fans could see a much larger movement in the transfer window than they are used to, with the club prepared to go beyond their claimed average of bringing in three players while allowing another three to move on.

“We are focused on strengthening the squad,” said Woodward.

“We will sell some. We wouldn't look to churn a huge number but equally, we are not afraid of moving in the market in a way we haven't seen in previous years.

“It has tended to be three sales and three purchases but it is possible we will do more than that.”

It is worth noting that as things stand, United are already expected to lose Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra among others as their contracts are due to expire at the end of the season.

The £37.1m signing of Juan Mata may have had an impact on the pitch given his three assists in as many matches, but it is nothing compared to his effect on United’s Twitter account, which Woodward confirmed received 28,000 more followers in the week of his acquisition.

It was this global support that Woodward stressed would remain even if United went through a rough patch, although he claimed that he did not see the club going through a prolonged period without success.

“It has taken a long time to build our huge fan base,” said Woodward.

“That will not go away for a long time. Some of our competitors have not won the league for a long time and they still sell a lot of shirts - one of them is just down the road.”

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